Listen to Nature

Listen to Nature

"It's sad to think that nature speaks and mankind will not listen."*

                                                                                 Victor Hugo

We have not listened for a long time, and look at where it got us…. Pollution, climate changes, and species dying out, just to name a few results.  One fine day mankind will die out, too, and the way we’re living now that day may come earlier than expected.

For our ancestors Nature was sacred, but what is it for us…?

Many countries have come quite fare with environmental friendly initiatives like waste separation, or “natural” power plants, but it’s far from enough. It’s our whole lifestyle with all the over-comsumption that needs to be changed.

I call myself an environmentalist; I feel a deep responsibility towards Nature and also the need to do more than just sort my garbage or bike to work. We could, for example, radically cut down on the use of electricity. With cell phones, iPads, computers, TV, hair dryers, two cars per family, our houses always fully lit up, and 150 electrical kitchen appliances we use far too much energy.

We could also cut down on all consumption. We buy whatever we fancy; clothes, home decoration, books, sports equipment etc. How many of these items will really last “a lifetime”? How many will end up being rarely used (because we already had ten similar ones) and then thrown or given away? The more we consume, the more will be produced – at the cost of Nature.

 It’s time to start listening to Mother Nature again, and find out what she’s trying to tell us.

Where do you feel you can cut down on the use of electricity or consumption…?

Have a lovely week! :-)

The Happiness Network

*“C’est une triste chose de songer que la nature parle,  et que le genre humain n’écoute pas »

Breathe, and Slow Down

AA wrote: 
 Well described and reminded:-)

Breathe, and Slow Down

"As you practice mindful breathing, you become alive, you become real, not only when you sit or walk (in meditation), but when you’re making breakfast or performing any activity.”

                                                                               Thich Nhat Hanh

One of the main advantages of my present lifestyle, is that I have succeeded in slowing down. 

 My pace was always a quick one, rushing from one activity to the next, often trying to do two things at the same time. When you hurry through your days like that you’re not really present: you’re already dealing with the next item on your list.  

Try to stop every time you have finished an activity, be it only a phone call or a visit to the restroom. Stop and take a deep, mindful breath. Breathe, come back to yourself, and be 100% present. Then you can continue with the next item on your list in full awareness.

 It takes will-power to break old habits and to slow down - but an emptier agenda also helps! ;-) 

 Have a lovely, un-rushed week! 

 The Happiness Network

Imagine Life as Containing Joy

I'm sitting at our PC at work - doing a night shift... alone with my thoughts and with my patients.

"Life as containing joy..."

"Make others delighted to know and love you..."

 

As teenagers we (girls) used to exchange love poems. I always remember some - one of them was: "If he loves me, it is not a merit of mine but if he ceases to love me, I am to blame."

This is something I've been thinking a lot about in the course of life. About how much we want to be loved... Till the end of our lives. I see it daily in my work - how much it means to the old people to feel they are taken care of, they are still important to somebody, they are loved.

The hardest lesson, though, is to love even if you don't get it "back". Love in spite of it and especially because of it.

Love even when your heart is broken and aching like hell.

I once read somewhere that when the pain is at its greatest, you must open your heart even more.

I also love the German expression "Humor ist, wenn man trotzdem lacht." To me it contains the great wisdom about Life. You should not take anything too seriously, not even Life. At the end of the day - it was just one big laugh...

 

I've come to the conclusion that there is not much I can do to be loved and to bring joy - the only thing I CAN do is to forget about myself and just love. Love others and try to make them smile, laugh, try to make their eyes twinkle and shine.

Humor is not to "be funny" but humor is the art to laugh about yourself, to make others laugh.

Love is the most difficult lesson in Life. To love in spite of the pain. The more it hurts, the more you must open your heart...

I always think about the famous prayer of Francis of Assisi:

"Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, the faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen."

 

Some thoughts from a night shift...

Imagine Life as Containing Joy

“Loving yourself is imagining life as containing joy: joy in experience, joy in relationship, joy in the contents of your own being, and joy in the delight that others feel in knowing and loving you”.

                               Daphne Rose Kingma: A Garland of Love

If you want to live a life as containing joy, fully loving yourself, you need to strive to “be your very best” at all times. The best possible version of You!

It is as if there were two of us: the basic version, living life on automatic pilot, doing what we’ve always done, what comes easy and doesn’t require any specific effort. We might be okay living a whole life like that – but it’s not the best we can do. Because there’s an advanced version, too, where we become aware of our thoughts, words, and actions, and deliberately choose what is most in line with our true selves.

The more often the advanced version is in charge, the “better” we live: we consciously choose what to think, say and do out of love for ourselves and for others, and life suddenly makes more sense – and is much happier. 

What words can you utter today, what actions can you do today to spread that inner joy? How can you make others delighted to know and love you? 

Have an extra joyful week! :-)

The Happiness Network

Money or no money, that's the question

Your weekly newsletter is a big joy and super delicious soul food. I read them week by week and always say to my wife that I really like them and that I want to reply and have never done it so far.

Today I am changing my pattern and make my reply true...juhuuuuuuu. I am so happy for you that you that you are living your values and that you follow your heart. It is a big pleasure to witness that you found what makes you happy and that you have the courage to live it. I adore you for that as well!

Thanks a lot for your generous sharing of all your wisdom. I love it! 

Coming back to your current newsletter I agree there is not need for worrying it will work out. Like Eckart Tolle says "Living in the here and now has no space for worries".

Good question also where can I spend less and make my footprint to Mother Earth smaller. One thing is that I will buy less. When I want to buy something then I will challenge myself and ask "Will this new item make me smile at least 7 times?" If yes then I will probably buy it, if I have a slight doubt then it is a clear no.

Thanks for your awesome work!

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Money or no money, that’s the question


"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children."                                                                                       Native American Porverb

Some time ago I chose to leave the city and my old workplace and live a life according to my values and interests.  So far that has meant no “proper job” – and no money inflow. I live on my savings and soon I’ll start taking out parts of my pension. I admit that this sometimes makes me a bit apprehensive. 

Before I left my old job I checked my finances to find out where I could cut costs and save money. Quite a lot of places, actually!Living a simple life in a village without shopping or entertainment possibilities obviously also has reduced my spending drastically. 

I have chosen to invest the largest chunk of my savings in a house, and that also reduces my fixed costs significantly. My biggest costs are frequent trips to Sweden (every 4-6 weeks) to see my elderly mother, but there’s no space for “the little extra”, like pleasure trips, theatre visits, impulse shopping etc. You might call that a lack of freedom, but for me feeling free lies in not having to “sell” myself for a job I don’t want and a cause I don’t approve of. 
Luckily I don’t miss the little extras – instead I spoil myself with lots of fresh air, time to hike and read and eating clean, good food, prepared with love. 

If you live this kind of life you could start worrying about “What if I fall ill?” or “Will my savings be enough to sustain me for the rest of my life?”. It might sound simplistic, but I have chosen to settle for Faith. There is no meaning in worrying about the future; nobody knows how that’s going to turn out. Instead I hold the firm belief that things will be all right. 

I am actively looking for a part time job up here, and I’m convinced that one day something will turn up. Actually there is another important pleasure deriving from living on a small budget, and that’s knowing that I’m not eating into Nature’s resources more than absolutely necessary. 

Where could you cut down on consumption/costs today, making your life simpler and your footprint on Mother Earth smaller?

Wishing you all a Happy Week! :-) 
The Happiness Network