This residence, built vertically, was designed by Le Studio in 2016, and covers a total area of 68 square meters. It is located in the district of Minh Khai, in the city of Hanoi, Vietnam.It was built with the express desire of continuity, in the search for a place where the family could grow and always stay in the same place. Its interior is marked by the decoration of grays,..
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Public lands are all about flexibility. There’s so much to see…
Public lands are all about flexibility. There’s so much to see and do. Exploring nature and watching wildlife are just a few of the many recreational activities waiting for you. It looks like this young moose at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge in Wyoming is giving outdoor yoga a try. Photo by Tom Koerner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
7 Ways Mindfulness Can Unlock The Door To Your Authentic Life
“Many people are alive but don’t touch the miracle of being alive.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh, The Miracle of Mindfulness
In between work, family and social media, we take few precious moments to reflect upon our lives and realize the importance of mindfulness.
Perhaps, you purposely avoided looking at your life because, if you’re totally honest, it can be brutal. Just think about the tsunami of judgmental thoughts that swamped your mind and caused you a great deal of stress and anxiety.
Not surprisingly, a lot of worries are just byproducts of our society. However, our greater personal dissatisfactions are actually the result of our own internal turmoil driven by confusion.
Are you feeling confused?
You’re not the only one. Notice how confusion is self-evident all over the world.
Research scientist Kathryn Tristan suggests in her book Why Worry that at some time in our lives, half of us in the U.S. will suffer from anxiety, depression or addiction—the very opposite of an authentic life.
But, then something miraculous happens.
On your way home from work or a rushed meal out, the dusk’s rising luminous moon captivates you and you experience a moment of ecstasy and utter peace.
All is right with the world and you weren’t thinking about a thing. You were just alive and brilliantly so!
From mundane to miraculous
What was the shift?
The clouds of confusion lifted. For a moment, you were in perfect balance, consciously mindful of the miracle of life that involves you.
Here’s the big picture:
You were being your best, most authentic self instead of listening to habitual, self-limiting thought patterns.
Authenticity emerges when you live not just from mind and body, but from the heart which is your natural state. Done consciously, it is mindful living. It is the mastery of life.
A life lived without a heart and soul is a life filled with confusions. This can manifest as problems in your personal life.
“If quality of life is important to you, mindful living trades confusion for life’s magical moments—every single day.”
In his book, Living from the Heart, Nirmala said, “What you are seeing, smelling, hearing, sensing, and pondering is limited by and filtered through your thoughts. Your thoughts mediate between you and reality and interfere with seeing it more fully and purely.”
According to neuroscience, what thoughts are and what gives rise to them is still a mystery.
Think of thoughts as one of the many useful tools the brain uses to navigate our physical world. By themselves, thoughts are two-dimensional mind fences.
An expanded awareness that includes the heart means a far richer life that is fulfilling, regardless of the circumstances or what you are doing.
Shocking to some, you don’t have to do anything at all to experience an authentic life.
But, ask yourself this:
Would you rather run through a meadow at sunset with fences? Or the meadow of your life unhindered as far as the eye can see or even beyond?
When we live from the more inclusive reality of our mind, body, and spirit (heart), we open our lives to the miraculous on a daily basis.
How to enjoy the miracle of your authentic life
Slow life down each day
Although you’re not fully aware of the importance of mindfulness, you’ve been actually practicing it intermittently throughout your life without realizing it. Immersing yourself in nature, going for a walk and even hand-washing dishes are forms of mindfulness.
Recall how you felt a sense of calm and well-being within your body. Notice how balanced your world became. Now, do these things consciously and with your heart. Add yoga and meditation.
Life gets immensely satisfying when we let go of our mental expectations and enter the “Zen” or the flow.
Mind the gap for miracles
“When you allow your thoughts to breathe by paying attention to the gap in between, you move out of reactive-ness to being response-able.”
Thought devoid of the heart and soul is a form of insanity. No wonder so many people are confused.
You have the ability to tap into your highest wisdom and determine whether the glass is half empty or half full.
Minding the gap is how you go from continually making lateral moves in life to sky-high vertical limitlessness.
Whenever there’s a challenge, rather than carelessly and spontaneously reacting, surprise everyone by saying you’ll give it some thought. This means giving your initial thoughts some space to breathe.
Silence without judgment is extremely powerful and contains miracles. It shifts, even breaks, habitual destructive patterns.
Give up planning for 90 days
In Western culture, planning is thought to be one of our greatest assets. Google the power of planning and you’ll be inundated with reasons why a plan is paramount to reaching your goals.
Are you willing to open the door to the even higher power of synthesis the Harvard Business Review calls “strategic thinking?”
Strategic thinking lets go of planning initially, integrating intuition and creativity to allow spontaneity to appear naturally.
Albert Einstein said, “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.”
Rather than projecting different possible scenarios, be a blank slate by asking, “What’s next?”
Leaving infinite possibility open is to create a vacuum that life must fill. It’s more powerful than projecting imagined preferred scenarios which contain limits.
Say “I don’t know” often
At least to yourself!
Emptiness is very challenging when you are pressured by society to fill every nook and cranny with busyness. Your brain will be sure to scream it to you every chance it gets.
Emptiness removes all barriers, including you getting out of your own way.
I can tell you, based on my experience as a writer, that the muse is within. Any artist or creative person will agree to that. All inspiration arises from the void of emptiness.
Get comfortable with emptiness and learn to play with unlimited possibilities.
I personally prefer being a blank slate every chance I get. Like the unofficial Buddhist mantra goes, “Empty, empty. Happy, happy.”
I can easily put myself into a state of emptiness by watching trees blow in the breeze.
Open yourself to higher consciousness
In Practicing the Power of Now, spiritual teacher and author, Eckhart Tolle, extols the value of mindfulness by acting as witness to your thoughts. To quote, “So when you listen to a thought, you are aware not only of the thought but also of yourself as the witness of the thought. A new dimension of consciousness has come in.”
Have you tried being a witness to your own thoughts? It’s life transforming.
The beauty of learning to be mindful at any age is that it allows you to express your thoughts at your personal level of truth and authenticity while enabling you to dig for deeper understanding.
Don’t stop there. Yes, keep going. There is always more inclusive wisdom to discover.
“Let us honor one another where we stand, knowing we each travel
a unique journey toward higher consciousness.”
Be bigger than your body
Ask any Zen Master or Yogi and she or he will tell you that your identity is not wrapped up in your thoughts. Yet, it’s one of the causes of human existential crisis.
As you climb Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs toward self-actualization, you will come to realize that you are much more than your body. Only in the complete synthesis of mind, body and spirit can you see beyond basic survivalism so that you finally begin to thrive!
Know you are enough
Mind, body and spirit realization is fulfillment in and of itself!
There is no greater authenticity than to know who you really are as part of the infinite. Greater is the gift of YOU, boundaries removed.
As a guiding light, you now offer others, by example, the same freedom and opportunity. No longer confused, doing good naturally follows as you move from a place of selfishness to one of service to humanity.
Are your choices today filled with love?
Your authentic life
As part of evolution, aided by the tools of technology, human consciousness is expanding faster than ever. Living multidimensionally in mind, body and spirit will be your brilliant future.
Embodying consciousness, your new, authentic life will change everything for you. Your mojo is now working for you, instead of the other way around.
You will wake up energized in the morning, excited to be alive because you’re expressing yourself authentically. You will feel empowered like never before as things you despise begin to disappear. Freedom and prosperity will flow more abundantly in your life.
The importance of mindfulness is now completely clear to you. You will see the world and the Universe supporting you every step of the way.
It got you here, didn’t it?
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House Among the Olive Grove by Henkin Irit & Shavit Zohar
Located in Kidron, Israel, in an extensive area of olive vineyards, ancient tombs, and funerary monuments that divides Jerusalem’s Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives, this spacious, comfortable, and luminous house enjoys expansive grounds full of green vegetation, giving us the opportunity to easily be in contact with nature. The main idea of this project was to create a connection between the front and the back of the house…
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5 Steps To Release Bottled Emotions And Live Happier
Emotions stir inside every human each day and their silent pull ends up dictating life.
At times, we bottle up feelings and set them aside because we can’t say what we really want to in the current situation. In certain instances, we think our emotional reaction is abnormal and that no one will understand.
We forget all about our emotions and just plan to come back to them at some point. We ignore them for as long as possible — or until our neglect leads to a total meltdown.
Research has proven that suppression tends to cause more harm than good. Negative emotions can drag you down, especially when helplessness kicks in.
It leads to depression, anxiety, anger, loneliness and a slew of new problems to deal with.
Your risks of serious mental and physical problems are drastically increased, the longer you bottle up your emotions.
It’s a destructive habit. But, like all habits, it can be broken.
Here are a few steps to guide you on how to release pent up emotions and how you can live a more positive, healthy and happy life.
Step 1: Check in
Figure out how you feel, why that rude comment from your coworker upset you or why driving in rush hour makes you feel annoyed, and get to know what makes you tick.
Accepting and understanding your emotion will allow you to truly know yourself. This, in essence, will help you live happier and healthier.
Admit that you have emotions and that how you feel matters, rather than setting your emotions on the back burner. You may think that showing your emotions can make you look weak. In reality, however, it’s denying you have emotions that does.
Vulnerability isn’t a curse. It allows you to connect with others, to love and to experience what it really means to be alive. Allow yourself to open up and you will notice changes.
Try this: Take the time you need to think. Recognize your emotion for what it is, then choose how to react to it.
See Also: 5 Happiness Hacks That You Need To Try Today
Step 2: Prioritize
You don’t want to care about what other people think. You probably even told yourself that you don’t have an inkling of concern about their thoughts.
It’s simply not true. Everyone cares about what others think.
The trick is to prioritize what you care about and, most importantly, whose opinion matters.
Brene Brown, the author of Daring Greatly and Rising Strong, said it best: “When you don’t care at all what anyone thinks, you lose the capacity to connect. If you are defined by what people say, you lose the courage to be vulnerable.”
If you reach one extreme or the other, you’ll notice a total shut down. You’ll produce little, motivation will slip and you will wind up minimizing your impact.
Try this: Write down the names of a handful or people that matter to you. You can arrange the names in descending order or you can just list the people that matter the most and equally divvy your attention between them. Either way, what’s important is that you know whose opinions matter.
Do you really care what the grocery store clerk or your mailman think? What about your mother? Husband or wife? Children? Friends? Coworkers? How about your boss?
Make your list and ignore what everyone excluded from the list thinks.
Step 3: Know how to release pent-up emotions and take action
Express your emotions in calculated reactions by doing something. This is not the time for procrastination or excuses.
In step 1, you should have decided how you would like to react to specific situations or scenarios. For example, by keeping your cool or expressing your emotions in positive and proactive ways.
Although it’s easier said than done, letting your frustrations out in beneficial methods can actually help keep you from hitting your breaking point.
Doing is achieving. You can do all the planning in the world but you have to back it up with action. The time is now.
Try this: Let out your emotions with a hobby. Write, listen to or create music. You can pray or even meditate. All of these activities have countless studies that prove how valuable they are, especially in dealing with emotions.
You can also practice gratitude. It can help build better relationships, networks, career prospects and even belongingness.
Hundreds of studies have demonstrated how expressing gratitude can change lives. Its benefits include getting better sleep, having more energy and being happier, healthier and more resilient days when something unexpected pops up.
Step 4: Speak up
There will be times when you’ll feel something is out of your control, but keep in mind that you’re never helpless.
Speaking your thoughts will allow you to feel like you —your ideas, dreams, goals, challenges and accomplishments — matter to other people.
Ever wonder why a dream vacation is more exciting when you’re telling your best friend about your plans? Or why you feel more proud about winning first place in the 4k-mile run when you celebrate your accomplishment with loved ones?
The answer is simple. We need someone to care.
Try this: Talk to your friends, family or even pets. If there’s something bothering you, get it out of your chest. Knowing how to release pent-up emotions isn’t that hard. You just got to know how to voice your concerns, desires, and emotions. If you’re not sure why you feel so crappy, talking things out can help you figure out the real issue.
Talk to nature if there’s no ear available to listen or, for some reason, you’re too embarrassed to tell a real human. Just drop that emotional burden and move on.
Step 5: Never stop learning
Increasing your emotional competence doesn’t happen overnight. You must learn and work daily to better yourself and improve your life. Keep in mind that there’s always room for improvement.
Never stop learning how to grow and better yourself. The moment you do, it’s when you stop truly living.
Life is a magical mystery and it should be enjoyed with a smile on your face.
Emotional competency doesn’t mean you must only feel positive emotions. It also involves understanding how to better manage your emotions and why it’s a never-ending process. You must learn to make your life easier despite it being ever-changing.
Try this: Read constantly. Keep up with your favorite self-improvement sites, authors and publications. Find writers you can relate to- perhaps with the same struggles even- and learn from them.
Humans love to share what they’ve learned, so be open to listening to those around you. Even if you don’t entirely admire their opinions, you’ll still learn.
Finally, remember that it’s okay to feel your emotions, that some days you don’t have to be happy and that you can take control of your life. But, don’t take things too far to the point that you won’t go out of bed or shower for a week.
Don’t let your emotions take over or linger. As much as possible, don’t dwell on your problems. Address them right away and do something constructive to make the situation better before you react.
You have the power.
See Also: 9 Baby Steps To Happiness For The Naturally Gloomy
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Mill Barn Conversion in Hofstetten-Flüh, Switzerland by Beck + Oser Architekten
This barn conversion was carried out by Beck + Oser Architekten on a structure located in Hofstetten-Flüh, Switzerland. The project was completed in 2013, and covers a total area of 550 square meters. The home is encrusted on a green grass hill, and surrounded by lush vegetation and wonderful landscapes, typical of the region, dotted with local fauna and flora, all of which come together to create an image fit..
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June 2nd
3 Mindset Hacks For Unstoppable Workout Motivation
You’re reading 3 Mindset Hacks For Unstoppable Workout Motivation, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
Your body, as Anthony Robbins has said, “Is the only place you have to live so take good care of it.” But do you? Most of us don’t.
In fact, the first thing to be cut from the to-do list is usually exercise. Maybe it’s because you “don’t have the time”, or “it takes too much effort” or maybe you “just don’t like to exercise”.
Whatever your internal ‘devil’ tells you, I’m sure you agree this needs to change. Our bodies were designed to move. When they remain stagnant, we build up stress chemicals and, in turn, start to feel spacey, irritable, fatigued and even depressed. Not a good way to live.
A huge part of health and fitness success is about having a clear vision for your health and body and of course clear reasons to undertake the mission in the first place. If you have a ‘why’ that has some emotion attached, you will be able to overcome any of the immediate ‘pain’ or ‘inconvenience’ you might initially attach to the process of working out.
Having a vision and a ‘why’ will spark the motivation you need to have an incredible workout every time you strap on your runners.
So, how do you break through these mental barriers? How do you use the power of your mind for good rather than self-sabotage? Here are three simple steps:
1. Have a clear vision and a ‘why’
The famous philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said, “He who has a ‘why’ to live for can bear almost any ‘how’.” This quote is so relevant to approaching any challenge in life, whether it’s a workout or new career.
2. Practice self-awareness around your thoughts and beliefs
The “father of management”, Peter Drucker once said, “what gets measured, gets improved”, and the same goes for your mindset. If you are unaware of the negative thought patterns and behaviours that are holding you back from your desired level of fitness, it’s almost impossible to change.
Your mind will always find reasons why you “can’t achieve” something and put limitations on your life. Your job is to be aware of these limiting beliefs as they arise and see them for what they really are; fiction!
So, what limiting thoughts and beliefs are getting in your way? Perhaps you feel you look too fat in workout clothes? Maybe you think you are so out of shape, you will never be able to turn things around? Maybe you don’t like to sweat, or maybe you tell yourself you’ll be judged and mocked when you hit the gym?
Once you’ve identified the reasons behind your lack of working out, you can use your mind to reverse these negative, non-productive thoughts and, ultimately, get out of your own way.
3. Incorporate positive reinforcement into your life (reward loop)
Let’s face it. We’re all motivated by pleasure and rewards. So, rather than beating yourself up for not going to the gym, find ways to hack your internal reward-center and self-motivate.
A great way to do this is to shift your focus to the positives of working out. Think about how much better you will feel, how you will lose weight and how you will have more energy and stamina. If you focus on these positives rather than thinking of exercise as punishment, and thinking about how hard and painful it’s going to be, you’ll soon find it very hard to skip a workout.
Once you build these “pleasure motivators” into your routine and start getting into healthy habits, your results will improve exponentially. Your increased motivation will lead to more purposeful workouts and better results, which, in turn, will lead to even more motivation.
You’ll have a never-ending “reward loop” that keeps you spiraling towards better results!
So remember, think positive, practice self-awareness and create a powerful vision and why for your body and health and every workout will be an experience worth having. Once you master your mindset around training the rest will fall into place. You’ll source better information, workout with more purpose and, ultimately get better and more sustainable results.
By Andy Anderson, CEO of Ultimate You
Ultimate You and its three pillars of change methodology, mindset, nutrition and training, has helped thousands of people to transform their mind, body and life outlook and become lean, energetic and healthy. Ultimate You’s philosophy is that weight loss and fitness can’t be achieved just with a physical training program, mindset and nutritional habits also need to be addressed to achieve long term change in a positive way. http://ift.tt/2qHKAqz
You’ve read 3 Mindset Hacks For Unstoppable Workout Motivation, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
Blog about my new pizza business
I am writing another blog about starting my new business venture. It’s actually about starting pizza restaurant. I have no experience in food business. I have basically no idea what I am doing, but step by step I am getting where I need to be. The goal is to create pizza joint with completely organic ingredients, super fast delivery and tons of technology to help the operations to be as efficient as possible.
The blog will about the real time adventure in food business!
How to get things done GTD http://ift.tt/2skoMhV
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every…
Sig Nordal 