Start your day with a kind act to yourself

In these days I’m listening to the audiobook ‘The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times‘, written by Michelle Obama. The audio version is read by the author and I could continue listening to Michelle Obama’s voice for hours.

In the chapter I heard today, she writes about how crucial it is to start our days with a kind gesture to ourselves. It could be, for example, something like greeting yourself with kind words, looking at your image reflected in the mirror first thing in the morning.

I reflected immediately about how I start my days and individuated pretty fast my kind gesture to myself. In the morning, I like taking time to prepare me a healthy breakfast with fresh fruits, seeds, cereals, yogurt, a coffee and a fresh pressed orange juice. I even listen to music while preparing and eating my breakfast. In this way I not only nourish my body, but I also nourish my soul, starting my days in a slow way.

We are the most important person in our life and sometimes we tend to forget it, putting other priorities first. When we start the day doing something kind to ourselves, the chances that our day will be a good one increase.

Honor your mornings, for example by looking at the sunrise

Life is a game

This is the real secret of life: to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.
Alan Watts

I heard once in an audiobook that if you take your life as a game, you will live it with more lightness. You will start to see everything that comes into your life as a sportive challenge for which there is no win or lose but only growth. Being present in what we are doing is a way to experience life fully. Even work can be taken as a mindful play: we have some tasks to do and can complete them like levels in a videogame, one after the other.
More lightness: I think everyone needs it. We tend to take life so seriously that sometimes we miss the pure pleasure of living it.

A stupid picture: last week I meditated with our plush “Il ranocchio”, The frog. Just for fun 😅

Rely on each other

We are on Dominica since Sunday. This green island offers a lot of possibilities to hike. Yesterday we hiked all the way from Wotton Waven to the falls of Titou Gorge and this was a long hike. Therefore today we wanted to take it smoothly and decided to walk from Wotton Waven to the Trafalgar Falls which is about a one hour hike.

But there is a but: when we came to the falls one tourist guide approached us asking if we wanted to go to the warm pools with him. At first we weren’t sure but then we accepted. And soon he started to climb among the rocks in the falls. It was for me a big challenge to get to these warm pools. It was difficult to take big steps in order not to fall in the water and some of the rocks were so wet that I almost slipped. The view when we got there was amazing but I was already afraid about the way back that I could not even enjoy it.

Then another guide came to us and brought us back. He helped me all the way back, offering me his hands as a support and I was so grateful about it. He held me between the rocks and gave me advices about where to make the next step. I didn’t even know his name but I trusted him immediately. I came with his guide to the base: I was sweat but also proud of me.

This experience showed me how we can always rely on each other in life, even if we don’t know the other person. I also trust more my hands and feet that calmed down my mind showing me that I can even do difficult things.

The best time is Now

If you wait until everything in your life is perfect before you begin something challenging and new, you’ll be waiting forever. The best time is Now.
Bill Phillips

The present moment is everything you have. It is now the perfect time to make that change you are dreaming of. If you don’t act immediately, you could miss the chance. It is very important to set specific goals and to have a clear vision about who you want to become. You don’t have to revolutionize your life in one fell swoop. It is by starting with small steps that you begin to move in the right direction. Difficulties will come on your way but you don’t have to doubt about your abilities. You should always have faith in your skills and know that there is always the possibility to get back on track. You just have this life, get the best out of it. You deserve it!

Look yourself in the mirror and define who you want to be then go and become it.

On energy, discipline and goals

Energy creates energy. It is by spending myself that I become rich.
Sarah Bernhardt

When you commit in life in achieving a particular goal and you move your energy in that direction, this increases. It’s by spending yourself that you get gratification. The good thing is that energy creates energy and therefore your productivity will grow.

Discipline is the tool that will enable you to follow and track your goals, improving everyday.

Do not underestimate the power of setting goals in life because if you don’t do it you will feel off track. So in case you still haven’t, sit down and grab a piece of paper. Write down what you’d like to achieve and be aware that it’s never too late in life to start. What are you waiting for? The best moment to start something is now.

It’s by looking further that you discover the rainbow

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is simply being

aware of what’s happening

right now without wishing it

were different;

enjoying the pleasant without

holding on when it changes

(which it will);

being with the unpleasant

without fearing it will always

be this way (which it won’t).
James Baraz

Being present in every moment, accepting it as it is and being aware that life is in constant change: this is the secret of a mindful life. Everything will pass, you and your awareness will remain. So trust the process and live your life with your full potential, this is the only way not to regret it at the end. Do not hide yourself, show always up. You own it to yourself.

The Leonardo Project

Today I would like to share with you a story about the past. My past, when I was almost a teenager.

So we are talking about the 90s in Italy, when I attended the “Middle School” (it. scuola media, 10-13 years old). Since my parents were both working in the production and logistic of two multinational companies (Unilever and Artsana), they chose to send me to school in the afternoon by subscribing me to a particular new project.

The name of this project was “The Leonardo Project”. Yes Leonardo as that Leonardo. What was it about? – You may ask yourself.

It was a full day school project. When I was lucky, I was able to be at home at 14:15 and when I was even luckier, I got the chance to stay at school for lunch and come back home at 16:15. Saturday was also a mandatory school day.

Why am I grateful about it even now when I live in Germany and I’m 36?! This question has a simple answer: I learned a lot of things at that time. Since I was good in school, I got the chance to learn Latin and German. I had the opportunity to learn to swim and play real hockey with my school mates. I had the first mobbing experiences because I was too sporty and the other girls too jealous. I had the possibility to learn art and art history. I felt passionate about writing and learned my mother language Italian in its depth. I could take part to a group of theater and even write a screenplay.

Giving your children to school care is always a good decision: you should never regret it or think you are an absent parent. I hope my mother and my father didn’t even think like this for a second.

Today is Thanksgiving Day in the US and I’m grateful about that time, that project, those teachers and my middle school. I’m grateful about my parents who decided a very good thing for my education. I’m grateful about my sister which helped me out in dealing with mobbing with extreme class. I’m grateful about those boys and girls who shared with me that time.

I didn’t forget.

Feeling out of balance?

Sometimes, when you feel that your energy is low, the solution might not be resting. What you may need could be some quality time doing things that make you feel good.

Seeing a friend, doing sport, going for a walk or practicing self-care can bring your energy back faster than being lazy on the couch.

In the last few months my energy level was low, I couldn’t find peace and regenerate. I felt out of balance and I couldn’t help myself. I needed to do something good for my soul. I came to the conclusion that I was feeling homesickness. So I booked a flight to Milan because I needed time with my dearest friends and my mother.

Two weeks ago the day arrived and I flew for the weekend to Milan. I saw most of my oldest friends and my mother, I had good talks and loud laughs with them. This trip was exactly what I needed. On my way home I felt more energetic and I was so grateful for this time in Milan with my people.

In order to recharge, sometimes taking action works better than pure and classical rest. So, the next time you feel out of balance, ask yourself: “What do I need most?” Maybe spending time with your dearest friends is a better alternative to laying down on the couch.

Celebrate your life

The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.
Oprah Winfrey

It is when you start to focus on the small joys that you notice your life is full of them. In this process it’s important that you learn to accept your life as it is with all the challenges you are facing, seeing them as a possibility to grow.

Putting the light on the beautiful things in your life by naming and celebrating them will give you a sense of inner peace.

Happiness is love and you start to feel happy when you begin to love your life as it is without fighting against yourself. A positive mindset attracts positive things so that you will find yourself celebrating your life in every possible occasion. You will be able, for example, to notice and appreciate a small thing like a beautiful flower in your garden.

Recognize the beauty in your life

Recently I passed by this beautiful fountain which is on a street I often walk. I’ve never noticed it before and I got fascinated by the beauty of its architectural idea.

When we open our eyes to the beauty of the world it changes our perspective.

Everyday take a moment to reflect on what surprised you positively. By naming what makes your life beautiful you can train yourself to see the bright side of life also in difficult periods. If you do it regularly, you will be surprised how easy it gets to notice the beautiful things you encounter during your day.

Riflesso negli occhi

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Category: Behaviour