How To Let Go Of Control

I get it. You had a bad day yesterday and you said some things to your partner that you really regret. Or maybe you're financial situation isn't great and you're wondering if you will get a call for that job interview. Either way, you are constantly living in the past or the future.

Most people are like this and that's perfectly natural. Actually, it can be beneficial! Thinking about the past can help us learn while thinking about the future can help us prepare. The problem is when we are living more in the past or the future and less in the present moment.

The reality is that we are going to make mistakes and there is always an element of uncertainty with regards to the future. That is life. But if you want to really live and enjoy life, you need to let go and enjoy the ride.

I'm telling you to let go as if it's that simple. It takes a lot of work. Fortunately, I have some tips that might be useful.

1. Bring yourself back to the present moment

When you find yourself thinking about the past or future, come to the present moment. You can do this by consciously putting all your attention on what you are doing; you can close your eyes and listen to your breath; you can also try really observing your surroundings.

If you make this a daily practice, it will eventually become second nature. You will find yourself living more and more in the present moment each day.

2. What you're worried about is not the end of the world

When we are anxious about the future, it's probably because we are in resistance to a potential outcome. But 95% (if not more) of what we worry about never actually happen. Also, would such an outcome really be that awful? You're not going to die if you fail a test and your life will go on if you do not get the job.

3. Find a hobby

Better yet, find a passion. Something that you can put 100% of your time and energy in. This will help you get your mind out of the past and future and into the now.

4. The Universe works in your favor when you allow

You attract what you are, not what you want. If you are worried, anxious and uncomfortable about the unknown, you will attract more of this into your life. Tell the Universe that you allow whatever might be and that you are competent enough to handle any outcome thrown your way. If you can do this, you will find you are attracting more positivity in your life. And when "bad" things happen, you will handle them with grace. Not only that, you will be able to see these negative situations as a learning opportunity or as "meant to be".

5. Follow a spiritual path

What's spiritual for me may be different than what's spiritual for you. And I'm certainly not trying to be pushy. But a huge part of spirituality is learning to be mindful, accepting and in the present moment. It has really helped me learn to let go of my need to be in control. I feel less anxious and happier.

You can start by reading a book or watching a documentary on spirituality or trying out yoga or breathing techniques. It can be as fast or as slow of a progress as you like. Either way, I guarantee you will reap benefits.

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How To Get The Body Of Your Dreams | Feature The Law Of Attraction

We Can Only Go Forward

The past is over. It's gone. There is nothing we can do about it. But we do have right now and a future to look forward to.

I was inspired last night while I was watching the TV show Switched At Birth. Daphne, one of the main characters, had been making poor choices and is now faced with some major consequences. While she was wallowing, her mother told her that there is no going back. Only forward.

I think it's safe to say that everyone is aware of this. They know they can't go back in the past and undo or redo anything. Yet, people often say "should've, would've, could've". This makes me believe that people cognitively understand this saying but they are not truly grasping the significance of it.

So we can't go back in time. But we can go forward. Really let that previous sentence resonate with you. We can go forward. We do have second chances. All the time. We can correct the mistakes we have made. We can start right now so that we can have a better future to look forward to. That's incredible. Almost magical.  

I also lived with regrets. Here is an example. In high school I was a very reserved, introverted, awkward girl. I didn't have a big social life. Later in my life, I found friends with similar interests to my own. Now, I have a lot of fun. Well, what I consider fun. I use to think back to my high school days and regret not living it to the fullest. I see it differently now though. I lived my high school life the way I did because I had to learn, grown and discover. Now I have fun almost every day! Why would I regret that?

I have another example. Up until a couple of years ago I did not harness my talents. When I started drawing again, I wondered how good I would be now if I did. But what really matters is that I'm drawing now. I can even see a difference in my ability over the past few months. Imagine how good I will be in 5, 10, 20 years from now? It doesn't matter that I didn't draw 5 years ago. What matters is I'm drawing now.

Always remember that the past happened for a reason. You might never understand the reason but I promise that there is a valuable lesson to take from it. If you have regret, make a difference now. If you done someone wrong in the past, become a better person now. If you regret not taking singing lessons back then, register for them now. And please. Stop living in the past. It will take you from now, leave you with more regrets, and make you miserable.

Be the change.

Hope this blog finds you well. Thanks for reading.

Ang

How I Maintain A Minimalist Life

I wrote an article recently about the true meaning of minimalism. I have been interested in minimalism and I have been trying to obtain this lifestyle of quiet sometime. If something in my home doesn't add value or purpose to life, I will get rid of it.

Reducing the amount of stuff you have in your home is not hard but it can be an ongoing task depending on how much you accumulated. I have been working on reducing what I own for quite some time now (maybe a year or so?) and I'm still working on it. I know getting rid of your possessions is intimidating, but fear not! I have developed a method for maintaining a minimalist life that I would like to share with anyone who may be interested.

1. Clean Out Your Home On A Regular Basis

Most people seem to clean out there house twice a year: during the spring and winter. I go through my closet and other areas of my home almost on a monthly basis. I will go through my stuff and get rid of things I know I don't use or don't want. Knowing that in a few more weeks I can do this again makes getting rid of what I have a lot less intimating. I would rather take months to get rid of stuff that I know I don't want as opposed to rushing the process and getting rid of items I may regret tossing.

2. Put Your Items In Storage

If you come across some items that you are unsure you want to get rid of, put them in a box or a bag and put them away in storage somewhere. A place where you can't see it. If a few months pass and you have completely forgotten about that item, there is a very good chance it's something you can do without. Then you can toss it on your next cleaning day.

3. Stop Shopping

There is seriously no point in taking any of my recommendations if you keep shopping. Even if you shop with the intention of being mindful, there is a good chance you are going to bring in useless garbage at some point of another. The quick fix to this is to reduce how often you shop!

4. Be Mindful Of What You Get Rid Of

I have a two flashlights in my home. I hardly use them, but I won't toss them. They came in handy when our power went suddenly for 24 hours!  Are you getting rid of that lamp because you have no use for it? Or because it isn't aesthetically pleasing? You don't want to get rid of things only to go buy something similar to it again. That's a waste of money and resources.

On a side not, when I say to "get rid of stuff", I don't necessarily mean throwing it in the garbage. I would recommend you donate, re-gift, or upcycle your stuff. That way they have a better chance of getting the home they deserve and staying out of our landfills!

I hope you find my suggestions helpful. If you have any of your own, I would love for you to share!

Happy cleaning!

Angie

Minimalism (unplugged)

Minimalism is taking the internet by storm and naturally, I'm interested. I have been trying to live a minimalist life for a while now and it takes time! I have 26 years of stuff that I have accumulated. It's hard to get ride of these things. But with time, you will notice your living space is a little less cluttered. And what a feeling that is. Space in one's body, mind, and physical space has always been something I live by.

If you do a YouTube search on minimalism, you will probably see things like "my minimalist room tour" or "minimalist room decor" or "how to dress like a minimalist". Isn't it ironic? Contradictory? Since I started watching these videos, I noticed I have been collecting more stuff. I need a table that looks like this or a article of clothes that looks like that to be a minimalist. I realize now that's total crap.

I watched a documentary the other day called "Minimalism". It was two men promoting their minimalist lifestyle in it's true and natural form. Now, they can literally fit all their belongings in one bag. That's intimidating to a lot of people including myself. But the documentary reminded me exactly what minimalism truly is. It's not about a fashion statement or showing off the lack of things one has. It's simply letting go of things that serve you no purpose or that has no value. That's it. It also teaches people to be mindful consumers. It's important to look at your purchases objectively. Will this item bring meaning to your life? It is helping you learn and grow? Will you love it 10 years from now? 

But minimalism will mean different things to different people. If you love art, it's totally OK to have paints, pens, markers, brushes and canvases. You love to paint and that brings value in your life. This can apply to anything. Are you a maximalist and can't imagine getting rid of your possessions? That's cool too!

I'm not blaming social media for my shopping. But it's easy to get a little too caught up in trends and forget the meaning behind them. 

I'm going to leave it at that. I think it's time to clean out my closet again. 

Ang