Morning

Early in the morning, your alarm goes off. You snoozed it immediately and want to stay in your bed. But knowing yourself, you set four consecutive alarms to make sure that you'll wake up. It's dark and cold outside. The morning has a strange silence. You're actually not hearing anything, but you can hear the nature waking up. Mainly birds. Once your ready for the day, you'll close the door behind you and you'll go to work, school et cetera. The dark sky is getting brighter and slowly, the sun is coming up. Your environment is gradually becoming more vivid. Nature’s already in full swing, but we don't realize it. You're feeling fresh and energetic and the start of your day is a fact.

People often underestimate the importance of the morning. It is the moment when your day begins. Everything you’ll do on a day starts with an initial. A poor start will affect the rest of your day and it can result that you wont be doing the things you planned. This can be annoying. But if you start your day proper, you'll be able to achieve a lot. I'm someone who likes to get up early. It gives me a fresh energy and motivates me to make the best of my day. What one must remember is that you lose a lot of life in terms of time if you get up late. Try to get up early, because the early morning is one of the most beautiful moments in life.

Bohemian Switzerland/Czech Republic

Motivation

Every person has certain goals in their life. This could be getting a degree, a job, or a certain weight. It's easy to say that you want something. A few words are enough. But how bad do you really want it? Do you want it as much as you want to breath? It isn't always easy to accomplish goals. Some of them are small and require little effort. But some of them are so big that you need years to accomplish them. Even some of them could require certain changes in your life.

Recently I ran into this picture. After seeing it, I could imagine what it means and what it does to my own life. I'm convinced that discipline is one of the most important things you need to accomplish your goals.

Unfortunately, during your journey, times will come when you'll get demotivated. You'll feel miserable because of your failures and want to dive in your bed and forget everything. You'll be losing the believe that you can do it and want to give up.

But let me tell you something: Setbacks are guaranteed! It will not always go as planned. Delimitation and demotivation will occur. But you have to believe! One by one you will handle the setbacks and step-by-step you will move forward. You need to be constantly motivated to overcome all the adversities. My advice to keep yourself motivated is that you need to visualize your ultimate goal. There lies a tremendous power in the thought of reaching your goal. It will give you the motivation to keep on going until you reach your ultimate goal, and you will.

Excel

‘The source of vision is inspiration. A vision cannot occur without an idea. The source of inspiration is passion. The source of passion is your purpose in life. We humans are created with a purpose in life and each one of us is uniquely created. So everyone has a unique journey in life. The key is to find yourself in God who gave you identity.’ – Joel Giterson

Have you ever thought about what you want to achieve in life? Life is very short and it'll be over before you know it. How will you be remembered, or better said, how do you want to be remembered? This is a very deep subject and difficult to answer. I think you’ll pursue towards it if you keep working on it.

A vision refers to a desired long-term perspective. There is no end to it. However, it’s important to have goals to work towards to. This may be long or short term goals. I like working towards personal goals and a new year is a good time to start. This allows you to annually evaluate your goals and prepare yourself for a new year. Last year I had targets and unfortunately I haven’t accomplished all of them. I will do my best to achieve more next year.

Each person leaves a legacy behind. Only you determine how this will look like. The key is to find yourself in God and to attain your passion. Only then you will excel in what you are destined for.

Let 2014 be a great year!

The joy of giving

The fact that mankind continuously wants more, is in its nature. If you’re a millionaire and you can provide your needs spacious, you’ll still want more. It is in the psychology of man. I think this is partially positive, because  it ensures that you are constantly striving forward and motivated to continue. However, there is a flip side of this tale. One seeks often material satisfactions, and people are willing to sacrifice a lot to achieve it. I am convinced that it will not give you the satisfaction that you’re looking for. The moment that a matter or a way of living becomes a habit, it will no longer fulfill your gratification.

Do you ever think of others? The society is in such a state, and I think that it always has been, that people always thinks of his/her own. This is understandable, but the awareness that you could give another joy in many different ways is often absent. You can make someone else very happy, and their gratitude can give you a beautiful feeling which is hard to describe. You can help or give to another in many forms. This could be financial assistance or maybe a favour. But simply a smile or ‘good morning’ to a stranger could also be a huge pleasure. 

I think/hope that you’ve experienced the happiness and joy of someone because of your gift or service. The trick is to help another in your current situation in a creative way. And don’t forget that this has an action/reaction effect ;).

The Present

Are you the type of person who looks constantly forward or just someone who lives by the day. Are you someone who works towards a specific day, or do you enjoy each day? Do you spend your consciousness by thinking or doing? These questions are maybe hard to answer immediately. But they do describe a part of your personality.

Every day you live is a privilege and a gift from God. I think that it's good to make plans about your future (this could be short or long term), but you shouldn’t work towards a goal at the expense of whole days/weeks or months. If you look forward, you can already see the next stage which will occur on your path. Try to make the best of the present before you proceed to a next stage in your life. 

The reason that made me think about the present is the way the world is changing. And hereby, I'm talking about the way people is living. We live in an age where speed is becoming something very important and is taking charge of our lives. Speed is associated with more stress, more busyness, and less balance. There are so many things happening in our lives and I'm wondering if we live them to the fullest. It could make your live so much more various and interesting. Try to enjoy the small details of your day. For example; Coffee! When was the last time that you enjoyed a cup of coffee at home or in a cafe without keeping an eye on time? (if you don't like coffee, maybe tea?)    

Don’t forget nor dwell on the past, but do forgive it. Be aware of the future but do no fear or worry about it. Focus on the present moment. Be curious, invent, try to live your life to the fullest and try to enjoy every single thing you do today.

Skyline Amsterdam City

Travel

Have you been traveling lately?  Where did you go? Places you've been are usually pleasant memories. You see new places, meet new people and (often) get in touch with another culture. I'm trying to travel as much as possible. There is so much on this planet we don't know about: locations, people, cuisines, sights..

Try to experience new places and new things. You might find yourself with someone or/and somewhere that makes you much happier than your previous circumstance. The Earth is so vast with unique and beautiful places, why wouldn’t you want to go explore them?

Of course, there is a price tag. But there is something in the opposite for it. Besides the fact that you have a wonderful time and get relaxed, it also gives you something special which can't be bought.  You develop tremendously as a person. After a trip, you get back as another person. During a trip, you develop yourself. This can happen consciously or unconsciously. But because of the things you see and experience, your mindset changes. These are unforgettable and beautiful experiences. 

It doesn't always have to be expensive. The concept of traveling is to see new places, new people and experience new things. This doesn't mean that you have to go to another country. Have you seen everything in your own country? I live in the Netherlands, which is a small country, and I can say since recently that I've seen the major cities. If a country like the Netherlands has so much to offer, then other countries should have many more sights.  

I will close with a quote from Dalai Lama where I'm trying to keep myself stick to:

'Once a year, go to a place you've never been before'.   

Explore.

Blind angle

Scotch&Soda Barfly

One day, I was walking along the Scotch & Soda store and I didn’t had the need to go inside. Yet, there was something in me saying; go and take a look. I made my mind and finally walked back into the store. I was making a tour through the store and taking a look at the clothes. When I came near to the exit, I saw a fragrance (see photo).

As I looked at it, I got intrigued by the fly on the shell and I wanted to try it. It became clear to me that it’s a scent which I find suited to myself. It has a sweet smell which gives me a lust for life and makes me happy. Eventually I was glad that I walked into the store. :)  

What I’m trying to clarify is that you can expect something extraordinary from a ‘blind’ angle you didn’t count of. The above is a very simple example but it can apply to all aspects in life. You probably know the moments in your life that your intuition says to do that one thing, but sometimes you don’t feel like it, don’t have the strength for it, or purely out of laziness, you won’t do it.

There will come many moments into your life like something very simple as I described, or perhaps a life changer which is waiting around the corner. Try to live with an institution that you’re open for anything.  Expect the unexpected.