Hello beautiful soul,
Today I thought I’ll share with you some personal stories about life challenges and how I’m learning to deal with them. Read on and you might find something that might inspire you!
Whenever this article finds you, I hope it can be a contribution and bring some new ideas into your life.
Lately, I have been reflecting a lot on my own life and choices, witnessing how stress manifests itself in my days under different shapes and forms. I’ve been journaling a lot, and I’ve even created this little “progress” journal, where I write simple things like what time I woke up, how I felt throughout the day, and if I made time to do the things that truly bring me joy.
To be completely honest, most days I don’t get to do the things that would bring a smile on my face and pure satisfaction to my soul, either because I don’t wake up on time, or because I’m too mentally or emotionally tired, or because I’ve been too distracted or too busy at work. And because I don’t have to follow certain work hours (as a freelancer and writer), my working days normally start at 9 am and sometimes end at 9 pm because I’m still learning the difference between what is truly bringing me results, and what is just numbing the constant overthinking machine in my brain.
Luckily, in the past years, I’ve prioritized finding new ways and systems to balance my mind, body, and soul, and to strive to achieve optimum levels of health and wellbeing. I have to admit that I’m grateful for how far I’ve come and how much I’ve learned. And to be completely honest, although I’m not where I want to be yet, I’m way closer than I was yesterday. So I keep trusting in the process, practicing a healthy and balanced mindset, following my intuition, using the tools I have, and working on always remembering to give myself some space to just BE – instead of think or overwhelm myself.
So let’s talk about you. How does imbalance show up in your life?
Maybe you get stressed out and feel like the time is running out, maybe you get so anxious that it becomes hard to make a phone call or join your colleagues on a video meeting. Maybe you are tired and dreading the day ahead that getting out of bed at the first alarm becomes a struggle. Are you so sad, unmotivated, and upset, that you don’t even want to pursue the things that you know would make everything a tiny bit better, like meeting a friend, trying out a new hobby, or going for a walk? Or maybe you are distracted and you dream about finishing work so you can play some video games, go out for a drink, or watch Netflix. Or maybe you’re developing more serious mental or physical health issues? We all know that emotional and daily stress can affect our overall health and result in pain, illnesses, or unpleasant states of tiredness, inability to focus, hormonal imbalances, and more.
When I overwork myself and forget to prioritize moving my body or going outside, working out, eating healthily, and pursuing my mindfulness practices, my body starts to give me some alarm signals. The mild ones are tiredness and lack of motivation, and the more serious ones are strong back pain, digestion problems, strong emotional reactions, anxiety, and if it persists, even depression. Since I’ve been more mindful to work WITH my body, not against it, and I’ve acknowledged the infinite healing powers of a happy and balanced mind, these “symptoms” completely disappeared. Of course, they still come back from time to time when I neglect myself, but I’m very careful to take it slow when they appear and not push myself too far until I burnout.
What about you? Maybe this is your sign to sit down with yourself and identify some ways in which your body is trying to communicate to you that you are pushing it and yourself way too hard. When you do that, you are under the impression that the harder you push, the more results you will get, but most of the time it’s the opposite. An unhealthy body leads to an unhealthy mind (and of course, the other way around), and with these two not functioning at their fullest capacities, you won’t be able to achieve your goals and plans in a sustainable way. Reflect upon this: “How do mind, body, and soul imbalances show up in my life?”
Now I just want to mention that you don’t have to wait for these signs to show up to start implementing healthy habits in your life. Wherever you are in your journey, implementing these practices in your life will take your living and consciousness to the next level.
Let’s take a look at 10 easy practices that support a balanced life:
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Journaling
I can’t emphasize enough the importance of journaling. It doesn’t just help you vent and release any negative emotions that might be stuck in your body or mind, but it can also be a tool for reflection and self-awareness. By reflecting and contemplating my life through journaling I can point out the exact moments I felt a rush of joy and the moments where I was sad, stuck, and frustrated. This is a key step! Figuring out what makes you HAPPY and what makes you UNHAPPY. Sometimes it’s as easy as that. And then, find ways to do more of what makes you happy, and less of what makes you sad. Sounds easy, right? What if it IS easy?
Something that always overwhelmed me was the rule of having to write every day. But now I take the journal when I feel the urge to release some negative emotions or to process a challenging experience. Sometimes I write 3 weeks in a row, other times I don’t journal for 2 months. But just having a place to dump your thoughts will be beneficial because 1. you will feel better afterward like a weight was lifted off your shoulders, and 2. you can read again and reflect upon what was that you were going through.
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Alone time (when you get no input from other minds, but your own)
I used to start my days by scrolling Instagram or checking my messages. So first thing in the morning, my mind and body were not given the chance to adjust to what’s to come for me in the day, because I was emotionally triggered by something, some news, some messages, some communication from work. The importance of spending time without pressure from the outside world, especially in the morning, while getting ready for the day is crucial.
But it doesn’t have to be only the morning. Take some time for yourself, even just 30 minutes every day, or if your schedule doesn’t allow it yet, then on the weekends, let’s say Sunday, just take 3 hours to spend time alone. Sit down with a cup of coffee and read a book you really love, go for a walk, go on a bike ride, or anything else that allows you to be present with your thoughts and to reflect and integrate the past week’s experiences.
In these moments you will come back to yourself. In life, we get so busy and so disconnected from ourselves. At work, in our career, in the relationship, in our society, in our families, our dreams, thoughts, plans. There is always something else or someone else to focus on. So by prioritizing all of those things (and plenty others, I’m sure), it’s easy to forget the main character in your life – YOU. You are the one who is living your life. And you only have one chance to do it. How would you like to do it? Would you like to blink twice and have life pass you? Or do you want to be mindful and be able to take the time to reflect, think, integrate, and learn from each experience – pleasant or unpleasant. Time alone will get you closer to yourself, will get you to love yourself and appreciate yourself again, to become friends with you again. And I think that’s beautiful.
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Digital free day
I started making Sundays social media free days, but then a friend suggested I made it completely digital free, considering that I’m sitting at the desk working, writing, or creating from Monday to Saturday. 80% of my whole life happens on a screen at the moment. I work, study, write, research, read, talk to my colleagues, friends, and family on the laptop or phone. So I require my day off from all of that, to recalibrate myself in the “real world”. If you’re anything like me, and most of your time is spent on the digital environment, I couldn’t recommend more to create some stricter boundaries with it. Ask yourself how much time and attention these devices get and for what reason? Does that reason meet one of your core principles and values in life? Great! If not, it’s time to reconsider.
Now, you might think that a digital free day (for example a Sunday if you work from Monday to Friday) will make you less connected with your friends and family that you would normally be in contact with that day. In reality, you’ve created the chance to have more alone time so to connect to yourself, or to your significant other, your roommates, family, or other people you might meet in person that day. It’s incredible to have a day silent from the buzz of the phone, messages, calls, emails, and videos. Sundays are now my favorite days of the week, because surprisingly (for someone who really hated to be alone) I really enjoy the silence and quietness of looking at the trees, watching the clouds go by, and breathing in the cold air next to the river, by myself or with a good friend.
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Digital minimalism – a step (or more steps) away from social media (or other distractors)
I’m reading this incredible book that I can’t recommend enough – “Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World” by Cal Newport. And it’s totally changing the way I’m using my phone and planning my time.
As I mentioned before, I used to start my days by checking social media. Who saw my story, who replied, who messaged me, who posted on their feed or on their stories, who has a new event or class, and so on. So although I started to witness the beauty of time spent alone in reflection or another mindfulness practice, I would still choose to go on my phone 8 out of 10 times I would get bored.
Input from too many people was leaving me feeling tired, exhausted, always comparing myself subconsciously with that others are doing, and distracting myself from staying focused on the task at hand.
Let’s say I had to finish a content plan for a client. I would start for 20 minutes, then lose the energy and get bored, went on social media, saw what great adventures others were living, and started feeling upset that I’m stuck at the desk. This feeling of inadequacy would intensity more and more every day, and I used to blame it on different factors. “I didn’t sleep well last night, I’m stressed at work, I don’t speak the local language, I don’t have any friends here, I miss home.” etc. You get the picture. But then I started experimenting. I didn’t go on social media for a few days, and I saw how much happier I got. I started noticing that instead of wanting to scroll and numb my brain, now I would choose to read, run my Bars, listen to music or a podcast, or cook. It felt truly relaxing, and it was nice to know that I am in control.
So now I only check my messages after 6 pm, and I post images or stories from my life on Facebook or Instagram where most of my friends are. I like it this way because I get to choose how I want to be in touch with my friends and family, on my own terms, not on the terms of an attention-grabbing algorithm. And I’ve managed to reduce my average time spent on the phone from 4 hours to 1 hour.
So what if you can also reevaluate how much time you spend online and start exploring ways to reduce it or replace it with a more fulfilling activity like learning a new language, skill, or craft, starting playing a musical instrument, or do something that you’ve always wanted to but never got the chance to – analog/offline.
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Evaluate your response to being uncomfortable, bored, or stressed out
My response is procrastination, but your response might be different. By identifying it, you’ll be able to understand it better, and in time you’ll be able to find ways to change it.
For example: whenever I feel anxious or stressed, my instinct is to unlock my phone, or open a tab to YouTube and find some video to watch. I’ve done this since I was 14. So I’ve had this habit for over 10 years now. Unfortunately, that doesn’t resonate with me anymore, because I would rather focus intensely for 4 hours and then have more time for pleasant activities than procrastinating for 4 hours a day, and end up every day feeling tired and unfilled.
I didn’t know how to change it so I kept asking questions, like “What would it take to be less distracted?” “How could this be fun for me and my body?” “What else is possible?” and more.
Finally, in November, I found the Wim Hof method. Breathing technique, cold immersion (cold showers/ice baths), and mental focus & commitment.
What I love the most about this is the cold immersion. If you’ve ever tried to take an ice-cold shower or enter a freezing lake, you know the brain is telling you NO. And learning to be in control of that, and getting the body to respond in the way you want to – which is to get it done, focus on the breath, and be patient, is also re-training the mind to change the response to being uncomfortable. So I use the same method at house chores, working out, reading, meditating, or finishing my tasks at work. My mind says “nooo..better sleep more, go on Instagram, go on YouTube” but then I overwrite it the same way I do when I enter a freezing lake and stay in for 2 minutes.
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Track your progress (emotional, mental, and physical)
As I mentioned at the beginning of the article, I’ve just created a new little progress journal. This step is important too when you start applying all these new practices in your routine, to be able to track them and be aware if they influenced your days in a positive way. Also, you will be able to look back and maybe identify a common trigger that is maybe ruining your day and your focus (how I did with social media, for example).
Also, stay flexible, don’t judge yourself, and understand that what works for someone might not work for you. You are on your own journey and you should find the things that bring you to balance. Remember that everything needs practice. You wouldn’t expect to do the splits if you’re not regularly stretching, right? It’s the same with learning a new habit or skills. Keep doing it, be patient, and give yourself the chance to grow and have fun with it.
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Make time for what is truly important
What makes your heart jump with joy? In which moments of your life are you the most fulfilled, satisfied, with a huge smile on your face? Create more of that in your life. Don’t use any excuses. Just go for it. These moments are what make life worth living.
By doing the things I love I remember why I have to get better at the more challenging activities. For example, if I love to travel and experience the world, I have to get better at being focused at work, saving up and investing, and becoming comfortable with speaking in front of strangers in a new language.
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Dream!
Sometimes my journaling time is simply “dream time”. I write at the top of the page “If anything would be possible, what would I choose?”. And I let my imagination wander. This is a beautiful practice because it takes away the pressure of goal setting. It can be an incredibly relaxing and healing activity. Let’s say you dream to build your own house, or to speak 10 different languages, or to be the CEO of a company, or to invent something that will change the world. Whatever it is, give yourself the chance to dream once in a while, because that will give you a clear direction for your life and make the daily challenges more bearable, knowing what the “end” goal is.
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Make a plan to make that dream happen. Visualize. Manifest.
Once you have a dream that feels very much achievable on your time horizon (for example some dreams would take 10 years or 20 years to achieve, but others maybe 2 or 3 or maybe just a few months – in the beginning, choose one that is a more short term one to give you something to look forward to), and start making a simple plan. Don’t overwhelm yourself with 10 additional tasks a day. Remember, that this is something that you LOVE, and when you over plan it can easily become another chore. So keep that in mind, and make a plan that you are surely able to achieve, with daily or weekly action steps, a way to track your progress, and little milestones for celebration along the way.
Another thing I would like to mention here is that on the days or weeks you are not taking the action steps that you planned for, please don’t get discouraged. Keep your dream in your mind, thinking about it (maybe visualize it before falling asleep for a few minutes). This will help you unleash your creative power and get closer to your dreams just with the power of your mind and the power of choice. All of the sudden, you’ll see a possibility to get you closer to that dream, because you have to keep it in your mind and soul. In this way, the Universe will work to help you achieve it. Read “The Alchemist” for inspiration on this one.
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Book an Access Bars session
Access Bars is a simple and easy modality to help you release any emotions, thoughts, patterns, limitations, or points of view that don’t let you advance in life. If you feel stuck, out of control, tired, and lots of other emotional or physical stress – I can’t recommend enough an Access Bars session. It takes one hour, and it’s the most relaxed practice I’ve ever tried. What I love about it is that you don’t have to do anything. You just have to relax… that’s it. Relax and let go of all that is keeping you stuck and uncomfortable in your life. Because this world is a beautiful place. And you are a beautiful person, so you deserve to regain access to our infinite ability to enjoy life, to be free, to be healthy, and to be happy.
These are 10 practices I use in my life to maintain my mind-body-soul connection and balance. And because I want to share the possibilities of living purposeful and conscious lives here on Earth, here are some classes that you can take where you can learn more in-depth tools or practices from me or other healers and practitioners.
Learning something new will always expand your horizon and open up possibilities you never thought or imagined possible. Plus, the best kind of investment is an investment in yourself. So are you willing to prioritize your well-being, health, and happiness?
Classes or events
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Stress relief class
This is an introduction to a few basic and easy to use Access Bars tools. In this 2 hours class, we talk about what it would take to navigate both the highs and the lows of life with complete presence and awareness. This is a perfect way to start for anyone curious to learn more about Access Consciousness and Access Bars. This class takes place every Tuesday at 6:30 CET and is facilitated by me. Read more about it here or write me a message.
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Access Bars class
Becoming an Access Bars practitioner is an incredible gift to anyone’s life. You’ll be able to facilitate ease of choice for the people in your life by getting them more relaxed and getting them unstuck from their strict points of view and ways of life. The perpetuation of suffering and pain on this planet can be discontinued if more of us choose to be a contribution to health, happiness, joy, and possibilities. And this class is a beautiful part of that. Sign up for the next one-day class on Sunday, January 17th right here. Or write me a message if you have any questions.
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Sisterhood Retreat
My mentor and friend Jósa Goodlife created a monthly empowerment retreat series for all Global Sisters in diversity, who attain to stand strong in awakening times.
In January 2021 we are at our 4th retreat – and I truly believe that this one is for sisters who are willing to explore the depths of their existence on earth and make a difference in their lives and on the Earth.
“Through this retreat’s deep meditation guidance, we intend to be fully present with our own precious bodies and ultimately release old attachments to the experience of ‘being in a body’. Instead of expectations and projections, we turn towards experiencing the sensations that arise, within our breaths and our emotions.
>> Experiencing, relating, and releasing = Regenerating life. This is the biological principle, guiding all of life’s processes.
This first month of 2021, our special guest; Hildur Palsdottir will guide us through grounding practices using tools of Tibetan Buddhism. We will relax our thoughts into the body with gentle and kind practices, that allows our physical, mental, and spiritual selves to lovingly join in a moment to moment heart-centered awareness. We will accept our lived experiences as ‘The Path’ towards a compassionate heart and mind.”
Join us on Sunday, January 24th, while we connect back to Mother Earth and to nurture our sacred relation to her. Read more or get a ticket right here.
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Friday Access Bars Online Swaps (only for Access Bars practitioners)
These swaps happen every Friday on zoom. We’ve noticed what a wonderful time of connection it can be, as we all run our own bars at the same time! Expanding energetically all over the globe. So if you’re a practitioner, bring yourself and your magical fingers! Lay down, relax, and receive! Let’s have some fun and create the space for infinite care and energetic cuddles. Sign up here for the next swap on January 15.
If you’ve made it so far, thank you for everything you bring to this planet and beyond. By taking the time to create a simple life where you are in control of your destiny and your choices, you will start to receive infinite gifts from the world.
Are you willing to receive that?
I know it’s not always easy and unicorns on a pink cloud. That is why we have to keep learning to ground ourselves in the present moment. This is what I’m learning right now, and I hope that I can share some of my experiences with you too.
Make sure to write me a message or leave a comment if something I wrote here resonated with you. I love to connect with awesome people and new or old friends!
Grateful for you
Andreea
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