Living life on a mission of fulfilling one crazy dream at a time is a wonderfully challenging and fulfilling way to live. The more dreams you realize, the more you’ll understand what I mean. In the midst of awesomeness – do you ever pause and think about how amazing your life is?

On the other side, making dreams come true will inevitably and simultaneously lead you into a road of defeat, challenges, obstacles and failures. It’s part of the game! So no matter if you’re on a streak of success or you’re in troubled water – there’s one thing that will always be your friend. Gratitude.

Gratitude is a way of life.

Personally, I’ve found so much encouragement, happiness and love from focusing on what I’m grateful for rather than what I don’t have. I ain’t saying it’s easy. Actually, it’s tough as hell sometimes. But it is possible, and you’ll find great results!

Here’s what I do to keep gratitude fresh:

• Write gratitude tweets like the ones above to help focus on the good stuff
• Take Instagram photos of things, places and people who make life joyful and bright
• Try to shift a setback or challenge into something positive
• Refer to the list of 48 things to be grateful for when nothing else comes to mind (see below)

48 things to be grateful for

Everything is possible

I’ll tell you a little secret, except it’s not secret at all: There are no limitations on how you can live your life. EVERYTHING. IS. POSSIBLE. Now, if that’s not something to be grateful for (every day!), then we need to have a serious talk.

Dreams in the making

Are a girl on a mission? Are you making conscious choices and living the life you want to live? Are you on your way to dream come true? Be grateful for the path you’re on, the joy it gives you and the hope you’re experiencing.

Dreams come true

Even better! Make a list of all the dreams you’ve had that you made come true! This list will be the ultimate inspiration list to achieve even more and bigger goals.

Being able to help others

Be grateful when you find yourself in a position to help others, because it means you are abundant. Think of it this way: You are so plentiful, you are filled to the brim, you have more to give! It’s a wonderful situation to be in, and think about how you are making an impact on someone else’s life.

Family

Familiy is familiy, and no matter if you’re close or not – think about what your family members actually mean to you. It’s well worth your time to take a few moments and appreaciate all the good things about your family. Bonus points if you call your mum and thank her for everything she has ever done for you !

Friends

It’s easy to be grateful for good friends. Do you remember to tell them too? For your own sake, it can be really nice to write a list of all your friends and a little note on what about each one you’re grateful for.

Being thought of

“I’ll think about you,” she said while I was standing on her doorstep, tears flowing down my cheeks. Being thought of, especiall during hard times, really means a lot, and to this day, I am so grateful for those four words she said before I left. Is anyone thinking of you right now? Maybe someone is worried about you? Or just really care? (Or maybe someone is deeply in love and can’t stop thinking about you!?) Time to add it to your list of wonderful things to be grateful for.

Moments with strangers

Sometimes a shared moment with a stranger makes your day really special. It’s when you see something funny and realize the person next to you on the bus saw the same thing and is trying to keep his laughter in. You eyes meet for a second, and suddenly you’re both laughing out loud. He’s getting off at the next stop and you’ll probably never see each other again, but that moment probably made both of your days. That moment – be grateful for it. Just thinking about it will make you smile.

Your strength

You are probably stronger than you think! Being grateful for what you have achieved, endured and lived through can only lead to good things. Take a moment and appreciate what you’re good at, how well you manage. Well done!

Good health

Health is the most imporant thing, and yet we often take our good health for granted. Even if you’re not in perfect health at the moment, it is possible to be grateful for what you have, when you feel better, that it ain’t worse.

Opportunities

It’s easy to be grateful when a wonderful opportunity opens up, but gratitude can also work the other way around. Be grateful for opportunities and look back at the last few days. What kind of opportunities were you given? Does something strike you as a great opportunity now that you didn’t immediately realize then? For example – invites, requests, demands of attention, changes of plans might look more like an opportunity now than it did when you were first presented for it.

The place you were born

Chances are, if you’re reading this right now, that you live in a well-developed and modern country. It’s so easy to take this for granted! Personally, I’m lucky to be living in one of the richest countries in the world (thank you, oil), and I very often take that for granted. Think about all the benefits of living where you do – do you have great health care, universities, media industry or sunshiny warm weather? Do you have the best food tradition, holiday locations or job opportunities? Even if you don’t have it all – appreciate what you’ve got!

Your job

In uncertain times, you can be grateful for your job. Even if you don’t like what you’re doing, or you’re paid next-to-nothing, there are always things to be grateful for: the best boss, co-workers, work-time or the prettiest view from the office. You have wonderful customers or clients, great opportunities or are you just lucky to have a job at all? There are positive sides and lots of gratitude potential in your job!

Your wealth

Food on the table, money to spare, money in the bank, enough to come by, 5 dollars for a magazine, a small side-income, making money doing your thing – rather than focusing on what you’re lacking – focus on what you’ve got.

Great conversations

This is one of my favourites. I really, truly, deeply, appreciate a good and interesting conversation. When was the last time you had one?

Change

Most people fear change. This is where you use gratitude to really help you through. It’s so easy to find ways that change will be bad, but take five minutes and think about what you appreaciate with the changes you’re facing. Can you find room for being grateful for change too?

Health care

I’m really grateful for all the help I’ve ever received (and am still receving) from all the wonderful people who make it their mission to help and care for others. Instead of feeling bad about your illness and hurt, focus on your gratitude. I’m sometimes amazed at how wonderful it is that us human beings take care of each other in this way.

Help from others

Up the same alley, has anyone helped you today? People interact and help each other every day, so chances are that you’ve received help in any way. Look out for help in disguise! People might be trying to help even if you don’t realize it right there and then.

Fresh starts

If you’ve ever been given a second chance, you know what I’m talking about here. Fresh starts, new chances and big life changes are wonderful and easy to appreciate. However, have you ever thought about that every single day is a fresh start? I am grateful for this day.

Good food

Food on the table is a basic human need and if you’ve never starved – easy to take for granted. I’m not saying you have to be grateful for food just because you have it and others don’t (although you should seriously consider it), but how about being grateful for a wonderful and tasty meal? Sometimes I’m so grateful for chocolate it feels like I’m going to explode with joy!

Inspiration

You can always be grateful for inspiration. I’m willing to bet that you find a lot of inspiration around you to be grateful for if you look a little closer! For example, I’m very grateful for really inspiring blogs, books, poetry, and photography that inspires me every day. Which inspiration sources are you grateful for right now?

Smiles

Let’s be grateful for smiles together! Smiles from a stranger, a loved one or in a photo – smiling is contageous! Be greateful for the smiles others gift you with, and be grateful for your own ability to smile and spread love and happiness.

Education

If you’re fortunate enough to receive a good education, this is something you can be grateful for. How about thanking your teachers and professors, your parents if they pay for your college or be grateful for your own intelligence and ability to learn.

Synchronicity

Synchronicity is when you’ve just decided pursue a career and then immediately meet someone who is willing to be your mentor. Synchronicity is when you’ve decided to use the colour green to brand your business and you suddenly is surrounded by green everywhere. Synchronicity is when you think about a friend and then suddenly your friend calls! It’s the most wonderful thing in the world, and if something like this has happened to you lately – be grateful for it because it doesn’t happen all that often!

Shared or aquired wisdom

Sometimes people share their wisdom without even noticing, so be on the lookout for shared wisdom in disguise. In addition, people often deliberately want to share their wisdom because they care about you! It’s a nice thing to be greateful – give thanks – and to look at each little piece of wisdom as a blessing. Aquired wisdom is when you suddenly realize something, make a connection or learn from your mistakes. Be greateful for your own insight, your knowledge and your wisdom!

Painful lessons

Some of life’s lessons are inevitably going to be painful. However, I often find that the harder the lesson – the more potential for growth it represents. Being grateful for life’s hard lessons, for the pain and the suffering – because it will help you grow – is a really nice way to turn something bad into something good.

A great book

Getting lost in a really good novel, or diving into a great non-fiction read is a wonderful feeling. The next time you sit down to read, send a little thought of gratitude to the author of the book, and be grateful for the book itself. Sometimes it amazes me how words on paper can bring me so much joy!

Great music

For the same reasons as above, music has the power to transform your mood and nothing is better than some music to dance to while you do your chores! The next time you enjoy listening to music, send a little thought of thanks to the musicians, the song-writers, the producers and the artist. Appreciating the people who contribute to make magical music will make you feel good as well.

Art

The next time you appreciate a work of art, focus your gratitude towards what the artwork gives you. Inspiration? Motivation? A sense of belonging? Do you feel anger? Disgust even? Focus on how the work of art makes you feel and focus your gratitude on the artworks ability to move you. Most of all, I feel grateful when I come upon a work of art that calms me down, but I’m working on that sense of gratitude for other kinds of art too.

The small things

The magic really is in the small things. That’s why I tend to focus on these when I do my gratitude tweets. A tasty treat, a cup of tea, sunshine through my window, a small moment of joy – all are really small things that give me tremendous amounts of happiness.

Pets

If are lucky enough to have a pet, you know how much joy and company it brings. I think everyone who has a cat, dog, horse or turtle (oh yes!) feels that their pet is the best one in the world – and it is! So, if you’re feeling low, tired or depressed, just be grateful for the moments when your dog greets you at the door, when your cat sneak up against you to cuddle or when your turtle smiles (apparently they do!).

Connections

Connections are wonderful to include in your gratitude practice. The really strong connections you have with the people closest to you – or a shared smile with a stranger on the bus. All connections are sacred and mean so much to us. Take a moment to think back on the connections you’ve made the last day. Grateful?

Kindness

Most people automatically give thanks when they recognize kindness in other people. So there are two more ways to be grateful for kindness: You can try to recognize it more, which means to actively be on the lookout. Can someone’s action be interpreted in a way that means they are actually trying to be kind? For example, that person who uses ages to order in a coffeeshop might actually be buying coffee to all of his friends. Or your flatmate who never cleans might be the too busy taking care of the people around her.

The other way you can be greateful for kindness is to do it consciously, not automatically. Look at how many times during one day you say “thanks”. How many of those times do you really mean it? How do you think it would make you feel if you managed to do it consciously every time? I’m willing to bet it would give you a lot of smiles and happiness.

Insight and clarity

You know when you look back at something that has been bothering you and suddenly see it in a different light? Or when you manage to make a really good decision in the middle of chaos? Add it to your grateful list and let the happiness you get from it grow!

Perspective

Looking at things in perspective is another one of life’s blessings. And it’s so much easier in hindsight than in the moment! Be greateful when you manage to look at a situation differently, from another persons point of view or you see consequences for different actions. Seeing things from another person’s perspecitve is often painful and hard, and it will often make us grow as human beings. Being able to feel gratitude when looking at a time when you experienced painful growth will double it!

Life

So easy to overlook, but so so fundamental. Be grateful for being alive!

Time

Free time, an open calendar, time off, fun times – be grateful for the time you have to do what you love. Even if you are super-busy, do you have the time of your life? Add it to your grateful list for an instant positive mood-booster.

Beauty

No need to explain this one, I just want to remind you to be grateful for all the beauty in your life. So easy to include in your daily grateful list!

Daylight

If you live in country with only 6 hours (or less) of daylight in the winter (like me), you’ll learn to appreciate the daylight when you have it. What are you grateful for right now that you wish you could have more of?

Memories

If you’re lacking of things in your present to be grateful for (look harder, dear!), look to your past. Focus on those good memories that make you smile!

Good service

… is often taken for granted, as we tend to focus on the times when we receive our coffees from the really grumpy barista, not the nice one who remember your daily order. How about thanking the staff next time you receive good service?

Gifts

No explanation needed here, just want to remind you that gifts come in a lot of different ways.

Creativity

Be thankful for the times when you can’t hold it in, when you just want to create, create, create. God a new creative idea? Add it to your list of things to be grateful for!

Your special talents

Can you remember almost any number combination? Do you write the most sparkly application letters? Or can you balance three grapes on your nose while singing a song? (lucky you!) Be grateful for your special talents, the cherry on top of the cake of you!

A good cup of coffee or tea

Well, I know I included this in the list of the small things, but a good cup of anything hot usually sneaks in on most of my grateful lists. Lavender earl grey latte, coffee with milk, red berry rooibos – I’m bursting with gratefullness for the ease it gives me. How about you?

Love

It’s to the end of the list, but it’s not because it isn’t important! Love in any form – just the thought of it will make you smile. I think there’s nothing in the world that makes me more grateful than the love I’m feeling from the people around me, and the love I’m giving in return. Are you experiencing love? Big life-changing-, deep mother-daughter-, or instant take-out-the-fire-exstinguisher-LOVE: I’m willing to bet that love is part of the solution to the meaning-of-life riddle.

Generosity

Look out for generosity and be grateful for the people who are! Generosity comes in a number of ways, people can for example be generous with their time, attention, help, advice or money. It’s easy to remember to be grateful when money and things are involved, but remember to keep an eye out for other kinds of generosity too.

Having something to look forward to

Last, but not least (as this list is not in any order), be grateful for the things you are looking forward to in your life right now. Are you planning a journey, starting something new or are you just looking forward to your friends birthday party? Thinking about something great that will happen in the future is an instant way to feeling good right now. Think about it this way; being grateful for something in the future now will double the fun!

What are you grateful for right now?

Have you ever done anything truly impulsive? Something big, like ordered plane tickets,
quit your job or decided to move countries?

I’m willing to bet you probably haven’t.

I’m here to tell you it’s the most incredibly liberating, exciting and totally crazy thing to do ever. (surprise!)
And for me, it’s my most fail-proof approach at making dreams come true.

Now, don’t go and do something stupid. Let me tell you the whole story first.

I’m a very responsible person. I honor my commitments, I pay my bills and my credit
cards, I show up for work and I (usually) don’t call in sick. In most cases, think through
every choice, every change, every decision very closely. I weigh the pro’s and con’s. Ask
for advice. This is all very good when you’re making regular decisions in your daily life.

When it comes to following dreams, however, this is absolutely not the way you want to
go. Because you already know what you want to do. You already know where your heart
is. You may think you, don’t but you do. If your mind is telling you otherwise, it’s probably
out of fear.

Let’s say you want to move abroad. There may be a thousand reasons why you shouldn’t
do it. Now isn’t the best time, you don’t have the money, you don’t know anyone there, you
probably won’t get a job… And still you want to do it, which means that underneath all the
fear you have a dream. You can think this through for years, keep asking other people for
advice, keep dreaming. But this approach probably won’t get you anywhere.

Just doing it will.

Most of the dreams I’ve fulfilled are the results of moments of temporary insanity. Like
when I ordered tickets for a 9 week long backpacking trip and maxed out my credit card
in the process. 6 months later, I was drinking fresh coconut milk on a beach in Malaysia.
Because when you take the first step, the rest will always work itself out.

When I moved to London and took a gap year from my law studies to study photography,
I made the decision in May. Sent in the application on a whim, got accepted, and moved
within 4 months of the initial, impulsive decision. It probably wasn’t the smartest thing to
do. And If I had thought it through, I might have stayed at home. And yet, here I am now,
so so so happy I lived my dream and studied abroad for a year!

5 ways to implement more impulsivity and temporary, empowering craziness into
your life:

• If you have a dream you want to follow, ignore all the good reasons, all the advice, all the
questioning, and just take the first step. Start with identifying the first step and then just
take it.

• Take safe, baby steps in the beginning. Take a few steps while still keeping your options
open. For example, when I sent the application for photography in London, I didn’t
commit to any changes right away.

• Practice by being more impulsive in your daily life: feel like drinking champagne for
breakfast? Do it. Feel like eating out on a decadent restaurant? Do it. Feel like taking a
day off? Do it!

• Apply the impulsive approach to all creative work. Whenever you get an idea – jump on it
right away and finish it as soon as you can. Otherwise, most great ideas tend to end up
in the «I’ll do it someday»-folder, and you’ll give yourself too much time to reject the idea.

• If you’re not ready to commit fully to living your dream, consider to do it as an
experiment, and do it now! For example, can you take 1-6 months of unpaid leave from
work and experiment with being an entrepreneur? Can you take a semester off your
studies to work in your dream job? Can you experiment with being location-independent
by bringing your work when you’re going on holiday? The key point is to make it into
something you can set in motion sooner rather than later.

What is the most impulsive dream you have put into action?

I’m writing this post by the fireplace. I’m wearing white wool over-knees and I’m drinking Chai tea with milk. …aaand I have candles lit and I’m burning Christmas incense. I know, it might sound a little cliché on paper. I am, after all, listening to Sufjan Stevens’ Christmas album. It’s so cozy it’s to die for! But I live by the mantra of “magic is something you make”, and you know what!? It just started SNOWING for the first time this year!!

Watch movies

Watch some of the classical films like Bambi or Love, Actually. Curl up on the sofa with wool blankets and hot chocolate. Make it a day! My personal favourites are The Holiday and The Grinch. Why don’t your share your favourite christmas movie in the comments?

Dress up in glitter

Winter is the perfect time for some sparkly sequins and glitter nailpolish! Sparkle up your day with the perfect nailpolish from Deborah Lippman or OPI. If you’re in a bold mood, dress up in a sequin dress, or wear a sequin blazer over your dress. Glitter isn’t limited to your outfit, why don’t you add a little glam to your home with garlands or some sparkly christmas decorations? Oh, and don’t forget confetti for your party!
 

Bake

This one is a little self-explanatory. Christmas season is the time for baking! Make a classical gingerbread house, or try the cake batter fudge above. Gingerbread dough is my personal favourite, and I bet you already have your own bake traditions for Christmas. In case you don’t, remember that anything containing spices and/or chocolate will do!
 

Drink hot chocolate

Hot chocolate is the perfect winter drink. Or, you could go for eggnog if you prefer. Or Gløgg, if you’re Norwegian like me. Aaaanyways, something sweet, warm and comforting – you know what I mean. Preferably combine it with fire in the fireplace and Sufjan Stevens on the radio.
 

Go ice skating

Ice skating is something I fondly remember from my childhood. Oh, how I wanted to fly over the ice like a princess in a while tulle skirt! Personally, I was more like Bambi on the ice, but I wouldn’t let that stop me! In December, I suggest a trip to your local ice skating place. Make it a date, to have the most romantic night ever!
 

Make paper snowflakes

Cut out paper snowflakes and hang them in your window. Use different types of paper to make them interesting. I recommend using pages from old books! If you really want to make some really impressing ones, but you’re not the creative type? Try searching for some printout patterns on google.
 

Listen to some whimsical Christmas music

Sufjan Stevens is a classic, but don’t forget albums like The Hotel Café Presents Winter Songs, or Coldplay’s hit from last year above. She & Him has a Christmas album out this year too! And you always have the old classics… Mix the old get-in-the-mood classics with some new indie songs and some modern versions by your favourite artists.
 

Write and send postcards

Buy some beautiful cards, or make your own! Send them around to everyone you’ve connected with the last year. It’s the perfect way to thank everyone who have helped you this year, tell people you love them, and to spread the wish of a peaceful holiday. Write long, handwritten letters to those dearest of you who lives the furthest away. Or write just a short, little note of thanks. Send your cards by regular old mail in good time before Christmas.
 

 

Take a winter walk

Enjoy the winter wonderland and make the most of what makes winter unique. I’m talking about the crisp air, the cosy indoors and the blue and white light! If you’re like mee, snow is best enjoyed from a safe distance inside, but if not, then I recommend a ski trip or a day or two in the slopes!
 

 

Go stargazing

Stars are best enjoyed on a clear and crisp winter night in the woods. Bring a few logs to make a fire and some hot chocolate to enjoy together with a friend. Watch clearly, maybe you’ll see a shooting star?
 

 

Make a wish

This one is obvious. Wish for beautiful christmas presents, a peaceful holiday, wish for dreams come true or world peace. Write a little note with your wishes for the new year and save it for next year’s December. Just don’t forget to put in the work to make your wishes come true.
 

 

 Spend time with the people that matter

Holidays are family times, the season to party with friends and snuggle with your dearest. This is a little reminder to don’t get too caught up in preparations and stressful shopping. Also, don’t forget to take good care of yourself. I recommend scheduling a little me-time and spend some time alone. Reflect on your gratitude, have a little inspiration-boosting blog-reading session or make your own little home spa in your bathroom.
 
Hope you have a whimsical Christmas!
 

Ps. what are your most whimsical and cozy Christmas traditions?

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;

From If by Rudyard Kipling

I first read this poem a couple of days ago, and the line that really struck me was this:  “If you can dream – and not make dreams your master“. It struck me because I was thinking about that fine line of balance between using a dream as a source for fuel, and being burnt out by it. To be pulled or to push. How many times haven’t I found myself thinking “If only … then …”. THEN I’d be happy. Then I’d be satisfied. Fulfilled.

And by doing that I’m pushing that dream before me like a shield against the world. Pushing, pushing, pushing. Effectively making sure the dream will never come true, because I’m not ready to receive its greatness. But why?

Because I fear success? Maybe.

Because I fear failure? Maybe.

Because I fear sharing the dream? Maybe.

Because I fear that I’ll succeed and still don’t feel good? Maybe.

Because it is safer to avoid all of the above? Definitely.

It is a message I’ve been sharing for such a long time. and yet – the world keeps reminding me to tell it again and again. Because making dreams come true is a practice, not a one-time deal. So I’m telling it again, to remind you and myself: When you make your dreams your master, you’ll never succeed. And you’ll probably never fail. But you’re also running like a hamster in a wheel, wearing yourself out without getting anywhere.

So don’t make that special, magical dream a chest full of gold at the end of the rainbow. (Remember, that rainbow is constantly moving.) Take a close look at your thinking habits and check if you’re running around thinking “If only [insert wonderful dream here] THEN I will be [insert dream emotional state here]“.

Own the dream – don’t let it own you.

Don’t postpone [happiness/fulfilment/joy/excitement/other dream emotional state]. Go live. Now.

There’s something about having a daily practice that is strangely comforting and secure. Having a practice means feeling a calm and clear pull of knowing what to do. A daily creative and/or spiritual practice is much like any other habit, with focus, mindfulness and a higher purpose. Even the word “practice”, and the very idea of it, simultaneously gives me both serenity and butterflies. However, as with creating other new habits, creating a daily practice often starts off promising – before we start to doubt ourselves, our intentions and ultimately give up the whole thing. I’ve found that there are a few ways of doing it that can make it easier and more compassionate:

Start small

One of the key aspects of creating a successful daily practice is to make it small and meaningful. Especially in the beginning, it’s valuable to start so small you barely notice the change at first. How about five minutes of meditation, one photo a day, write 100 words or recite a short prayer? When this is established, you can increase your commitment slowly until you reach your desired daily amount of goodness.

Make it authentic

When you start a new practice, make sure you spend some time investigating your reasons, both for why you want it to be a daily thing for you, and also how you are going to do it. No need to start a daily yoga practice, if writing is what you really feel called to do! Sometimes, it’s easy to fall for something we wish to be true about ourself, instead of acknowledging what is. It is also imporant to stay clear of the “should”s. Listen to yourself, are your intentions clear? Will it bring you closer to who you truly are, or push you away?

Experiment

It’s a good idea to experiment with life changes before you set them fully into the world (that’s what the Freedom Experiment is about, after all). I suggest experimenting with different practices for about a week or two at a time. Which experiment feels more compelling afterwards? Which idea did you give up on day 3? This is valuable information when you finally feel ready to commit for a longer period of time.

Do it regularly

It’s really helpful to make a decision to do something regularly. Daily is a good idea, since it then becomes sort of like a habit, and you won’t forget about the whole thing. However, having a daily practice might not suit your lifestyle. No matter how often you decide to do it, it will be very helpful to do it as regularly as you can. How about every other day, every weekend or once a month on a set date?

Commit

When you have found your thing, the whole point of having a practice is to fully commit to doing it, even though you don’t feel like it on the particular day. Look at it as a commitment to yourself and wow to honour it the same way you would with your best friend or a family member. Showing yourself the respect of showing up is so meaningful for your relationship with yourself!

Be free

Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day or two. Be compassionate and again, treat yourself as you would treat your best friend. A day or two off can be a good thing, just tune into yourself and listen to what your needs are. Is this the time for showing up, or for giving yourself some space? You already know the answer, just listen for it.

Share

Having a practice can be even more meaningful if you share it with other people. This goes especially for creative practices, but spiritual ones too. Sharing might create a community around what you do, and you might find a lot of nourishment from interacting with other people who do the same as you do. There are so many ways to share, and since you’re reading this post, you’re probably familiar with blogging. Other ways to share include sharing with a friend or family member, documenting it or starting a local group. Again, listen to your heart and share only what feels right.

Some ideas

…

One poem a day

As I’ve mentioned before, Bentlily does it beautifully.

One photo a day

One self-portrait a day

One drawing a day

Morning pages

This comcept originated from a book called The Artists Way by Julia Cameron. Basically, you write three handwritten pages every morning without editing of second-guessing your writing.

Journalling or writing a diary

Compliment someone every day

Write one “Today I’m grateful for…”-sentence a day

Meditate

Do yoga

Run

Read for a set period of time every day

Take a morning walk

Write a handwritten letter

Mindfully make a cup of tea

Take a daily or weekly foambath

 …

Do you have a regular creative or spiritual practice? Do you want to start one?

If you’re a writer, the word “November” doesn’t only bring to mind falling leaves, Thanksgiving and crisp, clear air. Especially if you’re an aspiring novelist, turning your calendar to November brings with it it’s very own kind of butterflies and sweet anticipation.

November is the National Novel Writing Month (also known as NaNoWriMo) in which more than 250,000 writers come together and pledge to each write a 50,000 word novel in a month. If you dream of writing a novel, the mayhem starts today – make sure you join me and sign up today!

If you’re not dreaming of seeing your name in a book store any time soon, you’ll be happy to hear that writing a novel isn’t the only dream that can be accomplished in just a short month. If you’re eager to make it happen! Soon! Fast! Here are 7 key tips, or -

How to make a dream come true in 30 days

1. Realize there’s never going to be a perfect time

The sooner you realize this, the better. You’ll never have time, you’ll never have money and you’ll never feel quite ready to make that big first step. No matter if your dream is to learn a language, move, get an education, start a business, get fit or famous – you’ll always be able to make excuses, find good reasons not to, and keep pushing it back on your to do list.

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.  - Proverb

… And the only fail-proof way of failing is to never plant the tree at all. The first steps are always going to be the hardest. For the most part, we probably wish our dreams were real already! Since you haven’t planted your tree/made your dream come true yet,  you have to make a choice – make it happen – or not. Today is as good as any other day. This year is as good as any other year. You might as well start now.

2. Set a clear goal

Part of what makes NaNoWriMo work so well, is the clear goal. 50, 000 words – and you’re done. 50, ooo words might turn into a short novel, but a novel nonetheless. Most dreams aren’t so quantitative. When can you call yourself a successful business owner? When is your dream of travelling the world complete?

The key to success is to define it. Don’t limit your measuring to math, money or cold hard facts, even keeping a chart recording your mood, stress levels or inspiration can work. A lot of dreams and skills can be measured too – how about setting a goal of passing a language test, painting x number of paintings or start an etsy shop? All of the examples above have a really clear yes/no outcome. You’ll either make it, or not. No matter the outcome, a clear goal will keep you motivated and inspired to keep pushing forward.

3. Set an even clearer deadline

The most important factor by far is your deadline. Without a deadline, most dreamwork will quickly end up on your do-it-later-list. After all, there are so many other deadlines in our lives – work, college/university, friends, family, holidays – the list of obligations and due days goes on and on. How can you expect your dreams to compete if you don’t set a clear date for yourself? It’s easy to think that you’ve got your whole life, and that there will always be tomorrow.

Ideally, you want to make your deadline short. Too short for your own comfort zone. Doing something in 30 days that it usually takes years to accomplish is a little daunting – which is exactly the kind of challenge that will keep you burning, burning burning. If you set your deadline to 30 days or less, you’ll be able to keep an intense schedule without burning out. And it is actually easier to work on something intensely for a month, than slowly for a year.

4. Commit publicly

Telling everyone what you are up to might be a little scary. You’ll probably be afraid you won’t make your goal … and then become the subject of embarrassing public humiliation. Well, that fear, my dear – is your fuel. Make it your friend! If you’re not ready to announce on your Facebook that you’re going to make a huge change in your life – just tell your closest friends. The point isn’t only to get you working because you fear the consequences – telling people what you are up to is also to gather your support team. Make sure you give the people closest to you a chance to cheer you on! And because doing something great usually takes both time and focus, it’s a good idea to warn everyone in advance – most likely they won’t be seeing you much in the period ahead.

5. Divide your tasks into daily goals

Your chance of success is closely related to the failproofness of your plan. For NaNoWriMo, the plan is simple – write 1,667 words every day – and you’ll make it. For other dreams, you will have to make your plan a little more detailed. Keep in mind that not all goals can be achieved in a linear way – if you’re starting a business for example – you’ll most likely see that your sales will go slow in the beginning before they slowly increase. The same goes for learning a language or planning a vacation.

The point is to plan for some work on your project every single day. If you make a clear plan before you start – this will be a lot easier to accomplish.

6. Add a little crazy, magic,  spark

Judging by the fact that you’re still reading this article, you probably already have the crazy-magic-spark-gene. Only people who are crazy, disregard limitations, nature’s laws and have a burning desire will attempt to make a huge dream come true in such a small amount of time! If there’s still something holding you back, you’ll just have to fire up your crazy-magic and do it anyways. I promise you, nothing can really go wrong. If you don’t make it, you can always try again.

7. … And zombies

When you’re writing a novel in 30 days – there will be times when you run out of ideas. And that is when you start adding zombies to your otherwisely very realistic novel. The point is – there will be times in any project when you’re worn out, tired and want to give up. This is when you call in the zombies. Whatever you do – just keep going. Disregard any inner editors who keeps telling you what you’re doing isn’t good enough. Tell your inner critic to get lost and come back after your project is done. Don’t set too high expectations for yourself, you can always do it even better next time.

Dreambank ideas

• raise x  amount of money for charity in 30 days
• save x amounts of money to realize a dream in 30 days
• start an online store and sell x products in 30 days
• start a blog and get x amounts of subscribers in 30 days
• write a novel in 30 days
• learn a language and take a levelled language test in 30 days
• read x amounts of books in 30 days
• complete a college or university level class in 30 days
• plan a trip abroad in 30 days
• have a no-shopping experiment for 30 days
• work out 30 minutes every day for 30 days
• move to a new place in 30 days
• record your singing and start an online music shop in 30 days
• go to one new place every day for 30 days
• organize a retreat, an event or a conference in 30 days
• plan and host an exhibition and show your art 30 days from now

• Any more ideas to add to the list?

Good luck to you if you are going to write a novel this month, and to you who are starting similar amazing projects. Remember to take care of yourself. And may the journey be as nourishing, rewarding and great as the destination.

We all have times in our lives when we just have too much stuff going on. There are always deadlines, exams, due dates and just too many priorities to juggle. And when everything is going wrong, the world is screaming for your attention and you just don’t have time – the last thing you need to hear is to “just take a day off”. So here are 55 gentle ways you can take care of yourself when you’re pressed for time and attention. Enjoy! 

Say no to anything that is not important to you

Laundry, phone calls with your mom, demanding girlfriends – this is not the time to be nice and “responsible”. Give yourself the permission to focus on what’s important. Getting the unessential responsibilites off your schedule will not only create som extra time and space, it will also lighten the burden you’re feeling to keep up with it all.

Ask for help

There’s nothing wrong with asking for help, and you’ll quickly learn that most people around you actually love to be asked! It makes them feel useful and important. What usually helps the most is to get help to do the normal things; cooking, shopping and regular every-day tasks. However, don’t underestimate how important the people in your life can be when it comes to feedback, motivation and supporting your self-confidence regarding the important work you’re doing.

Get enough sleep

An oldie, but a goodie. This old advice is not only essential when it comes to self-care, it is also absolutely essential when it comes to being able to do your best. Particularly important when it comes to exam periods and work stress, sleep will help you achieve. It’s easy to think that a few extra hours of work will do you more good, but it won’t. Sleep will.

Drink tea

Coffee will only get you that far, before it sends you down into tiredness again. While still being hot and comforting, tea (and especially the herbal kind) won’t make you dehydrated and shaky. If you’re feeling tired and think you need a coffeine boost, go for cold water (or iced tea) instead. Cold water will help wake you up!

Listen to your favourite music

Calm music will help you calm down and upbeat music will help you up your game. Pick music that won’t distract you (like music without lyrics or in a foreign language). Your favourite music will boost your mood and keep you happy, no matter how tired you are.

Eat healthy and green food

I know it’s tempting to order pizza, but it really pays off to take your time to cook and eat nutritious and healthy food. Not only will it help you achieve better, it will also boost your mood! I truly recommend heading over to The Stonesoup for some quick and easy recipes. Most of these recipes can be made in less than 10 minutes!

Take 5 minutes in the morning to just stretch and breathe

If you start your day in a stressful way, you’ll probably feel stressed for the rest of the day as well. Make sure your morning starts with 5 minutes of silence and ease. Stand up and stretch your body to make you as tall as you can be. Then bend over and touch the ground. Stretch again. Try to just feel your body and pay attention to your breath. Starting the day in a way like this will make you more relaxed as well!

Walk everywhere

You might be busy and think that every minute is valuable time to put into your work, but some extra minutes of walking might be a better way to spend some time. If you live close to where you’re going, it’s better to walk than to use public transport (or your car). Not only will the exercise be good for you, you also get some important fresh air and daylight. If you have to commute, get off public transport one or two stops too early, or park your car further away than usual. The extra minutes of fresh air will save you lots of time when you start working and feel more focused.

Take 5-minute mini-breaks every hour

You can’t stay focused all the time. No matter how efficient you work, you’ll always get distracted, let your mind wander or end up spending time reading e-mail (and blogs) instead. A better way to spend this time is to get up from your chair, walk outside and take a 5-minute break. The change of place, the change of physical posture and the movement will make it easier to start again when your break is over. You’ll also give your brain a chance to relax and process information, which is essential for your well-being.

Break your self-care habits into smaller tasks and do one each day

No need to look like you’re constantly running after your life, even if you are! Just break up your routine into smaller, and more achievable chunchs. Shave your legs one day, paint your nails the next day, wash your hair the day after, etc. This approach also works with keeping your house tidy – just do one little chore every day and you’ll stay on top of everything more easily.

Make a plan of everything that needs to be done

Instead of juggling all your to-do’s and must-remember’s, write them down on a piece of paper. Then make a plan of how you are going to manage everything before your deadline. You may have to schedule a lot of tasks on certain days, and it may seem like too much to do, but at least you’ll know that everything will get done. Make sure you stick to the plan, every single day. Don’t fall for the temptation to start on tomorrow’s tasks today, trust that the plan will take you there, and enjoy some free time on the days when you finish your tasks early.

Make sure you keep in touch with your friends

Just a few text messages, tweets or the occational coffee will make sure your friendships don’t suffer. You will feel much better when you focus on something else entirely, and it will prevent you form becoming a workaholic hermit. You don’t have to keep in touch with everybody, most people will understand that you’re having a busy period. Just make sure you stay in touch with the people that make you happy and inspired.

Make room for rest

This one’s important. Make sure that whenever you plan to rest – really rest. That means that you will have to make a conscious effort to push all work-related thoughts and worries away. It’s also important that you rest your mind as well as your body. 5 minutes of stillness is better than 30 minutes in front of the TV!

Surround yourself with inspiring photos

Put up some of your favourite photos where you can see them when you work. Whenever you get unfocused, you will feel much better if you can rest your eyes on something pretty, rather than everything that reminds you of how busy you are. If you can’t put up photos at work or in a study hall, bring a scrapbook or use Pinterest on your computer.

Write a daily gratitude list

A daily gratitude list is really helpful to shift your focus and help you appreciate the situation. It doesn’t have to be long, a few sentences will do. If you keep a gratitude journal, you can also look back on your previous entries whenever you need a little boost of happiness and motivation.

Spend your lunchtime as sacred you-time

… and enjoy your healthy food with a little journaling, blog-reading, or people-watching. See it as a way to nourish your soul on several levels. It’s important to eat, but it’s equally important to be inspired, creative, silly, whimsical and happy.

Write a worry-list

Stress makes us more vulnerable, and worry can be a nasty side-effect of a busy period. If you find yourself worrying a lot, it’s a good idea to write a daily worry-list. Whenever you catch a worrying thought, write it down and save it for later. Spend 5 minutes in the morning and 5-minutes in the evening worrying about whatever you put on your list. It may sound simple, but postponing your worry will actually make it less worrying whenever you sit down and actually think about it in peace and quiet.

Take a run or a long walk

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Any sort of excercise will release endorophins, your body will thank you + it clears your head so you can focus on all the important work that lies ahead.

Keep a planner and shedule no-appointments time

To make your life less chaotic, it’s a good practice to keep a planner. Make sure you write down every single appointment, to save yourself from unwanted surprises and missed meetings. Just remember to schedule time for yourself. Honor your appointment with yourself just as much as you would keep an appointment with anyone else. Just make sure you schedule time with yourself first – anyone else needs to come in second in your life.

Keep track of your achievements

It may seem like you’re never going to get over a busy period, which is why you should keep a list of achievements close at any time.Whenever you hit a milestone – write it down! It will be very useful when you’re feeling tired by the end of the day and know that you still have several more hours of work before you can call it a day.

Wear your pretty clothes

… and be busy with style! If you dress nicely, chances are you’ll feel better too. All it takes is 5 minutes in the morning, and with your most powerful, wonderful and pretty clothes on, you’ll feel like a million for the rest of the day.

Go to a yoga class

…Or do some yoga at home. Even ten minutes of savasana is better than nothing, and will recharge your batteries (and your mind).

Take a hot bath

Nothing helps you relax like a hot bath. Use your favourite bubbles, turn off the light, light some candles and you’re good to go. One hour in the bath in the evening may be the best way to relax because of this simple fact – you can’t take your work and your computer with you.

Light candles

Candles have a relaxing effect, especially gently scented ones. If you can’t light candles in your workplace, make sure you light them when you get home. Lavender and cedarwood are scents that can help you relax.

Write support-thoughts and affirmations

Support-thoughts are thougths written down when you’re calm, that can support you when you are really busy and tired. For example, a gentle reminder of why you’re doing all the work, a short pep-talk, or a reminder of how wonderful you are is an amaxing way of taking care of yourself.

Craft an emotional emergency plan

Ideally, you should have this written down before you enter a really busy period. If everything goes wrong, and you’re maxed out, panicky or just plain exhausted – who do you call? what do you do? where do you go? Planning this in advance is self-care on a high level.

Breathe

Do I need to say more? When stress builds up, take five seconds off and just breathe. Deep.

Do something silly

Don’t forget to have fun! Who said you can’t laugh, even though you’re busy! Make jokes, engage with you co-workers, read comics and just allow yourself to be silly for a little while. I promise it wil boost your mood, your co-workers’ moods and a little laughter every day will help you through a really challenging time.

Single-task

Now is not the time to play superwoman. Be nice to yourself and let your brain tackle one task at a time. Rumours have it that this is more productive in the long run…

Read Focus by Leo Babauta

This book is quick to read (and there’s a free version!) and it will change your work habits and make it much easier to be you. Enough said.

Take the last evening off

The last night before your big D(r)eadline is the night to relax. Panicking in the last minute isn’t a very good way of taking care of yourself. And you don’t want to oversleep on your exam day, have dark circles under your eyes on presentation day or distroy everything in the last minute because you spent the last night cramming. Take the last evening (or even the last day) off and relax. You’ve done your best, there’s nothing more you can do. Pat yourself on your back – you made it.

Keep a tidy workspace

It will make you more focused, relaxed and less overwhelmed.

Create some routines

When work or studies take all your focus, it can be useful to create some new habits or routines to take some of the burden off your back. Make it a habit to cook a larger batch of dinner on day 1, and eat leftovers for the next two days. Use Sundays to prepare what to wear for the next couple of days. Wear your hair in a ponytail five days in a row. This is not the time to expect yourself to find lots of different and exciting outfits, hairdo’s or recipes.

Write things down

When you’re mind is working over-time, let it relax by helping yourself remember everything. Write down any ideas, to-do’s, must-remember’s and other things you have to remember. This way, you don’t have to carry the additional stress of remembering everything you need to remember.

Accept a little clutter and mess

Just let it be. Some dust and a little dirt has never hurt anyone. Focus on what’s important to you, you can always clean up the mess later. Just don’t go around and feel bad about it on top of everything else!

Allow your emotions to come to the surface

If you’re tired and sad, cry it all out. If you’re stressed, don’t try to put on a mask and hide it. Get it all out, all the frustration, the overwhelm, the anger and the fear. You’ll feel much better after.

Honor your limits

Set some limits and stick with them. A lot of tasks when we’re busy don’t have a set limit, like when you’re studying and being creative. It’s easy to feel like you’re never quite done. Set some clear limits for yourself and honor them. Say to yourself; “when the time is up, I’m DONE”.

Take the weekends completely off

If you’re under constant pressure over an extended period of time, it’s good practice to keep the weekends completely sacred. This means no work e-mail or calls, no appointments or catching up.

Gather your support group

Call your mother and ask her to help you take care of the house, tell your girlfriends what you’re dealing with, seek out others in the same situation as you, and make sure your partner is on your team. Not only can they help with practical tasks, they will give you lot’s of moral support and you’ll feel less alone.

Outsource

Outsource what you can, for example your home cleaning, laundry or bookeeping.

Delegate

If you’re working on a team – make sure you don’t try to do everything yourself, delegate as much as you can to lighten your load.

Get more sunlight

Especially if your busy period is happening in winter, make sure you get your daily dose of sunlight if you’re spending a lot of time in gloomy libraries and workplaces.

Take your vitamins

This won’t even take you a minute – just go for a multivitamin paired with your breakfast. Especially important if you’re eating a lot of processed and unhealthy foods when you’re busy, but remember that vitamins don’t make up for an unhealthy diet.

Eat fresh fruit and vegetables

Keep some fruits and nuts close by and snack when you’re hungry. Don’t forget the veg, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and carrots are great snacks!

Use scented oils in the shower

Lavender to relax, or a little peppermint to wake you up – all you need is a drop or two of essential oil in the shower.

Resist the urge to be productive all the time

You can’t be equally productive every single waking moment, so you might as well schedule some off time right away. Be nice to yourself and don’t expect to accomplish as much in the late evening as you do in the morning.

Limit your media consumption

… because your brain can only process a limited amount of information. When you need your focus to be on work, don’t overflow your brain with tv news, newspapers, magazines and books.

Meditate in the morning

Ten minutes of stillness can make all the difference.

Block out distractions

Need to get some work done? Consider to pull out your internet cable, switch off your phone and lock the door. If only for a few hours, you won’t miss out on anything, and you’ll feel a lot better afterwards.

Compliment yourself

Positive self-speech can seriously impact your mood. Instead of adding to the monkey-brain thoughts of not good enough, too stressed and panic – tell yourself you look good, that you’re doing great and that you can manage everything that comes your way.

Do the dreaded tasks first

There are always tasks you’ll love to do more than others, and it’s tempting to do those first. However, it’s a good idea to do the hardest tasks first. That way, you’ll save yourself from all the dread!

Brighten your day with colourful pencils and pretty stationary

It doesn’t have to cost much, but it will make a huge impact on your happiness – especially if you’re a stationary and design geek… (well, who isn’t?)

Reward yourself

Maybe not the best overall habit to get used to, but desperate times call for desperate measures. If you need it to get through – reward yourself with gifts, chocolate and breaks whenever you finish a task. Just don’t make it a habit to kick yourself if you don’t make it. Maybe you need the treat anyways?

Postpone all major decisions

… This is not the time to move houses, quit your day job or break up with your spouse (however tempting any of those changes are). Save the big stuff for when you’re calmer and can think clearer.

Accept yourself as you are

Let yourself off the hook and accept that you are only human. You are doing your absolute best, and you are doing exactly what you need to do. Trust your instincts and keep doing whatever you’re doing. You don’t need to change anything about yourself – trust that you are perfect just the way you are.

I wish you a happy, bustling time -
hope you achieve everything you dream of and more!

Do you focus enough on yourself when the world is screaming for your attention? What are your best self-care tips that are not on the list?

1. When people tell you you are taking on too much, they are probably right.
2. If you have a tiny voice inside telling you what to do, it’s a good idea to listen to it
3. Trying to send a message through actions and hints usually doesn’t work. Speak up.
4. Black tea tastes better if you take out the teabag after approximately 1 minute. Oh, and always buy loose weight tea.
5. It’s possible to re-frame a setback from a step backwards to a step to the side.
6. Everything passes with time. Bad feelings. Hurt. Loss. So do good times, so enjoy it when you can.
7. If you believe you have a purpose on earth, but don’t know what it is – trust that you don’t always have to know. Trust that you are fulfilling your purpose every day.
8. People who have been through challenges and struggles are often easier to talk to when you’re struggling yourself.
9. The best novels aren’t always the ones with the prettiest book covers. (that goes for people too).
10. When facing difficult emotions, it may help to shift your focus, but what helps most is to know and realize that strong emotions will fade if you give them time rather than act on them.
11. When writing, it’s always better to use as few words as possible.
12. If you like to read, you’ll probably like poetry too. Start with Rumi. And Rilke.
13. Building trust is a gradual process. It works to open up little by little, slowly. See how the other person reacts and adjust acoordingly.
14. There is always more than one way to reach a goal.
15. When making decisions, choosing jewellry, brainstorming essay topics, it’s usually a good idea to go for the option you picked first.
16. If you can stay off sugar for one week, the desire for sweets will pass, and you’ve broken the cycle.
17. Try to always ask for help before it’s too late and you’re already overworked/making mistakes/in crisis.
18. When in doubt about what to wear, go for black.
19. It is possible to be secure in your insecurity. Powerful with your vulnerability.
20. When you’re really worried, realize that fear plays with your ability to think rationally. Don’t take action before the feeling passes (see #10). That is, unless you’re chased by hungry lions. Or lawyers.
21. When going on long bus rides in cold countries, it’s smart to bring a blanket in you hand luggage. This goes for air-conditioned hot countries too.
22. Nail polish dries quicker if you hold your nails under running cold water.
23. Every task is easier if you split it into small timeframes. 10 minututes of cleaning. 15 minutes of studying. 5 minutes of writing a novel. As long as you do it regularly.
24. Foreign music (like french!) is better for studying, as it won’t make you pay attention to the lyrics.
25. The best way to save money is to always delay a purchase. Want a new item of clothing while browsing in the store? Delay your purchase for 7 days. Chances are, you’re all over something else 7 days later. Keep delaying, and you’ll realize you’re just wanting for the sake of wanting, and that you’re fine with what you already have.

What is your wisdom? What do you know for sure? Care to spare me and others from making the same mistake you did?

(photo source unknown)

Sometimes. Just a few words. Are enough.

Sometimes. Just a glance. Just a nod. Just a faint smile.

Sometimes. All you need is a tiny glimmer, a flicker of hope. And a little spark.

It’s in the small stuff, darling.

Can you spare five minutes today? Or maybe just one?

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Send a text to someone you love and tell them so

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Make a 5 min outline of how you will add magic to your day today

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Write a tweet that will motivate your friends to keep on doing their awesome

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Spend 5 minutes making the best cup of tea that you have ever made

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Read just one poem

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Take a picture to savour this moment.

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Spend five minutes giving yourself a sparkly manicure

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Take just one really deep breath – relax

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Write one sentence that might become a novel one day

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Give someone a hug

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Smile to a stranger

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Smile at yourself in the bathroom mirror

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Light a candle

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Listen to your favourite song

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Think about something you are looking forward to

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Write a list of 10 things you are grateful for

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Connect with someone you admire and give of yourself

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Stretch your body

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Write a short note of forgiveness, to yourself or somebody else. Send it or not.

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Spend a moment to listen to yourself – what do you need right now?

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What are your small practices that add magic to your life?

I’m all in for achieving greatness. To test your limits and push your abilities to the edge of edges. I know I have achieved great things. And I know you have too. And I wish for you to aim to to be the best possible you that you can be. And to do the world-changing, thought-rocking and mind-blowing awesomeness that only you can do.

But I know how easy it is (- learning the hard way -) to loose yourself in the process . Even when we go ahead with the very purest best of intentions. All we want is to be extraordinary. To make good lives for ourselves. We want to fulfil our dreams, because not only achiving – but working towards – our dreams makes us happy. Not in the future, no, here and now.

But dreams are by default always something of the future. And you, my dearest, are living your precious life this very second.

So please – don’t make the same mistake I have made times and times again. Don’t lose yourself in achieving that dream. Take some time off. You won’t loose everything. You are not blowing your chances. Not at all – you are taking care of the very foundation for your dream to come true; you.

So if posts here are coming a little far between these days, know that I am just taking a much-needed deep rest from the pressure of making dreams come true. If your motivation falters a little, or if your strenght is fading, I encourage you to do the same.

Lets work on that dream a little differently. Let’s look at it as time to gather strenght and resources to come back stronger than ever.

You and me. And all those millions and millions of dreams.