No man [or woman] ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s [she] not the same man [woman].

~HERACLITUS

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself [herself]. 

~LEO TOLSTOY

Every man [woman] must decide whether he [she] will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness. 

~MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep walking.

~PROVERB

There is nothing noble about being superior to someone. True nobility lies in being superior to your former self. 

~ERNEST HEMINGWAY

May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears. 

~NELSON MANDELA

Wise men [women] talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something. 

~PLATO

Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. 

~HERACLITUS

You can fail at what you don’t want so you might as well take a chance doing something that you love. 

~JIM CAREY

If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment. 

~MARCUS AURELIUS

We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. 

~T.S. ELIOT

You know everything about the world, but you do know anything about yourself. This is a ridiculous way to live.

~SADHGURU JAGGI VASUDEV

Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. 

~STEVE JOBS

Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habit. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.

~LAO TZU

And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that counts. It’s the life in your years. 

~ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Life is not about finding yourself. It’s about creating yourself. 

~GEORGE BERNARD SHAW

There are two mistakes that can make along the road to truth… not going all the way, and not starting. 

~GUATAMA BUDDHA

The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.

~MARK TWAIN

Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs. 

~FARAH GRAY

A rat race is for rats. As a human being, you can consciously create what you want without being driven by social compulsions. 

~SADHGURU JAGGI VASUDEV

Tourists leave home to escape the world, while travellers leave home to experience the world. 

~UNKNOWN

What we fear doing most is usually what we most need to do. 

~TIM FERRIS

Fear is not your enemy. It is a compass pointing you to the areas where you need to grow. 

~STEVE PAVLINA

Learn as if you were going to live forever. Live as if you were going to die tomorrow. 

~MAHATMA GANDHI

The dumbest people I know are those who know it all. 

~MALCOLM FORBES

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. 

~BERTRAND RUSSELL

It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to get permission.

~GRACE HOPPER

Without a major purpose, you are drifting toward certain failure. 

~NAPOLEAN HILL

So many fail because they don’t get started – they don’t go. They don’t overcome inertia. They don’t begin. 

~W. CLEMENT STONE

Pay attention to your enemies, for they are the first to discover your mistakes. 

~ANTISTHENES

You cannot control what happens to you in life, but you can always control what you will feel and do about what happens to you.

~VIKTOR FRANKYL

Out beyond the ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there. 

~RUMI

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine days into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.

~William Arthur Ward

We build emotional, mental and spiritual capacity in precisely the same way that we build physical capacity.

~JIM LOEHR

A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves as simply as something to aim at. 

~BRUCE LEE

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.

~ARISTOTLE

A superior man [woman] is honest in his speech but exceeds in his [her] actions.

~CONFUCIUS

If you want to conquer fear, don’t sit at home and think about it go out and get busy.

~DALE CARNEGIE

The bad news is that time flies. The good news is that you’re the pilot.

~MICHAEL ALTSHULER

It’s never too late to redefine self-control, to change long-ingrained habits, and do the work you’re capable of.

~SETH GODIN

The optimist sees opportunity in every danger. The pessimist sees danger and every opportunity.

~WINSTON CHURCHHILL

The truth will set you free. But first it will piss you off.

~GLORIA STEINEM

In matters of style, swim with the current. In matters of principle stand like a rock.

~THOMAS JEFFERSON

When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves.

~WILLIAM ARTHUR WARD

Most of us are just about as happy as we make up our minds to be.

~ABRAHAM LINCOLN

When your shift your order of priorities from “having-doing-being” to “being-doing-having,” your destiny will be in your hands.

~SAADHGURU JAGGI VASUDEV

I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dream that so they can see that it’s not the answer.

~JIM CAREY

The worst thing in life would be a death-bed regret that you’ve spent your life pursuing what someone said you should want, instead of what you really want.

~DEREK SIVERS

To be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.

~NELSON MANDELA

But there was no need to be ashamed at tears, for tears bear witness that a man had the greatness of courage, the courage to suffer. 

~VIKTOR FRANKYL

An unexamined life is not worth living.

~SOCRATES

It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents us from living freely and nobly.

~BERTRAND RUSSEL

How deeply you touch another life is how rich your life is.

~SAADHGURU JAGGI VASUDEV

What we have done for ourselves dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.

~ALBERT PIKE

Society is always taken by surprise at any new example of common sense.

~RALPH WALDO EMERSON

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.

~MAHATMA GANDHI

Each time a man [woman] stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he [she] sends forth a tiny ripple of hope. 

~ROBERT F. KENNEDY

You can achieve anything you want in life if you have the courage to dream it, the intelligence to make it a realistic plan, and the will to see that plan through to the end.

~SIDNEY A. FREIDMAN

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

~NEALE DONALD WALSCH

Do not ask yourself with the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

~HOWARD THURMAN

If you hang out with chickens, you’re going to cluck and if you hang out with eagles you’re going to fly.

~STEVE MARABOLI

Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it.

~GUATAMA BUDDHA

Be brave enough to live the life of your dreams are according to your vision and purpose instead of the expectations and opinions of others.

~ROY T. BENNET

Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.

~MUHAMMAD ALI

The two kinds of people who never get ahead or those who will not do what they are told and knows who only what they are told.

~NAPOLEAN HILL

Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.

~PABLO PICASSO

Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have twenty-four-hour days.

~ZIG ZIGLAR

Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.

~HELEN KELLER

You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.

~Jim Rohn

Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.

~OSCAR WILDE

I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.

~THOMAS EDISON

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

RALPH WALDO EMERSON

First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you and then you win.

~MAHATMA GHANDI

There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning.

~LOUIS L’AMOUR

Turn your words into wisdom.

~OPRAH WINFREY

You don’t learn to walk by following the rules. You learn by doing and by falling over.

~RICHARD BRANSON

None but ourselves can free our minds.

~BOB MARLEY

Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there. 

~WILL ROGERS

God gave you the gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say thank you?

~WILLIAM ARTHUR WARD

Change will not come if wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.

~BARACK OBAMA

A ship is safe in harbour but that’s not what ships are for.

~WILLIAM G.T. SHEDD

The wound is the place where the light enters you.

~RUMI

Trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit.

~MOLIERE

Whoever knows ‘the ALL’ but fails to know himself [herself] lacks everything.

~THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS

Judgement is but a mirror reflecting the insecurities of the person who’s doing the judging.

~JOSHUA FIELDS MILLBURN

I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion’.

~MUHAMMAD ALI

Don’t wish it were easier. Wish you were better.

~JIM ROHN

Everybody is a genius, but if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it’s stupid.

~ALBERT EINSTEIN

The mind is in its own place, and in itself an make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven. 

~JOHN MILTON

Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.

~GOERGE BERNARD SHAW

Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise so I am changing myself.

~RUMI

There are things known and there are things unknown and between are the doors of perception.

~ALDOUS HUXLEY

Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.

~MARCUS AURELIUS

The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.

~PABLO PICASSO

Do whatever is put in front of you with all my heart and soul.

~MICHAEL A SINGER

If you go out looking for friends you are going to find they are very scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you’ll find them everywhere.

~ZIG ZIGLAR

What makes the best of the best so good is a relentless focus on priorities, uncomfortable action, and zigging when other people are zagging. 

~TIM FERRIS

Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.

~NAPOLEAN HILL

Those who succeed in an outstanding way seldom do so before the age of 40. More often, they do not strike their real place until they are well beyond the age of 50.

~NAPOLEAN HILL

If you chase two rabbits, you won’t catch either.

~PROVERB

A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances.

~JAMES ALLEN

He who has a ‘why’ to live for can bear almost any ‘how’.

~NIETZSCHE

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.

~MARK TWAIN

Our only limitations are those we set up in our own minds.

~NAPOLEAN HILL

Believe you can and you’re halfway there.

~THEODORE ROOSEVELT

The secret to happiness is constancy of purpose. 

~BENJAMIN DISRAELI

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. 

~MAAHATMA GHANDI

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. 

~RALPH WALDO EMERSON

The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.

~EINSTEIN

You are the master of your destiny. You can influence, direct and control your own environment. You can make your life what you want it to be. 

~NAPOLEAN HILL

It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop.

~CONFUCIUS

Only he who attempts the absurd is capable of achieving the impossible.

~MIGUEL DE UNAMUNO

Success is not to be pursued, it is to be attracted by the person you become. 

~JIM ROHN

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. 

~WINSTON CHURCHILL

Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for. 

~EPICURUS

The discipline of writing something down is the first step toward making it happen. 

~LEE LOCOCCA

If you can dream it, then you can achieve it. You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want. 

~ZIG ZIGLAR

We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.

~JOSEPH CAMBELL

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive, and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour, and some style. 

~MAYA ANGELOU

To be continued…

Source: these quotes are compiled in The Captain’s Log, a journal that’s perfect for getting in the habit of daily gratitude, meditation and reflection.

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…all your friends and family think that you’re lucky

But the side of you they’ll never see

Is when you’re left alone with your memories

That hold your life together, like glue…

Lyrics from the song “This Is the Day” by The The

Thinking about my past so much was keeping me stuck in an outdated version of myself, like I hadn’t hit the update button in 15 years.

Now there is a lightness because I have stopped looking back.

Recently this song came back into my life while I was watching a movie that was set in the 90s and, as such, it was a double whammy of memories from two different periods of my life. I was already feeling nostalgic and vulnerable because of the memories that were being brought up by the movie from being a teenager. Then suddenly this song came out of nowhere and catapulted me from one decade to another decade 20 years later. It was A LOT. So, I sat on my couch crying because it was all just too much for my mind to handle and I needed a way to get it out.

I’m sure that sounds dramatic, especially if you’re younger and the line between your memories of who and what you were blur together with who and what you currently are. However, something happens when you get a certain amount of life under your belt where memories can become this dangerous distraction where one can wallow and become trapped. It’s a bit like when your friends convince you to come out even though you have to get up early the next day, and so you go but you swear you will only stay out for one or two drinks. Next thing you know its four a.m. and they’re dragging you out of the bar and you wake up the next morning feeling brutal, wondering why you did it in the first place.

I’ve found the past can have the same effect. At first it seems like a good idea to reminisce about a cute encounter or fun story that’s relevant to the topic of conversation, or the show you’re watching, or a song you hear. But for some, myself included, it doesn’t just end there.  For me, it seemed like there was always another caveat to the current story that bared repeating, or it sparked another moment that I just had to share. My innocent intentions to quickly reminisce often began a downward spiral of “why did I do that?” and “why couldn’t I have said this” and “how could I have let him/her get away with doing that?” This usually permeated me far beyond the conversation I was in, leaving me with anywhere from a few hours to a few days of being down the rabbit hole of who I used to be.

I’ve also seen others go down this path reliving what seemed to have been great moments. But it always ends up in the same place of wishing they could still be there, still have that freedom, still be doing what that person they see in their mind’s eye is doing. Either way, both roads lead us away from right now and trap us in a maze of our past experiences on an endless loop.

I used to roll my eyes when “old people” would repeat stories to me and pretend to listen politely all the while wondering in my head how could they possibly have no idea they have told me this story a million times. Then, somewhere between 38 and 42, I found myself being told that exact thing: “oh yeah, you told me this story before” with the same glazed look in their eyes that I used to have.

So, what was going on? Why was I doing this? Was this just a part of getting older? That didn’t feel right because my boyfriend (who is the same age as me) shocked me repeatedly when I would ask him specific things about his past and he would say he didn’t remember because it wasn’t important. I was honestly appalled when he would say this to me. It boggled my mind and I couldn’t relate because I remembered almost all of my past in crystal clear detail–I mean, I can tell you first and last names of people I went to elementary school with whom I wasn’t even friends with, either then or now. What compelled me to equate so much importance and hold on so tightly to these memories and how was that impacting my life now?

I was beginning to finally ask some important but terrifying questions. For me, the past was especially important because it proved to me that I had experienced things and done things, which is all good, but what I didn’t realize was that it was also trapping me in things that no longer existed and propelling outdated ideals into my future without me even realizing it.

What I mean is that by sitting trapped in this loop of my past, analyzing it, and holding onto these experiences tightly, I was inviting more of the same into my present. How could I change my actions and interactions with situations and other people if I was continually referencing my past ways of handling things. That was keeping it fresh in my mind, which then kept it a fresh reaction for me in the present moment, even though they had originated not as the 40+ woman I had become but rather as the 15- or 19- or 25-year-old me. As this started to become clear, it just didn’t make any sense to me.

Thinking about my past so much was keeping me stuck in an outdated version of myself, like I hadn’t hit the update button in 15 years.

So why was I doing this, what benefit could I possible be receiving that kept me stuck doing something which logically I knew was insane but emotionally I just couldn’t break. As I asked myself this repeatedly, I felt helpless because I just didn’t have an answer. And because I didn’t have any awareness as to why I was doing this, I couldn’t see a way out and that left me feeling depleted and defeated—I felt like something was wrong with me.

So that afternoon while watching the movie (it was Empire Records for those of you who are curious) and catching myself thinking the same thoughts in vivid detail and feeling the same emotions strongly in my body yet again, I became overwhelmed with sadness and started to cry.  Only this time I asked myself a different question. I said to myself, “why am I sad?” and suddenly, clear as day, a thought came into my consciousness that said, “because you don’t know who you are without these memories”. 

The relief I felt in that moment is indescribable. That thought made it all make sense. Like the lyrics above by the band The The, I needed my memories because they held my life together like glue. I had glued together a very clear picture, an idea of myself, based on all the things that I had gone through. To let those memories go meant I had no idea who I was.

How could I be almost 42 and have no idea who I was? Very easily if I had been using my past as a crutch to hobble along on with an old and antiquated self image that was no longer true.

I had been making it true, by reliving my stories good and bad, which then caused me to react and interact in these outdated ways. But this was no longer working because it was just too painful to keep doing this, it was just too hard to keep selling myself short.

So, there I was, finally in possession of the awareness of why I was constantly looking back in order to feel as if I could move forward, but terrified because I had no idea how to move forward without having the past to tell me who I was.

Luckily “knowing” who I was based on my past experiences no longer brought me comfort, it made me feel exhausted and sad. I felt like I had no choice but to step off that ledge and have a go at being the me that had no definition except for the exact moment I was in. So, I stepped off the ledge and have been free falling ever since.

An interesting thing about that song by The The – the chorus goes as follows:

“This is the day

Your life will surely change

This is the day

When things fall into place”

This is what I have found has started to happen ever since I made that choice to break the habit of getting lost in the stories of my past. Feelings of sadness have lifted. Feelings of stuckness have been replaced with feeling like I’m finally getting my mojo back. Ideas are coming to me again and I feel like I finally have the energy to act on them. People are coming into my life that are supportive and genuine. And, most importantly, I feel happy pretty much all day long. This one is the big one for me because when I was limiting myself based on who I used to be, I would experience 70 percent of any given day feeling anxious, worried, and depressed.

Now there is a lightness because I have stopped looking back. I have given myself the freedom to just be and nothing else: no expectations, no shoulds, no reactions created a lifetime ago—just me, the woman I have grown into.

I have space to cultivate that now that I have gotten out of my own way through dwelling in the past and, as a result, like the song said, I feel like my life has changed and things are finally falling into place. It was scary as hell to do, but I am here to tell you it is worth it.

Here’s the song “This Is the Day” by The The if you’d like to have a listen:

About the author, Kathryn Bisland

Kathryn Bisland is the proud mama of both a gorgeous little girl under two and a newly developed spiritual perspective that has brought her more joy and emotional freedom than she ever thought possible. Being a mama awoke her to the realization that the present moment is all that exists and to fight it leads down a slippery slope of stress and anxiety. After surrendering and releasing the need to make things happen by giving it up to the Universe, she was blown away by how productive and connected she actually became. This led to incredible shifts in her life, both professionally and personally. It is now her goal to help people find the life they were meant to live, lives that are full of joy in the little moments, so they can get off the stress/fear/guilt/worry treadmill loop and flourish.  

Find Kathryn on Instagram here.

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I let go of finding my worth externally and for the first time just did what made me happy in that moment.

This is how I operate now, both as a mom and professionally.

I’m sitting in the reclining chair; the baby, who is 3 months old, is asleep in my arms. I know if I move and try to put her down in her crib, she’ll wake up and then I won’t be able to get her back to sleep. A voice is screaming at me in my head, rhyming off the giant list of things I must do NOW for my business because I am so behind. Because if not, I will be even more behind so what am I doing just sitting here watching The View, as if I haven’t a care in the world, wasting time?

But if I move, the baby will wake up. She only sleeps in my arms for her naps and she doesn’t sleep through the night yet. If she wakes up, I will have an over-tired baby AND I still won’t be able to do anything work-related because she requires my full attention when awake. I was not given what they call a “dream baby” in those parenting books, who will sit sweetly in a swing for 30+ minutes and watch you work. I was blessed with what those parenting books describe as a “spirited baby” who is highly active, needs constant interaction, and who requires frequent changes of scenery every 10 minutes to maintain their good humour. And this is when she’s had enough sleep!

I’m exhausted and stressed beyond belief and wish I was asleep like the baby because then the incessant voice in my head that won’t stop badgering me and pointing out all the ways I am not measuring up will be silenced—at least for a little bit.

The feeling of being trapped, damned if I do and damned if I don’t, is all consuming.

I’ve come up against a problem that I just can’t fix.

When you are someone, like me, who prides herself on always having the solution, this is a very overwhelming place to be. In that moment, I realized I couldn’t do it all. I had to choose one or the other, and no matter how hard I tried to think of something, there wasn’t a way around it. I wanted to cry, my frustration was so deep and my resentment towards my situation was palpable.

Then something in me snapped. This seemingly impossible choice was between work and my baby, so how was that even a choice? Nothing in that moment mattered more to me than my baby. The thought that any feelings of resentment or overwhelm were being directed towards her horrified me! So I snapped and said no to anything but simply sitting there and making sure my baby was getting exactly what she needed. My certainty swelled up from somewhere deep inside of me and powerfully silenced the belittling voice. I felt an incredible calm take over me. I was overcome with the beauty and joy of being a mom to her.

For many, it may have seemed like a simple choice and I can understand that—we all know the saying “family comes first”. However, letting go of my “to do” list was symbolic of something bigger than just telling myself, “I will focus on my baby right now and worry about my work responsibilities later.”  Let me explain.

As a child, I loved taking care of things: my dolls, my cat, my “students” when I would play school.  I loved the feeling of imagining I was making them feel safe and loved and understood.

As I got older, this urge to nurture matured into trying to understand my friends and provide solutions to their problems. Or trying to anticipate the needs of my teachers, parents and loved ones. When I did this, they were happy and any potential conflict was avoided. That left me feeling good and gave me a sense of purpose.

As an older teenager and adult, this urge to nurture became more layered and complex. As I further developed my ability for almost always knowing the right thing to do or say to fix other’s problems, I began to rely on my sense of worth coming from my “fixing”. When I could make them feel at ease, make them feel important and appreciated, I felt the same.

Without realizing it, I was getting into the habit of making other’s needs my priority instead of my own. I was also getting used to validating myself by external factors. How they were feeling was how I began to feel about myself. If I could solve things then I was amazing; if I couldn’t, then I felt incomplete and mad at myself for not being able to figure it out.

What I was cultivating and buying into was dangerous because I was equating my importance and purpose in a relationship with being able to fix things for another. The more problems I could fix, the more fires I could put out, the more I could make someone feel better about themselves, the more worthy I felt.

This was dangerous in two ways.

Firstly, when I was making it my priority to ensure everyone else’s needs were met all the time, you can bet I wasn’t taking any time to meet my own needs. In all honesty, I didn’t even ask myself what I wanted. In fact, I had no idea how to do that because I had stopped doing it a long time ago. No one can sustain living like that long term and I was 100% headed to a major burnout.

Secondly, I also wasn’t bothering to make sure the people I was making a priority over myself deserved my help in the first place.  I didn’t check to see if the relationship was healthy and mutually supportive. I was giving my energy and love away to anyone who asked because it made me feel amazing to be needed. I felt valuable because I was providing something of worth and that made me feel worthy for a little bit. But that would wear off quickly so, in my rush to feel that again, I wasn’t making sure I was safe. This put me in the vulnerable position of being taken advantage of.

When you put out the energy that you are willing to prioritize the needs of others and push your needs aside, besides eventually feeling burned-out and exhausted, you also run the risk of attracting people without the best of intentions. People who, consciously or not, sense that they can take from you because you have no boundaries, so take they do without ever giving back. Without the exchange of love and support being reciprocal, you will become depleted and weighed down very rapidly.

For me, living like this eventually accumulated into resentment, irritability and sadness. I was completely ignoring myself and running around after others instead.  I also ended up creating standards that I just couldn’t live up to because people always needed more from me. I no longer felt my “hit” of worthiness, I simply felt exhausted and not good enough.

And so, fast forward to myself sitting on my recliner with my 3-month-old baby, torn between letting my baby down or letting my clients at work down. I found myself between a rock and a hard place and something had to give.

This moment was monumental for me.

When I said no, I crossed a giant hurdle because I was finally forced to prioritize my needs. When I let go of my “to do” list, I let go of so much more than completing tasks. What it really represented was letting go of needing to be liked by everyone for having all the answers so I could like myself. To be approved of by people for doing a good job so I could approve of myself. I let go of finding my worth externally and for the first time just did what made me happy in that moment.

This is how I operate now, both as a mom and professionally. When I focus my attention on checking in on how I am feeling and taking care of myself first if I am not okay, then I am more present, energized and connected in the other areas of my life afterwards.

We are told this story that as women (which then intensifies when we become mothers) we must nurture and that sacrificing our needs to take care of everything else is an inevitable part of being a good woman, mother and partner. But when I did this, I didn’t feel fulfilled, I just felt crappy.

How could I properly help, inspire and interact with someone else when I was exhausted? It’s just not possible, so rather than try to live up to an impossible standard I started saying no.

This was a story I was telling myself, so I made the decision to stop telling it and say yes to myself. Now I experience more love, joy and connection in my relationships because I am more present and energized. I encourage you to do the same. When you feel exhausted or irritation or sadness, just take a moment and check in with yourself and ask: “what do I need right now to feel better?” Then take 5 minutes to yourself, even if its just laying on your bed in silence.

Saying no to others is saying yes to yourself. Plus, by saying what you need instead of pushing it aside, you become a better communicator. I give myself permission to do that and I extend the wish for you to do the same.  It is vital to give to ourselves first so we can replenish and refresh.  Then we can give to others properly and in the capacity that we want to. Let’s start telling ourselves a new story where we prioritize our needs and give ourselves some love everyday. Then we can love others with more delight and fullness—and life will become better all around.

About the author, Kathryn Bisland

Kathryn Bisland is the proud mama of both a gorgeous little girl under 2 and a newly developed spiritual perspective that has brought her more joy and emotional freedom than she ever thought possible.  Being a mama awoke her to the realization that the present moment is all that exists and to fight it leads down a slippery slope of stress and anxiety.  After surrendering and releasing the need to make things happen by giving it up to the Universe, she was blown away by how productive and connected she actually became. This led to incredible shifts in her life, both professionally and personally.  It is now her goal to help people find the life they were meant to live, lives that are full of joy in the little moments, so they can get off the stress/fear/guilt/worry treadmill loop and flourish.  

Find Kathryn on Instagram here.

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If this was really a thing, really a place that existed and demanded respect and honouring, then it was my duty to slow down, tell my critical and judgemental thoughts to shut the eff up, and just be.

I am worthy of my desires.

This is my new mantra as I move forward with my life into 2021.

You see since March 2020 I have been experiencing many transitional moments due to living life in a global pandemic. And of these many moments, there is this one I feel compelled to share with you as it massively changed my perspective.

Nancy Levin, bestselling author and integrative coach, recently said in a podcast the following words that profoundly affected me:

“Honour the space between no longer and not yet.”

After she said this, I stopped in my tracks (or paused washing the dishes because that was what I was doing at the time).

I, like many of us in 2020, was in the middle of a huge transition. I had recently closed my business of 12 years due to the pandemic and I was currently on a journey of self-discovery and healing, both emotionally and spiritually.

Her words stopped me in my tracks because I had never heard anyone acknowledge that time in our lives that occurs between when something ends and as we struggle to move forward in creating our new beginning.

Here I was smack dab in the middle of this after closing my business of 12 years due to the pandemic. I was full of pain, regret, and hopeful trepidation sprinkled with the need to “make it happen NOW” to stop looking (or more accurately, feeling) like a failure.

I had never heard of anyone honouring this space between what was no longer and not yet. I felt a lightness enter my heart as these words suddenly gave me permission to just be, to just sit in a space that I now had a reference point for.

I thought to myself, “This place that I am in is a real thing, it’s okay to be here!”

Nancy Levin suddenly gave me permission to be exactly where I was and, thus, she gave me permission to break free from the pressure I was putting on myself to do something, anything, to prove that closing my business of the last 12 years (and the career I had been pursuing my entire life) didn’t mean I had failed and wasted my time.

As I sat there, awestruck, things started to make sense in a way that they hadn’t before. Let me put this into perspective for you.

I spent my childhood and teen years in the dance studio, training in jazz, tap and ballet with the dream of becoming a dancer. I started assisting at 13 and became a teacher at 16. As other childhood activities fell away, dance was something that I couldn’t let go of because it was everything to me—I even majored in dance at university. It was my life. When I graduated, the next logical step, after teaching for others, was to open my own dance studio, which I did. The one thing I didn’t do, however, was to ask myself if this was what I really wanted. I did it because I had always done it and because it was the next “right” step.

I was also really good at it, so I never noticed anything too amiss.

When the pandemic hit and my studio had to close due to the financial devastation, I was terrified.  It wasn’t just about closing a business. It was about losing my identity. I was Kathryn the dancer, Kathryn who owns a dance studio, Kathryn the dance teacher. Now that the studio was closed, I didn’t know who I was anymore, and I felt immobilized because with the business closing, my identity had been stripped from me.

So, to compensate for my “failure” I started pushing forward trying to make something happen. It became my goal to figure out how could I do something in dance that was different from owing a studio but keep me involved. Many ideas emerged but they all left me with a tightness in my throat and a pit deep in my stomach. I felt panicked because I just couldn’t seem to get energized and move on any of the ideas I was coming up with, in fact, they were making me feel exhausted and depressed.

Then a new question entered in my mind:

“If you’re not going to do dance, then what do you want to do?”

I realized that I had never asked myself that question. Ever.

That floored me. I was 41 years old and had never asked myself that question.

I didn’t know the answer right away, in fact I kind of freaked out and my mind went blank every time the thought came up.

It was shortly after that that I was listening to the podcast while washing the dishes and heard Nancy Levin’s words.

Suddenly I had clarity. I wasn’t just wasting time being confused and uncertain. I was in a place that actually existed. A place between what was no longer and what had not yet happened and that blew my mind.

I had been trying to race through this place until I got to my next big thing career-wise and as a result everything that I did made me feel panicked and behind and not good enough because I wasn’t “there” yet—even though I didn’t even know what “there” looked like.

If this was really a thing, really a place that existed and demanded respect and honouring, then it was my duty to slow down, tell my critical and judgemental thoughts to shut the eff up, and just be.

This realization lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. It loosened the tightness in my throat and made me feel grounded.

So I stared respecting where I was. Instead of looking at each moment with a voice in my head yelling “what are you doing?! Do more! This isn’t good enough, get there faster!”, I had a new voice saying, “you are doing great, this is all part of the process, you are respecting the space between what is no longer and not yet.” Time seemed to slow down a bit and I felt like I could breathe.

I also noticed that new thoughts began to pop up in my mind about what my future could look like that I hadn’t considered before. One thought came up clearly of myself from around age 9 of “maybe I would like to be a writer.” I had forgotten that moment up until now and, as I recalled it, I felt a lot of love in my heart and the exciting flutter of possibility.

Of my many thoughts this one really resonated with me.  As I considered what life would look like where I was “Kathryn, the writer”, I began to re-evaluate the things that had happened recently.

Perhaps my business closing and forcing me to re-examine my life purpose wasn’t such a bad thing after all.  Perhaps I had been trapped on the treadmill of “doing what was right” instead of doing what I really wanted to with my life. Could this be possible?

I began to realize that to be given this opportunity to sit in the bittersweet experience between no longer and not yet was a gift. Especially after the pain and devastation of letting go of my business and the identity I had assumed from my career after all these years. I had finally taken the time to stop trying to reach my next big achievement out of the fear of looking like a huge failure and just be okay with where I was right in that moment of my evolution.

It also made me feel much more certain that there was a bright future waiting for me. If this period of my life had a name, had space to exist, then that meant I was two thirds of the way through it. I had said goodbye to the business, which was no longer, and I was currently honouring the space between it and my new path. I had taken care of two out of three, so in my mind that meant part three was the next logical place to go.

I feel humbled and appreciative to be in this moment, writing this article that you are currently reading. You see, this moment is the direct result of me taking Nancy Levin’s brilliant advice and “honouring the space between no longer and not yet.” By doing that, I created space to allow myself to listen to what my heart was trying to tell me. I awakened to the fact that what happened was necessary for my transformation to occur. Instead of running from it, I stood in it and that took the fear away and brought me clarity on what to do next.

Without hearing Nancy Levin’s words, I’m not sure if I would have fully understood the scary position I found myself in after closing my business. That time deserved to be acknowledged and respected for me to move forward. Instead of rushing around and being distracted, her words made me stop and appreciate where I was on my journey. By doing so, I gave myself the space I needed to heal and then move forward with purpose and clarity.

We’re in a time of incredible transition right now: from the pandemic that brought many of us to our knees in 2020 to the hope and promise of the new year before us. My hope is that instead of rushing to achieve the next big goal, we slow down a bit and just be. Let’s agree to no longer miss the beauty and sometimes bittersweet experience that are the moments in between, just because it can be uncomfortable. By acknowledging those “in between” moments, we empower ourselves. We gain the perspective needed to propel us to our next level by taking the time to become aware of our true desires. That’s what happened to me and it’s my wish for you in 2021. I am worthy of my desires and so are you.

About the author, Kathryn Bisland

Kathryn Bisland is the proud mama of both a gorgeous little girl under 2 and a newly developed spiritual perspective that has brought her more joy and emotional freedom than she ever thought possible.  Being a mama awoke her to the realization that the present moment is all that exists and to fight it leads down a slippery slope of stress and anxiety.  After surrendering and releasing the need to make things happen by giving it up to the Universe, she was blown away by how productive and connected she actually became. This led to incredible shifts in her life, both professionally and personally.  It is now her goal to help people find the life they were meant to live, lives that are full of joy in the little moments, so they can get off the stress/fear/guilt/worry treadmill loop and flourish.  

Find Kathryn on Instagram here.

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Lately the message I’ve been hearing from different bigger companies is something along the lines of that the point of Christmas is simply food and presents.

And no, the messages aren’t about being charitable and buying or making food for those who don’t have it. Nor about eating less or more consciously because we tend to eat pretty poorly the rest of the year …

No—silly me. We’re told to shop like crazy, spend money more than ever before, and give presents because we can’t provide our time to those we love. I get it. We are visual creatures in love with shiny, colourful things underneath our plastic Christmas trees. And we tend to love and enjoy food in as big of portions as we can have it.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not against presents or eating well and good food, and all the joy that that brings. I’ll be honest: I love it, too.

But, in light of the stressed state or our planet, how can we celebrate more sustainably this year? Even though we can’t properly connect this year, most of us are still celebrating Christmas. We’re still buying holiday food, decorating our homes and buying gifts. This is the best year to start thinking about more sustainable ways of celebrating Christmas and other holidays.

So here are three simple tips for a greener Christmas that could have a big impact:

TIP FOR A GREEN CHRISTMAS #1: GO FOR VEGETARIAN CHRISTMAS MEALS

Choose more vegetarian dishes, as much fewer resources are required to produce plants in comparison to animals. For almost every traditional dish, you can find a vegetarian alternative. In Croatia, where I’m from, we love eating cabbage rolls (‘Sarma’, as they’re called in Croatian) on holidays, and they’re usually filled with meat. I make them with buckwheat, soy and a lot of spices. There are so many recipes today on the internet, but there is also space to be creative, explore and make our own magical dishes. Because food really is magic! And if we fuel ourselves with organic, healthy, and carefully chosen ingredients, our bodies will be thankful.

Where can you find these ingredients? You can start with farmers’ markets, where you can buy from locals and without unnecessary packaging. Many shops also sell a range of products, from different spreads and oils in beautifully decorated glass jars, to handmade cookies, beverages, and pretty much anything your heart desires.

TIP FOR A GREEN CHRISTMAS #2: DECORATE GREEN

I assume that a lot of us already have a huge amount of shiny things that we’ve accumulated in years prior. Consider using what you already have and add your own touch when decorating. Opt for decorations that you can continue to use year after year and not throw away.

Perhaps you’re away from home this year because of the pandemic or you just started living in a new place. For your Christmas decorations, you can find inspiration in nature: pinecones, branches, cinnamon sticks, berries, dried fruits and more. The options are limitless. Use your creativity to repurpose something for your new decorations. My mum has a lot of decorations, so I borrowed a tablecloth from her, and I’m using my lucky bamboo plant as a Christmas tree. It looks adorable. You can repurpose your houseplants as well or make your own tree from branches gathered from a walk in the woods. Wooden Pallet trees also look great. If you’re still dying for the smell of a real tree, consider getting a potted tree that you can later plant in your garden. If we still continue to buy plastic trees, along with plastic decorations, this season will remain the season of huge environmental impact.

TIP FOR A GREEN CHRISTMAS #3: RETHINK GIFT GIVING

2020 has been a tough year for many. Many lost their jobs in a shrinking job market. Kind words, smiles, love, help, time, and sharing your wisdom are all “things” that don’t cost you anything, but can mean everything. These are things that don’t create waste either and are sustainable in every way .

Can we give a little more love this Christmas? To others and ourselves? Holidays are about people, and people can’t properly connect this year! We also need to connect with ourselves first. Learn to listen to your true needs and be at peace with whatever you have now. Being at peace will help us stop this cycle of consumerism, of buying things that we don’t necessarily need, which is at the centre of our holiday celebrations today.

If we want a healthier planet, and more holidays to come in the future, we need to start making more conscious everyday decisions. Of course, this can be fun too: research alternatives and greener ways of doing things, explore, DIY, be playful, and enjoy this joyous and festive time of the year.

About the author, Ivona Tomljanovic

Ivona finds her passion in yoga philosophy. She believes that with consistent practices like yoga, meditation and mindful living we can be so much happier on this planet. A chemical engineer by profession, she strives to live sustainably and minimalistically and is also a vegetarian. She hopes to one day work for a company that prioritizes sustainable products and environmental protection. 

Find Ivona on Instagram.

Turns out being able to dedicate all your free time (which was essentially all day, every day) to being active gets you in really good shape!

By Randee Godfrey

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It’s been two weeks since I competed in my first show as a bikini athlete in the midst of a pandemic. My path to this competition was not linear, as are all the paths in my life that have led me to the most growth. I had always felt this small spark in my soul when I saw a friend compete or came across an inspiring IFBB ( International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness) Instagram pro photo, but had also always told myself that this was not for me. That I could never get lean enough to do that. I could never flex that kind of will-power, discipline, or determination when it came to food. I could never possibly work that hard to look good enough to get on a stage. No, it’s not for me.

HOW I LEARNED THAT I AM STRONGER THAN I THINK

I have more will-power than I ever thought possible.

And yet, here I am. Telling you that I did it against the odds of a pandemic, without a coach, without a program, without a plan, and whilst still sustaining my plant-based lifestyle. I learned so much about my body along the way: how much it can handle, how much I can put it through, and how much more I need to listen to it. I am stronger than I think. I have more will-power than I ever thought possible. I got on stage confidently and placed in both of my classes. I felt the pride and I was humbled by all the other amazing athletes there. I look at the medals and trophies and tiaras now and they’re fun, no doubt. They remind me of how far I’ve come and how much hard work I put into it, but they don’t stand a chance against the look on peoples’ faces when I tell them how I did it. This type of shock will always be the most rewarding to me. I beat to my own drum and that, to me, is everything.

That girl who told herself that she couldn’t, she was a younger version of me who had not grown to realize her own strength, potential, and power yet. She was still unknowingly and very slowly suffocating under the blanket of shame, unworthiness, and lack of empowerment the free world has tucked us all into. The more recent version of me looks back on her with tenderness. I wish I could go back and tell her to just try to wiggle a couple toes free from that too-heavy blanket, to take a peak out from under it, to just try braving the cold for a few seconds so she could realize that the world out from under that blanket is warmer, softer, more loving, and more beautiful than she could ever imagine. If there is something in your life you’ve told yourself you aren’t enough for, trust me, you’re overflowing with the power to do that and more.

The delayering of this blanket for me is a slow and continuous effort, and sometimes it moves in reverse, covering me back up bit by bit until I begin to feel the weight of it again, having to work twice as hard at peeling it back. This year has been transformative for me in that light. The beginning of the pandemic hit us all so hard. I had just started a new career–my first 9 to 5 job. I had always worked seasonally or as a gig-worker prior to this. A month and a half in, everything shut down. Like so many of us, I had never experienced furlough before. So much time at home, uncertainty, and stress led me down the Covid-15 weight gain path and before I knew it, the jeans I hadn’t worn in months suddenly didn’t fit. This was the heaviest moment of my year, both literally and figuratively. So I began peeling back that too-heavy blanket: I created some small goals for myself, bought a self-care journal, developed a new workout routine and four months later I somehow was in the best shape of my life. Turns out being able to dedicate all your free time (which was essentially all day, every day) to being active gets you in really good shape!

PREPPING FOR THE COMPETITION ON A PLANT-BASED DIET AND A BUDGET (ALL ON MY OWN WITHOUT A COACH)

I wouldn’t have a coach, I wouldn’t have a program to follow, I wouldn’t be going to a gym, I didn’t want to compromise my healthy eating habits, and I would remain completely plant-based.

It was summer when I decided to start training for the competition. I had put on a few of the pounds I’d kept off on end-of-summer rafting trips with my old company. This is when I decided it was time for a new goal, and just like that I saw a friend posting about competing and the alarm in my head and heart started ringing: this is perfect for me. I had no excuses. I had no obligations, I wasn’t going to be traveling as I normally would in this “off-season”, I had all the time in the world to dedicate the effort, and so I finally allowed that spark to flame.

Because I was still furloughed, I was also broke. So, I went into this deciding I would research as much as I could when it came to what I needed to do to step on stage confidently. I wouldn’t have a coach, I wouldn’t have a program to follow, I wouldn’t be going to a gym, I didn’t want to compromise my healthy eating habits, and I would remain completely plant-based.

I know there’s a lot of concern out there about plant-based athletes’ protein consumption, so let me put those concerns at ease and tell you I was averaging 140 g of complete protein per day. The only animal product I ate the entire duration of my prep was humane-certified, family farm, fresh eggs.  The rest of my protein came from plant-based meat substitutes, nuts, seeds, fruits and veggies, and vegan protein powders.

I watched every video I could find on bikini prep diets, plant-based competitor and vegan competitor prep diets, the more sciencey side of macronutrients, micronutrients, sodium, potassium, water, and… well, you get it. I became a bit obsessed.  I also enlisted the help of that competitor friend to answer all of my other questions about what the actual competition would be like, and her help was imperative when it came to the posing, peak week, and the walk— all of which weren’t even things I thought about when I first made the decision to compete!

The aesthetics of competitive bodybuilding is everything. It’s literally all about how you look, how you present yourself, your stage confidence, your muscle definition, your tan, your hair, your makeup … it was everything I had been working so hard at peeling myself away from.

CHALLENGES BEFORE AND AFTER THE BIG DAY

Once my carbs and calories got lower than I ever planned them to be, that all went out the window.

I think I managed to not let any of this seep back into my feelings of self-worth up until my carbs were under 75 g per day, which was the last couple of weeks before peak week. Once my carbs and calories got lower than I ever planned them to be, that all went out the window. Carb depleting is the most common way bodybuilders get “stage lean”. It’s extreme. It’s not sustainable, and it’s not supposed to be. I don’t recommend doing it, like, ever. I’ve already decided IF I ever do another show again – I will find another way. But that’s another topic entirely.

Here’s what happened to my brain and body during the extreme depletion weeks: Yes, I lost a considerable amount of body fat and that was probably the only part keeping me going—the tangible, quick results and the reward of seeing more of a “stage lean” body every week. In every other sense, I did not feel like myself. I was extremely irritable and I had enough energy to get me through the day and through most of my workouts, but not enough to want to do anything else, like talk, socialize, or have even an ounce of patience. Your body goes into constant energy-conservation mode when it’s being depleted of its energy sources (calories and carbs). You stop fidgeting. You sit and stand more still. You move less in general when you aren’t actively concentrating on moving. I’m normally one of those can’t-sit-still type of people. I’m constantly bouncing a leg to a beat, dancing in my seat, playing with my hair, and fidgeting with my nails and cuticles. As I’m typing this, I’m bouncing on my yoga ball to my Spotify playlist. It wasn’t until I carb-loaded during peak week that I realized I hadn’t been dancing in between my sets for the past three weeks (which is what normally happens when I do at-home workouts with my headphones on full blast so I don’t wake up my boyfriend).

I lost my period, and even two weeks later on my reverse diet, it still hasn’t returned. I think the last time I had one was maybe three months ago? I have an IUD, so this isn’t completely abnormal, but I can usually still tell when my week is. I have no idea now. My hormones are a complete train-wreck at the moment. For the lowest carb days of my prep and the first week post-comp, I was so unreasonably sensitive, anti-social, non-communicative, and irritable. I found out through more research that these are all symptoms of extremely low levels of body fat, deemed an unsafe, unsustainable percentage. However, gaining it back isn’t as easy as it might sound.

Reverse dieting is almost even harder than depleting. The theory is that by slowly allowing the body to adapt to more carbs, fats and calories, the body won’t panic and instantly store all of this extra energy as fat. Instead, the metabolism can be retrained to accelerate out of energy-conservation mode and these macronutrients can go back to doing what they’re designed to do within the body. I discovered that unless I wanted to gain 10-20 lbs of fat post-competition, I would have to reverse-diet to allow my metabolism and carb-sensitive system to slowly catch back up to my mental need for ALL THE FOOD.

I have been on a lifelong journey of fat loss, getting more fit, getting that oh-so-desirable six-pack, and losing just another half-inch, so having the goal of gaining weight and fat and inches is the ultimate mind game. My brain wants all the food, but my body has adapted to low calories, low carbs, and low fats. I did the typical post-show carb loading with vegan pizza and vegan ice cream and wine and a whole untracked day of eating so much that I couldn’t sleep through the night. It was, simply put, amazing. The next day I started my reverse diet at 100 g of carbs… a sad amount, but not miserable. The post-show binge caught up with my body mid-week and the self-worth I had tied to my cut physique started fading too.

THE TOLL OF EXTREME LOW-CARB EATING

My food options throughout prep had been so low carb that they did little to nourish my body or keep me full.

At the start of the pandemic my health, my mindset, and feeling nourished were at an all-time high. By the end of October, after adrenaline rush of the competition had worn off, it was at an all-time low. My food options throughout prep had been so low carb that they did little to nourish my body or keep me full. The amount of processed foods I was eating had easily quadrupled. My fibre intake was barely hitting 25 g a day, which is low for a whole foods plant-based eater. My sugar cravings were back with a vengeance, especially post-show. Reverse dieting is the hardest because the goal is the anti-goal of what I just literally starved myself and worked my ass off for. Mentally, it feels like I’m taking five steps back, but it also feels like I’m walking way too slowly.

Now, I’m relearning to love my body in all of its forms. I’m relearning self-control around the foods I can eat in moderation again, like smoothie bowls and non-powdered nut butters. I’m relearning how to love myself, how to acknowledge my self-worth, and how to show compassion towards myself. At some point during this journey, that blanket covered my whole existence again, and I’ve only just started peaking out from beneath it. I know what’s on the other side of it now, but it feels like I’ve been working harder than ever at wiggling out from underneath it. I think the biggest thing I learned from this competition is that the younger, less empowered version of myself wasn’t as far behind me as I thought. And that maybe she was right—maybe this wasn’t for me. At least not the way I did it the first time.

About the author, Randee Godfrey

Randee is a plant-based recipe creator, animal lover, entrepreneur, adventure enthusiast, and travel-addict, and is passionate about changing the face of the wellness industry to be more honest and authentic. She believes that vulnerability creates more connection and compassion, and that nourishment through healing plant-based foods, personalized self-care, and mindful travel are the building blocks for joy, self-love, and wellbeing. 

Find Randee on Instagram

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We live in a world that is constantly changing, but sometimes at a speed that we can’t catch up to. Or can we?!

Picture this: What will happen if a driver fuels its car with the wrong fuel? Or if they drive their car so fast and above the limits of the engine? Eventually, the driver will probably need to replace some parts of the car, the engine, or maybe even buy a new one.

Now imagine that you are both a driver (mind) and a car (body). Your mind starts to fuel the body with fast food, lots of coffee and less sleep, stress without rest, more sitting than moving, and too much screen time. Days become weeks, weeks become months and … you get the point. In this mind-body ride, we can only survive if we learn how to control and care for both our minds and bodies.

Our immune systems are often in distress

In this modern world, we’re often living in states of chronic stress or chronic activation of our sympathetic nervous systems. With time, these chronic states can cause high blood pressure, high heart rates or kidney issues. Our sympathetic nervous system stimulates (often unconsciously) our body’s ‘fight or flight’ response. In this state, our heart rate and blood pressure increase, and our digestion decreases. This is an ideal state if were faced with great physical danger, like running from a bear, but if we’re in that state every day because of our stressful job, packed schedules, or living life at full speed, we’re eventually going to deplete our whole system.

How can we stop this cycle of stress on our body?

This is where yoga, meditation and mindfulness come into play. By repetition of these things, we’re developing a strong and flexible body that is free of pain along with a calm, clear mind. We need to start implementing practices that reduce chronic stress, chronic pain, and overstimulation of our sympathetic nervous system. A regular practise like yoga and mindfulness is perfect for doing just that. Additionally, yoga movements like twisting, putting our heads down, putting our legs up, and other postures that we don’t usually do in our normal everyday activities (like shoulder stands, headstands, downward dog, etc) are important for stimulating our lymphatic system, helping to keep us strong and healthy. We want to keep the lymphatic system moving and in good health because then it can alter our immune cells if there’s a problem and move lymph faster to the liver for detoxification. A great way to start stimulating this is with yoga asanas (body postures) combined with mindful breathing.

Why is proper breathing so important? When we’re taking a deep breath, we’re making sure that the lungs are full of oxygen and maximizing our oxygen intake, which leads to better production of energy in our tissues. More energy means less need for different, mainly unhealthy stimulants I’ve mentioned earlier. Most of the time, we’re not breathing that way. That’s why is so important to improve efficiency of our breathing and include different breathing techniques in our everyday schedule.

Find a style of yoga and a yoga schedule that works for you

So, start moving today. I can write so much about the healthy benefits of yoga and meditation, but the best thing I can recommend is to start practicing and see what happens! Starting your morning with just a 5-minute meditation practice and 15 minutes of yoga can change your day drastically. There are various styles of yoga, and you surely can find one that suits you. From vigorous and powerful yoga practices, like Ashtanga vinyasa yoga, to restorative and more calming, like Restorative yoga or Yin yoga.

With yoga and meditation, we can feel so much better in our body and mind, and these practices are not just going to lengthen your to-do list, but rather they’ll help you to tackle it! These practices will help you to make space for the important things in your life and make you more conscious about your time. And you’ll just start flowing at your own speed. Maybe we could catch up with the seemingly messy and crazy culture we find ourselves in, but the question is: Do we really want that? And what is best for us in the long-run.

About the author, Ivona Tomljanovic

Ivona finds her passion in yoga philosophy. She believes that with consistent practices like yoga, meditation and mindful living we can be so much happier on this planet. A chemical engineer by profession, she strives to live sustainably and minimalistically and is also a vegetarian. She hopes to one day work for a company that prioritizes sustainable products and environmental protection. 

Find Ivona on Instagram