Tag: gratitude

Return to wholeness through nature 

Imagine walking through a forest with the trickling flow of water from a stream, overlooking a landscape filled with lush trees and plants.

It can feel so calming, so peaceful.

Being in the presence of nature realigns your energy.

I find it brings me back to my senses.

Just through simple observation of what is seen, concentration on what is heard. Directing my attention to the smells of surrounding plants and vegetation.

There is scientific evidence that suggests a strong connection to nature enhances emotional wellbeing.

Benefits Of Being In Nature

First, the cognitive adjustment in how we think and function is a complimentary benefit. The step of taking a break from electronic screen time and exposure to everyday tasks. Allowing the mind to relax and settle into a peaceful state.

Second, simply taking the initiative to get outside into a space where the senses can be awakened to ascend into a ritual of mindful surrender.

The natural sounds in nature such as birds, wind, etc, have a calming effect throughout the mind and body.

Third, the experience deepens your connection to the natural world and shifts overall mood in the process.

The effects can be noticed with reduced stress, lower blood pressure,  immediately improve concentration and focus, and the release of endorphins which contribute feeling a sense of wellbeing.

Fourth, the experience offers a deeper connection to life. A deeper connection to self.

With that felt connection is the soothing effect it has on mental health.

The ability to relieve anxiety in the moment, to bring calmness in the mind and body.

Nature provides presence with the wonder, possibility, and beauty for the creation of life.

It allows you to surrender to something greater.

An understanding that being alive is enough.

It teaches you about life. You notice the movement from the wind. You see the curiosity in how things grow. Exploration in how these living things adapt and thrive in their environments. There is a powerful possibility in it’s grandeur.

There is an eternal gratitude for nature as the sole supplier to our survival with food, water, shelter, medicine and materials.

It is part of the contributing factors to what brings joy in life.

Unhappiness turns into depression

The moment when prolonged thoughts of unhappiness turn into coping with depression.

What do the prolonged unhappy thoughts feel like?

They feel dark. They feel painful. The feel suffocating. They drain energy from within.

Major life events can be the trigger of these thoughts. When the thoughts are created they project an emotion of helplessness, hopelessness that accompanies the thought.

This is the pivotal point when a decision is made to attach to the emotion of what is being experienced.

Over time a pattern of thought and emotional connection continue when it is triggered.

The warning signs may show being tired frequently, not having a restful sleep, sad, loss of interest in life, withdrawn and isolated.

Constantly “going through the motions” each day. Walking around numb to experiences and emotions.

Frequently feeling stuck with limited options. Everything just seems so difficult.

The belief forms, “I can’t.”

Every effort seems like a GIANT step.

Suffering in silence is then chosen as the best option. There is shame and guilt for feeling like this, being this way.

The Role Of Presence

Presence plays a major role in navigating through depression.

Taking the time to process feelings and emotions. One way to allow this process to take place is through self compassion. This will help to relieve the shame and guilt.

Daily habits contribute to the thoughts and emotions. Are the chosen daily habits serving or fueling the state of depression?

Self care is crucial to aid in producing energy, calming, and giving self comfort during the healing process.

Depression is a form of disconnection. A belief that there is minimal possibility or choice to transform what is being experienced.

The shift happens when the power to change is acknowledged within yourself.

Therefore, connection is important to begin facilitating hope, faith, trust and possibility.

Implementing ways to connect with self and others.

Are there support groups or communities that have people experiencing similar things?

Can you connect with them to share in the experience? This will help to connect back in life.

The choice is eventually made, it doesn’t have to be done alone.

Unhappy thought patterns are slowly converted into outlooks and perspectives that offer love, hope, possibility.

Clearing the way for thoughts of being in the presence of compassionate, mindful and inspired living.

Do you ever find you have situations in your life where you begin to question, or doubt if you can do something, have something or be the person you need to be in that moment?

Being present in the now doesn’t seem possible with all the circulating doubts.

Thoughts begin to race. The search for answers to validate what is being felt.

Just getting swept away in shame, guilt, regret.

Thoughts resonate, “I am not worthy of….” “I am not enough because…”

The situation transforms into letting the emotions be the meaning of the present.

However, the emotions were created long before that moment.

They came from the past.

There is a story attached to those emotions. There are definitions from the situations that were constructed to support the story.

It becomes normal to be paralyzed by the thoughts of doubt. To the point of believability.

What changes the thoughts of doubt?

It starts with curiosity to explore what is beneath the doubt. Then taking accountability to shift the perspective of how the doubt is being perceived. It becomes an important step to give self permission to trust in the responsibility of living in the present which is always a choice that is available.

A person who acknowledges their capabilities has the ability to rewrite their story, which changes the meaning and definitions of what was. It now means the past does not dictate the present unless it is allowed to.

-Kristin Sven Larsen

Self acknowledgement reveals the learning, past success, and gratitude. It places focus on the inner being of acceptance with appreciation.

There is no room for doubt when focus is placed on what is possible from the learning, growth and belief in what makes up the capability.

Enjoyment is found living in the now when the doubt is let go from the past.

Accept

Struggle is something that can’t be avoided at certain times in life. 

There are two choices that can be made when struggle appears.

It can be accepted or avoided.

Accepting the moment of struggle means seeing it as it actually is in the moment. That could be subjective, but what it really means is to accept what is being experienced in the moment.

Once resistance is chosen as the actionable thought, the struggle continues to evolve.

Avoiding can take the form of denial, repressing or blame.

Imagine avoiding who you are being, who someonelse is being, or what the situation is in the moment?

What is being created by avoiding?

Permission for irresponsibility and disregard for choice.

Accepting of “what is” in the moment gives permission for accountability and allows for personal ownership of the experience.

Accepting the moment filters down to fear. A subconscious thought may be, “if I avoid, repress or deny what is being experienced I will stay out of feeling hopeless and helpless.”

This may work for a brief time, then the resistance and struggle compiles.

You cannot change what you do not accept.

It doesn’t mean you have to like what you are accepting. That is when the power of choice is is presented. 

Acceptance can turn into action. You can lead yourself to be in charge of the choices.

It is not about giving up and quitting. 

In that moment, accept the experience for what it is without the need to blame or avoid no matter what the fear may be.

Acceptance shifts the experience. It opens the door to welcome new ways of being.

New ways of being create opportunities and possibilities. 

Acceptance can be thought of as a mirror reflection of what’s possible.

  • Frustration – Satisfied
  • Irritable – Patient
  • Anger – Calm
  • Mistake – Learning

A realization needs to develop through the choices of accepting what is happening. It makes it easier to accept the fears that are being avoided because accountability is formed from being present in the moment.

 

Photo Credit: Jeremy Yap

Acknowledge

The constructs of life are moments and experiences.

Within those experiences are the moments that accompany a choice. The choice to be present with them or let them pass by without acknowledging them.

It requires acknowledging them for what they are. Acknowledgment gets lost when they are viewed as what they are not or what they could be.

The experiences could be made from interactions with others or how a situation is presenting itself.

To acknowledge something means to admit it’s existence, to admit something has been received.

There are many aspects in life that can be acknowledged. It is part of the process of presence.

Acknowledge yourself. This could be through appreciation of who you are being in life or what you are doing in life. What you have in life. 

Allowing ourselves to acknowledge all our feelings and thoughts in their true form. With or without judgement. Simply acknowledging they exist.

It could also be accountability. Acknowledging mistakes or short comings. It helps to move from a place of fear and opens the window of possibility.

Most importantly, acknowledge where you are, in any experience. Being present to what is happening or the people you are connecting with in that experience.

Choose to acknowledge the gratitude for the experience. Then it will be present in the experience.

This means appreciating yourself, appreciating others and appreciating life. 

Celebrating all the elements that contribute to the moment you are living in.

It can mean shifting focus and changing the narrative. A perspective that creates hope and possibility.

It can mean admitting what is real and then deciding how to acknowledge the moment as it continues.

 

 

Photo Credit: Marcos Paulo Prado

Hello,

My name is Kristin Larsen.

You might be wondering, “What brought me to this moment?”
My journey has not always been easy. There were many years of struggle filled with self-judgment, perfectionism, self-doubt and worry. They were fueled by the feelings of inadequacy; not feeling worthy or enough. This mental suffering created a world of depression and anxiety, which made every day seem hopeless. It made me feel helpless…

Eventually, a moment came where I made a choice

I could continue living in suffering or begin taking steps to change the situation that I was creating. It was through health habit change, dedication to personal growth, and self-compassion that I chose to transform internal suffering into a new way of living. This journey helped me live into my core values of:

 

integrity, courage, connection, giving, creativity, growth & compassion!

 

On this journey there were many small steps that created change and brought clarity to my life. This revealed more opportunities and challenges. With self-compassion and going within, I was able to overcome those challenges and step into the opportunities which molded me into who I am today. That was when the realization came, I was forging a new path. 

At that point I realized, my journey is never-ending

To continue growing as a person, as a father, as a husband and as a friend, I decided to make an investment. That investment was in building my awareness and becoming more present. I asked myself, “who am I in my life?” I chose to embrace inner peace and awaken to a new source of love and acceptance.

 

From the source of “I AM” enough,

I am capable of being exactly

who I want to be,

I am worthy of

Whatever I Choose,

I am

Blessed

& I appreciate

My Life