A little something about happiness...

After I published the post H.A.P.P.Y the other day, someone asked me "What's the secret?". This got me thinking......and well, here's the thing, I don't believe there are any secrets on how to be happy! No magic revelations or rocket science will come out of this post nor will my way of thinking make everyone else happy..... Am I always feeling happy? Noooooo! Am I always in a sunshiny-mood? For sure not!! Happy is hard work and the common misconception is that people seem to believe that being happy, means that everything is perfect.....well it's not, it just means that you have chosen to simply accept the flaws in yourself as well as the flaws in what and who surrounds you. This is not so easy, which is why I am saying, for me, being happy is not just me being lucky or living the perfect life....being happy is hard work and nobody else can do the work for you.

If you are not already happy, here are some things that might help:

• Focus your energy on what you have, not what you don't have!
• Look around you! There is beauty everywhere!!! ...if you are open to it....
• Forget the past rejections or failures! Look forward.....where you still can make a difference!
• Accept yourself and for G's sake, stop comparing yourself to others!!
• Realize that no one else but YOU can make YOU happy!
• Realize that the important and the longest lasting beauty is the one you have within and spend most of your time, energy and money on this instead of spending it all on what is purely superficial.
• Try new things, foods, hobbies, people!
• Be indifferent to other peoples negative opinions and stand up for what you believe is right.
• Stop obsessing over things/people/situations that are not as you wish....if you tried and it didn't work, move on!
• Know that you don't have to prove yourself to anyone but yourself. If you feel good about what you do, it shouldn't matter so much what other people think. If you don't feel good about what you do, change.
• Get yourself out of situations or away from people that weigh you down....
• Keep in mind that doing what you've always done, will give you what you always got....
• Think POSITIVELY and OPTIMISTCALLY about the future! I really believe it does help....
• Smile a lot!
• The rain will come, but it's your choice to see the rain as wet and cold or as refreshing!

Last but not least, make no mistake: Happiness is a mindset.

Everybody measures success, perfection and happiness differently.......the trick is to turn the prisma to put yourself and your life in a better light. Try a different lens....

xox

Anyone who has ever lived....

....has also sometimes gotten hurt. We all have our wounds. Some of us carry them with us visibly, physically or by behaviours and some of us have ours deeper inside, hidden and sometimes also forgotten or suppressed. They are emotional wounds. Wounds that take a lot of time to heal as you need not only to fully rebuild the trust that was once lost in others, but even more importantly, the trust lost in oneself. We ask ourselves too many questions! So many that instead if finding the answer by just looking deep inside ourselves, we waste time asking the question "Why?", which is probably one of the few questions you will never find the answer to, and looking at or into the lives of others, deceiving ourselves, thinking that "if I only have what he/she has - I'd be happy!". Nothing could be more wrong.

Everyone is unique, meaning what works for someone else, most likely doesn't work the same for you, and everyone carries their own happiness inside. I used to believe that if I could only find the "right one", I'd be happy. Thankfully, I have learned that it doesn't work this way....a very painful lesson, but one of the most important ones I have ever learned and hence, I'd like to share it with you. It is not fair to make someone else responsible for your happiness. Imagine the pressure of being someones life support system? ....and what happens if it is unplugged? You will be back to square one. You have to be able to make yourself happy and to be independent. I urge you to do yourself a favour by stopping to look to the outside world for happiness and start trusting yourself as the main provider.... When you manage to do this, you will see that it is much easier not only to love yourself, but to be able to really love someone else and to be loved.

"Who looks outside dreams. Who looks inside awakens." Carl Jung.



xox

Happiness!

xox

Dear diary...

Today has turned out to be such a special SPECIAL day!!

The kind of day where you have tears running down your face of happiness! The kind of day where you want to litterally SCREAM out your happiness to the entire world.......but that audience doesn't even seem big enough!

Some news came my way today and it's the best I've heard in ages

I AM GOING TO BE AN AUNTIIIIIIIEEEE!!!!

YES! In April and I am so unbelievably happy for my brother Tony and his Josefina!! WHOOOOPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

Allthough I just spoke to my brother, I can't even imagine what they are feeling right now... All I can say is that I am soooooo excited for them and I am already starting to imagine what this little person will look like, become, what his or her favourite food

will be, what the first word will be, what I will get him or her for the birthdays to come, when he or she will take his or her first step, if he or she will like cupcakes and so many other things - too many to mention! Wow..................really....WOW!

Tony, Jossan.....with all my heart;

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !!!

xox

Linda -Lost in a puddle of happy tears.....and in a bubble of adorable little baby thoughts......in Switzerland but SURELY planning a trip to Sweden in April!!!!!

Empathy Love Life Happiness Wisdom

I have recently had so many feelings of sadness.....not really for myself, but for people I care about.

In my mind, empathy is one of the most important attributes a person can possess!

Why? Well....because empathy is the ability to feel for others. Sure it can bring you down at times when people around you are sad, hence the sadness I'm feeling right now....but the fantastic thing is that when they are happy, truly HAPPY - so are you!! Genuinely, without envy....just ridiculously happy for someone else! THAT is important and it's a truly beautiful thing... This ability to feel for others enables happiness even when it doesn't come from your own fortunes and I don't know about you - but I don't feel like my own fortune grow on trees ;)

Naturally this sadness that surrounds me has also made me wonder, why is it so difficult to find happiness sometimes? Why is it so hard to see beyond misery? Why can't we see the lack of sunshine as the sun just hiding behind those clouds, taking a nap, just resting for a while and instead only see a dark, threatening cloud preventing the sun to shine? Why can't we learn to appreciate what we have instead of feeling sorry for ourselves for what we don't have? Why can't we manage to see the beauty in eachother and instead dwell on the draw-backs?

Sadly, some people are unhappy because they are afraid of who or what they would become if they weren't.... It's like so many other things that makes us feel safe or comforted even though we are clever enough to know they are not necessarily good for us! Like sugar (Amen! I confess!) or drugs (no way!), or that job or that person in your life that makes you feel like shit that you can't seem to let go of believing that you don't really deserve better? Well you DO deserve better and when you start to believe that - you can also do good for others and inspire them to see their own unique worth.

(Picture sources: http://www.flickr.com/photos/addran/page2/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/phitar/ http://www.oslcmonte.org/images/reaching%20out.jpg http://farm1.static.flickr.com/33/62253642_dcc82dd481.jpg http://www.leksak.nu/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/children-jump.jpg http://api.ning.com/files/YyiXBfR*BwCBSAshT6o2oajxMFU*TU1v*85Fs1fmoxk_/laughter.jpg)

Lately I've had the good fortune to come across so many words of wisdom from some truly great minds out there! You know the difference of a sentence and words of guidance (much needed) when you read them and they really "hit home"...you know, right on the spot!!

...it makes you feel happy, victorious, triumphant but it can also make you feel nervous, sad or full of regret. Either way, those are the words that will help you move on and move up (or move out? ;)) For me - this is so inspiring and so human!!

Let's face it....we are not alone...many people feel just like YOU feel and I am so happy some of these people share their life learnings and wisdom. It doesn't have to be known philosophers or poets, it doesn't even have to be deliberate or even good-willed! It can be your collegue, or your teacher or maybe even a stranger on the bus that you are overhearing while he/she has a conversation. Anyway - you will know and when you get that feeling, when it hits that spot - use it! That's an opportunity right there!

Here are some quotes and words of wisdom that recently "hit that spot" for me....hoping they might also make someone else take the learning from them:

"The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do" Confucious

"Nothing prevents happiness like the memory of happiness" Fariha Akhlaq

"Life is not a mystery to be solved, but a reality to be experienced" In my daily Facebook fortune cookie

"Be kind to unkind people - they need it more than anybody else" Confucious

"Out of every sorrow, another day will dawn" Eskobar

Deepak Chopra quotes:

"The known is the prison of past conditioning. We must step into the unknown to be free"

"If you don't have a shadow you are standing in darkness"

"You alone are the judge of your worth, and your goal is to discover infinite worth in yourself, no matter what anyone else thinks"

I am not ashamed to say that in most situations, I'd rather be seen as naive than cynical....
I believe if we always see the risk of failure instead of chance of success in every opportunity or if we focus on the obstacles instead of looking for ways around them - we miss out on appreciating life! L I F E !

Why can we never learn that life is precious and that it should never be taken for granted?

Love and regret - these two feelings remind you that you are alive like no other... Which one of these two would you like to be reminded by?

xox

Linda - Lost in her own mind again....in Switzerland

You know that feeling!!?

..yeah, you know? That feeling of being connected to yourself, your mind, your heart and your soul? Vivid! Inspired! ♥

Why? Well maybe it was the iron slash vitamin B12 infusion I got at the doctors office this morning, or maybe it is the fact that I've had a very good day at work? Possibly (surely) it has a lot to do with spending some really happy days away from "reality" by being on holiday with my LOVE.... Or maybe (or should I say very likely ;)) it's also knowing that in two weeks time I will be going home HOME HOME HOME (!!!) ♥ for a week to spend some much needed time with people I love so dearly and miss so intensly ....daily ...constantly!? My friends and my family!!! ♥♥♥

Wow! What an incredibly powerful feeling it is when you have been away from the ones who are closest to your heart for 3-12 months and then knowing that you will FINALLY see eachother again! It is completely and utterly overwhelming emotions that simply takes over and spins you around! I can barely fall asleep...it makes me cry those really happy tears!! I have butterflies in my belly!

Anticipation... So much anticipation!!!

There is really no way for me to rank who I miss the most or why... I miss all my friends and everyone in my family, all in diffrent and unique ways ♥♥♥

....but this time going home will be a liiiiiiittle extra special... I will see my ex "niece and nephew in law" (Enzo & Nelly ♥♥♥) and their mother, my friend Patricia ♥ who I also miss so dearly!! There are truly no words that can describe how much I've missed them! I have known these kids their whole life up until one year ago.......and I haven't seen them since

(only in pictures). I can assure you that not many days have passed without that hurting a little...without that instant feeling of sadness in ones heart when you're missing someone so much that it litterally hurts......if you've ever felt it you will know what I'm talking about....and now I will get to spend 3 days with them! I can't wait!!! I am so excited that my ♥heart♥ is JUMPING!

Those are the feelings.....inspiration, anticipation, love, happiness and sadness - all wrapped up together in a biiiiiiiig bubble that is my heart....about to burst!! That's how I feel right now..........

I am going home!!

"You may be one person to the world but you may be the whole world to one person" Anonymous

The ones I love are truly my world!!!
I hope you all know that and if you don't - then I am telling you now and will hopefully soon get a chance to tell you face to face; You are all unique, I love you ♥ and you mean the whole world to me!
...regardless if you are close to me and I see you almost every day or if you are miles and miles away...

To all of you; Take care of your hearts and your sweethearts!! ♥♥♥ You are the whole world to someone just as someone is the whole world to you.

xox

Linda - Lost in Switzerland for another 2 weeks - then home to SWEEEEEEEDEN

Follow my blog with bloglovin

HAPPINESS

Coucouuu!

"Reporting", live from the KLM lounge at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam ;)
Bored (as I've been here already for an hour while my flight leaves in yet another two hours) and tired....but still HAPPY....for a number of reasons actually...

I am happy because I just realised 30 minutes ago that I'm now actually officially on HOLIDAY until Tuesday!! YAY! Currently celebrating with a glass of red (alone with my laptop, the wine and a quite heavy back-pack as my sole companions....and a bunch of strangers of course).

I am happy because I will be spending the next 4 days in Cannes with my loved one and even though I know the weather forecast says rain, I will able to relax, be near the ocean and most importantly, spend some quality time with my darling!!!!

I am happy because I have today booked a long weekend in Sweden (!!!!!!!!) in the beginning of October (5-11th)!

....happy because, allthough this is also a little bit scary, it became official last Friday that my manager is leaving and I will be taking over parts of her role (NO I am not replacing her), which means new challenges (...and I thrive on new challenges!)!

Of course, this is also a bit sad because we will be loosing such an amazing chunk of knowledge

and personality in our team, but I know she really needed the new challenge and so I am happy for her ;)

On top of this, I am happy as I'm arranging a Halloween party this year and if you have followed my blog or know me personally, you will know that I LOVE MASQURADES!!! I can't reveal any details of what or who I plan to dress up as.........it will be a "Best dressed competition"!!
I do promise pictures afterwards though ;))

If you "Wikipedia" the word happiness, this is what you will find:
"Happiness is a state of mind or feeling characterized by contentment, love, satisfaction, pleasure, or joy.

A variety of philosophical, religious, psychological and biological approaches have striven to define happiness and identify its sources. Philosophers and religious thinkers often define happiness in terms of living a good life, or flourishing, rather than simply as an emotion".

I really believe life is good right now......and it's not just an emotion....not saying I have nothing to be unhappy about - but I choose to focus on the good things!

I will not forget about the bad things, but simply choose to leave the more unhappy or less pleasant parts of life to rest for a while. Why? Because life is too short to dwell on things you can not change. It sucks the life out of you! But the things you CAN change - do your utmost to get out of misery... Life is too precious to waste on wondering why you weren't offered a promotion instead of him or her, or why you weren't born with the perfect body, or why you can't get everybody to like you, or why you never win the lottery.... I will certainly complain at times, this is my right....no one is perfect and this is a big part of humanity!

But what I WON'T do is sit around and wait for HAPPINESS to just land on my lap! I already know it won't....unless you're one of a lucky few...and we can discuss those mathematical chances or odds for a while if you like, but I wouldn't want to waste my time on that either. I already know that the chances are slim ;)
Go out there and get that, him, her or whatever else! Kill 'em with a SMILE! Stay positive! Believe in yourself!! Believe that you can do anything! YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH! Aim for the stars!! Maybe you'll only reach the moon or the clouds - but so what? At least you will never have to spend your older years wondering "what if" or asking yourself "why didn't I"? At least YOU can say "I tried my best". Just remeber to choose your battles ;) Don't waste energy on trivial things.... What is important to YOU? What is on your "Bucket list"?

Dare to dream....dare to try and fail! What makes YOU happy?? GO GO GOOOO!
You can get over disappointment....you won't be the first or last ;))

I know I am repeating myself now - but seriously! "Try and fail - but don't fail to try"! We are all human....there is nothing to be ashamed of and we can never know how much time we have. What are YOU waiting for?

Quoting Deepak Chopra (again...he is great!) :
"In every moment of our existence, we are in that field of all possibilities where we have access to an infinity of choices."

xox
Linda - Currently lost in Amsterdam....Sending you all my best-red-wine-inspirational-wishes!!