HOW TO GET STARTED, FACE YOUR FEARS AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

5 ways to get over the resistance and fears

Often we know exactly what we could do in order to get there, but something just keeps us stuck.

Often we don't even know what it is or WHY we are preventing us from moving forward and receiving what’s on the other side of it, so we just stay stuck.

And it can be so frustrating that you eventually start believing you can’t have or do what you really really desire.

The more we struggle against our inner voice and calling, more frustrated and stuck we feel...

Usually, we are the ones who are standing in the way of our own happiness and success.

And usually, it’s fear that is hiding behind of those aims, desires, strategies and plans that never happen because you are not able to take action.

There are all kinds of fears:

• fear of happiness

• fear of success

• fear of failure

• fear of unknown

• fear of what other people think if you start doing what you really want

• fear of commitment

• fear of not being good enough

• fear of receiving... what we actually want: success, happiness, abundance, money

• fear of what’s happening on the other side of the fear, the unknown

What’s yours?

If you take action based on fear and think it’s not going to work out, it probably won’t!

There are 3 beliefs that are the root of these fears:

1. I can’t have what I want, it’s not available for me

2. I’m not good enough, loved, worthy or deserving to want, have, or do what I want

3. It feels unsafe as it’s new; unfamiliar

Most of these beliefs are buried in the unconscious and that’s why the brain wants to keep us “safe and protected” no matter what it’s so brilliant it figures out the way how to hold us back: procrastination, emotional eating, anxiety, avoidance, you feel you are never ready or have enough knowledge but continuously need more proof, certificates, self-work… I know, I know!

To change this we need to become aware of the reason behind the reason and learn the techniques how to face our fears, resistance and other related emotions and empower our brain to trust and believe better thoughts and feel good about our aims and goals.

These are so powerful beliefs and keep so many people unhappily stuck exactly where they are.

No matter they want to live and build the life and career of their dreams, in their own terms, they can’t help but let their fears prevent them to live to the fullest. Eventually, they just want to give up and satisfy less and stick with their limiting beliefs. I don't want that to happen to you!

watch the video below and learn how to do it.

grab your notebook:

1) Look within: WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT MOST RIGHT NOW?

Write down all max. five things that have been bugging you on your "should do/be/have" list. Write down the things that you have resisted most.

It can be about creating clients, finding a new job, asking for more money, starting blog, a website, writing an article, creating a course, developing yourself somehow, taking the first action step... 

2) prioritize

Make a list and pick one. Don't start contemplating too much in between the options, you can do them all but you need to start one thing at the time. Make it easy, do one thing at time. What would help you move forward fastest?

3) FEEL IT: face the fear, the resistance

What are the thoughts and feelings related to this desire or goal? Write them down. Accept how you feel and approve it’s there: just witness it there.

Your brain and your body are sending you a message of what you need to become aware of.

Is this thought helpful: is it real and is it true?

How does this thought or fear help you or prevent you?

Can you change this thought to an empowering one and support yourself that way?

Has someone else someway done what you want to do? That gives your brain an indication it is possible. Yes?

4) TAKE ACTION

What is the first step to getting ahead with it? Baby steps, write your actions steps down. Schedule it in your calendar. Decide you are going to do it and it’s going to work for you no matter what. How would you feel when you have done it? Write it down.

Taking action from the place of trusting and believing it’s going to work for you will bring you the results you want.

Taking action by feeling your feelings behind the fear and resistance is the only way to get over yourself.

From that place you will create a personal breakthrough, as you feel more empowered and you have your energy aligned with success.

When you learn to do manage your thoughts and feelings so you CAN follow through, you will see how changes start happening. This is really about creating a momentum.

Your courage will grow and - and no matter the fears will never totally leave us (they are keeping us safe in the end)  - we can learn how to use them as guidance and release those unconscious inner blocks that really are the only thing keeping us stuck and struggling.

Is this helpful? Let me know below!

Much Love, Jenni

10 tips for better sleep (and health and wellness)

We all know how important sleep is for our well-being. Lack of sleep affects the mind, happiness, and weight and can cause all kind of side-symptoms.

People who suffer from insomnia are ready to do anything to get some sleep, I know that from my own experience. Years ago I suffered from insomnia and I know all about the horrors it can cause. In the end, when I took the responsibility of it, I used all these methods to create new evening routines and balance my distracted mind and create a new mindset about sleeping.

10 tips for better sleep

1. Create healthy evening routines. Adults need routines as well. What are your evening routines? Is it serving your sleeping? Modify your routines, if needed and follow them even while you are traveling and on the weekends. Reserve enough time for your sleeping routines in the evenings.

2. An hour before bedtime: no social media, internet, games - switch off all the gadgets. No work related reading either but something empowering and positive. TV doesn't belong in the bedroom: it makes your sleep worse and keeps your brain up and running all night. It doesn't remove the stressful thoughts but just distracts your mind other ways. What to do instead? Journal, read, just relax, draw, stretch, meditate or be present and have a conversation with your family.

3. Set your alarm early in the evening. So that you don't need to think about it just before bedtime.

4. Write your worry list & work through your thoughts about the day before getting into bed. Don't try to go to bed with stressful thoughts. Write down all the things and thoughts running in your mind - I mean everything including the negative feelings. It helps you to release anxiety that often sneaks in in the middle of the night and then keeps you awake. Remember, what you can't change or affect is not useful worry about. Don't carry the baggage you can't release.

5. Keep your bedroom dark, quiet and cool. Dark blue is a great, calming color.

6. Cut off caffeine already on the afternoon (tea, coffee, soda) - it affects to your body. Switch to decaf coffee and tea.

7. Cut off alcohol: many believe that nightcap or couple of glasses of wine can make it feel easier to fall asleep, but you are more likely to wake up frequently.  And you slowly create a need/addiction with alcohol. If you are ready to explore cut off alcohol for a couple of weeks and you will feel calmer, sleep better and feel more energized.

8. Take deep breathes (meditate). Close your eyes and breathe. Or put your legs up on the wall and just breathe for 5 to 10 minutes. Very calming and tranquilizing, slowing down your system and stress levels.

9. Avoid heavy exercise or heavy meals late in the evening.  

10. If you wake-up in the middle of the night, don't panic - it's fine. Get up, do something calming, reading or meditation and when you feel tired again, go back to bed.

These tips can help to calm down in the evening and release the stress and tension that often disturbs the mind and prevent sleeping. If you suffer from long-term insomnia or if you feel fearful about sleep already in the evening or need to use sleeping aid often or every night, it is good to take it seriously and work things out to avoid more serious issues and exhaustion.

You can learn to sleep again and find new ways to calm yourself down and sleep well again. There are different ways to ease the distracted mind and release insomnia - hypnotherapy is a fast and effective natural therapy method that can help you to learn to sleep again: Read my more here.

If you want to know more could it help for you contact me here.

What do you do in the evenings to make sure you sleep well? 

Sweet dreams!

Much love, JennI

Hypnotherapy cured my insomnia and I learned to sleep again

I asked Jenni to help me with the sleeping problems and insomnia that I had been suffering on and off for over ten years.

I felt desperate as the problem was getting worse no matter I had nothing unusual or stressful going on in my life.

The only help appeared to be getting stronger medicines, and I didn't want that: I just wanted to rest naturally and sleep soundly, as I had done before.

My two-hour hypnotherapy session with Jenni was a deep dive to my mind and past revealing the personal reasons behind insomnia. After the session, I slept throughout the night.  Only one session and the personalized audio she made for me helped me almost magically to sleep again. I was able to change my thinking and release the old beliefs that caused insomnia. I now know that I can affect to my sleeping.

I now sleep most of the nights soundly until the morning. If I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night, I know it is only natural and I'm not getting anxious anymore, but I feel relaxed about it. I am forever grateful for Jenni who helped me to let go of this nightmare and learn how to sleep again.

If you suffer from sleeping problems or a lot of stress and busyness hypnotherapy is a great and fast way to find a solution and release for your issue. The cause of the issues are always personal and hypnotherapy sessions are always personalized for your needs, so sometimes more than one session is needed. Get more information and book your session by email: info@jenniglad.com.  

[read more: work with me]

[more on the blog: 10 tips for better sleep]

How to practice gratitude & boost happiness, health, and abundance

This is a habit you  w a n t  to bring into your life. Practicing gratitude, a.k.a paying attention to the good things in your life on daily basis, uplifts your mood and gives clarity in just a few minutes.

In the long run, it is an effective practice and a crucial tool helping to manifest your desires and visions. Practicing gratitude keeps you going towards your goals and mindful in the moments, while you get priceless recognition and acknowledge of your own efforts every day. It's like you are giving yourself short-term rewards that we all need to hear.

Watch the video and learn more about it and why it is worth it:

How to start practicing

List ten things that you can be grateful for: the events that make you happy or make you smile. Use simple short sentences about things, encounters, your experiences or feelings— whatever details you recall from that day.

1. Write it down in your notebook, peace of paper or your phone app. You can say it out loud (great to practice in the car while driving).

2. Choose a method what works best for you or use all of them. Listing things in your mind may work but usually, the mind sidetracks by other thoughts.

3. Feel every word in your gut and be honest. If you want to emphasize it a little bit more, add why you feel that way (recommended).

What happens when you start practicing gratitude:

• You stop to see, feel and learn to recognize your positive emotions. 

• You learn to notice the small meaningful things that make you happy (and are the 

• You consciously change your mindset to positive.

• You bring yourself to the present moment and grow your awareness.

• You show effort as you take action.

• You attract more goodness into your life.

• You stop taking things for granted.

• You respect life in a new way.

Starting a new practice can feel time-consuming at first, like starting a meditation practice or a new hobby but it will soon become easier, as you will soon you will start noticing the positive outcomes of this practice.

I usually do my gratitude practice in the evening, if not during the day when in need of extra energy - it is one of the mindful living tools, and it offers you a moment to take a breath. I track my day backward and pay attention to the tiniest details, what I saw or what happened during the day and how I felt.

Do you practice gratitude? How has it changed your life? Let me know your experience in the comments below.

Love,

Jenni

Mindfulness on the go and why it is good for all of us

Have you ever felt so stressed out or busy that it feels your head is almost exploding, and it's not even mid-day, but you feel overwhelmed, frustrated or anxious?

Is the feeling so strong that you know, there is no way to get over it and in the end, it ruins the rest of your day?

And you may release your stress load to your significant other or the kids later. And it might be that you have no idea where the emotional burst came from, but you just couldn’t hold yourself back, and you don’t understand yourself why you had to be so mean or hurtful.

It can be explained as a rough day or with tiredness but that burst causes pain to everyone, and it often starts an emotional snowball effect. In the long run, if these confrontations are not solved and talked through, the unreleased emotions cause all kind of relationship problems and then, you know, there are different paths.

Even if you would not feel that strongly and can push the emotions out of mind, you are just packing the frustration up for the later explosions.

If we don’t handle our past experiences and emotions, we keep creating the emotional congestion and pile it up, which formulates the issues, diseases, addictions…

Happiness and emotional balance is all about communication, at first with ourselves and then with the others.

In today’s video, I am talking about how to be mindful on the go and practice this crucial skill of feeling and being, observing what's happening in the body and the mind (and listen to your superpower intuition).

Observing your emotional state helps you become calmer, tranquil and your emotions just don’t shake up your world that drastically. There are ways to balance your emotional state, get to know yourself better and get over the stressful moment when it hits.

And how can you practice it on the go? Watch the video here:

 

We all ride different levels of energy and emotions every day. We all do mistakes, and we can’t and don't even have to, be zen, in control and mindful in every moment of the day - it’s okay to feel - perfect doesn't exist.

When you become more aware of the moments every day, you automatically increase your happiness as can make better choices for yourself.

Practicing mindfulness helps you to manage your thoughts, become more compassionate and accepting towards yourself and others.

Let me know what you think, and how you feel about this, in the comments below!

Much love, Jenni

How to use visualization and the power of mind

I had a beautiful brunch with my friends yesterday. We were celebrating my upcoming 40th birthday. I feel that I'm stepping in real adult- and womanhood, but at the same time, I feel ageless and good about getting old. Age is just a number and our attitude has a lot to do with how old we feel, and I never want to forget to play, be curious, have fun and try new things out - so what would really change?

Life is not a number, and I will never forget to play, be curious, have fun and try new things out - so what would really change?

Then, my friends were asking me about my visions for the year - what next?

Of course, my friends know that I live what I teach: use vision boards, reminders and different kind of techniques (habits) daily to keep myself happy and aware of where I am going in life - day by day (watch the last week's video of planning and procrastination).

I start my mornings quietly on my yoga mat. I try not to touch my mobile phone before anything else than a cup of coffee. I have all notifications off on my phone, so I don't get distracted (strongly recommended to everyone! Social media, emails and your phone just sucks you into distraction and overwhelm in a second).

My morning habits are part of my life that I don't even think about it anymore and don't want to live without - those moments in the morning time are my time. It sounds organized, but it's not like that at all: I flow with my morning schedules.

I do meditation, journaling, planning, and visualization - which is the IT tool that I talk about in my video below. It's The Secret all those books are all about.

On this video I'm talking about how to use visualization for short-time and long-term desires.

Visualization is simply about creating mental images for the future. It's about using your mind and imagination consciously, which you are doing every day and moment - unconsciously, the mind is fast - and that is how the brain works. It not about pushing through with a great determination towards the goals and forgetting what happens outside that track.

Visualization is a powerful tool helping us keep moving forward, and make things easier, daily life happier and you will become more trustful when you set your visions, define your goals and then - let go and get to that daily planning and life. Go!

To get back to my friends' question - I didn't know what to answer to my friends!

It’s a delicate and sacred thing when to share your dreams and visions publicly. I could have said I want to publish my book (I really do) and all those other things, just to say something. But I couldn't, as I haven't taken the next necessary steps yet. I did a new vision board recently, and now I concentrate on embracing today and feeling grateful of all what I have (the second part of THE secret) and there are many new things that need my focus and energy now - like my birthday celebrations! I have set my visions and I know it will happen - when the time is right.

Have you ever done a vision board? Let me know your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. And if you take my challenge from the video, I definitely want to hear how it goes.

With love, Jenni

Hypnotherapy - the way to make fast changes

What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a state of relaxed focus, it is a natural state, which in hypnotherapy session is created intentionally by following the systematic methods. 

How does it feel like being in hypnosis?

There is nothing mystical or woo-woo related to hypnosis: you already know how it feels like. Each of us enters such a state at least twice a day - it’s the same pleasant, dreamlike state when you fall asleep and waking up, daydreaming or just being in a relaxed state, “zoned out” in your own world. This also happens when you are focused on doing something you enjoy or something monotonic or you reach the flow state: when you are running, driving, listening to the music, drawing, watching the horizon, the view or the waves on the beach.

Hypnosis is a state of concentration where you are totally present with yourself and open to messages about breaking habits or making changes that are limiting or threatening your health and wellness now.

As a long-time meditator, I see hypnosis as a technique that takes a person to the timeless state that most people, who are practicing meditation, are looking for: a heightened awareness and focus. 

What you need to know about hypnosis

• You are in control at all times.

• You are aware of what is happening and where you are.

• You can only be encouraged to do what you want to do. Hypnosis works with your will, morals, and ethics - not against it.

• While you are in hypnosis, you can talk and you will have a conversation with your therapist. 

Many people I have worked with have suspected they probably cannot be hypnotized but they have all been very suggestible. You can be taken into hypnosis easily, as long as you wish to.

What is hypnotherapy and why it works

Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic technique that is used to create subconscious change in a client in the form of new responses, thoughts, attitudes, behaviors, feelings or changing in other positive ways.

Hypnotherapy uses the power of the mind and impacts on it in hypnosis. It is a process that enables new patterns of behavior

Among its uses include motivation and confidence, pain control, infertility, birth, weight, insomnia, anxiety, depression, exams, addictions, public speaking, fears, phobias and sports psychology. All these conditions can create physical issues and RTT offers a solution to both physical and mental improvements.

Using hypnosis, you can become a non-smoker, reduce your weight, increase your confidence and self-esteem, beat phobias, pass exams, sleep like a baby, be healthy and fit, boost your motivation to achieve your goals, relax more, be calmer and present, reduce or stop drinking, enhance your performance at work and playing sports, heal quickly, give birth naturally, solve problems, have better relationships, and much more. 

It is both stimulating, effective, empowering and very relaxing. You will already leave the first session feeling empowered, transformed, energized and positive.

We can't really control what is happening in the future but we can affect it a lot, set the positive expectations for the future and hypnotherapy is certainly a way to release what is holding us stuck and keep us struggling now.

Rapid Transformation Therapy 

I studied personally with the world-renowned therapist, speaker, and best-selling author Marisa Peer. Her method, Rapid Transformation Therapy (RTT) is a powerful therapeutic modality, which has been developed by Marisa over the past 30 years.

RTT goes beyond traditional hypnotherapy helping clients release the physical and mental issues usually only in 1-3 sessions. RTT embraces many of the positive aspects of hypnosis and hypnotherapy that are known to produce a transformative effect on clients: the use of trance, regression and hypnotic conditioning.

Among its uses include motivation and confidence, pain control, infertility, birth, weight, sugar, insomnia, anxiety, depression, exams, addictions, public speaking, fears, stressful situations, phobias and sports psychology.

All these conditions can create physical issues, and RTT offers a solution to both physical and mental improvements and targets the three ways the mind works:

1. The mind does what you really think you want it to do: every habit of action is run by a habit of thought.

2. The mind responses to pictures it creates based on the repeated words and thoughts.

3. The mind is wired to be safe and wants to stay in familiar.

When the thoughts and the words are changed, the action and behavior changes in conscious and subconscious mind.

The possibilities are as limitless as your imagination!

If you want to feel happy and relaxed, hypnosis is offering a way to treat the causes of unwanted behavior, stress, and struggle. Once the cause is identified and dealt with, the behavior can change.

What to expect in the first session?

1. I will explain what hypnosis is and the theory of the mind

2. We will discuss the issue that you want to treat

3. We will do the hypnosis

4. You will get your personalized audio to listen at home

5. We will book a time for a follow-up session

IS HYPNOTHERAPY FOR YOU?

You must have a desire and dedication to be open for the changes you want to see in your life. You also understand that making long-lasting habitual and behavioral changes takes at about 21 days you will need to listen to your personalized audio for the next 3-4 weeks. When these three things are met, hypnotherapy has the highest success rate.

HOW you can work WITH ME

The initial session takes 2-hours, follow-up sessions are an hour long.

Coaching Therapy is a combination of transformation therapy and coaching is a one-six week long personalized program. This and all the other coaching commitments only via consultation calls as we want to make sure that you understand that there is work to be done outside of sessions.

The first online session including a follow-up call is $390

Follow-up session is $190

I meet most of my clients online via video calls, which gives me a possibility to work with people all around the world. I do have a private practice in Manhattan, New York.

BOOK YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT OR TIME FOR INITIAL CONSULTATION VIA THE LINK BELOW. Or if you have any questions, just send us an email at info@jenniglad.com.

YOUR FREE 15-minute initial CONSULTATION: You can ask any questions that you might have and we will talk about your concern and how hypnosis can help you and what do you want to address and change. I will ask some questions to gain clarity and insight into your experience.

MEMBER OF AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL HYPNOTHERAPISTS

Hypnosis helped me to get rid of my sugar addiction

I asked Jenni to help me do a real and long-lasting life change toward a healthier, balanced lifestyle - and especially to get rid of my sugar addiction and food binging.

Sugar addiction made me tired and unmotivated, and my brain was foggy. My blood sugar went up and down, and so did my mood! I was often angry or irritated without knowing the reason, and it made me feel horrible. Strict diets and health programs were working only for a short while, but soon after, I was back to my old habits. I didn't have the willpower to change my habits permanently, and it was a painful struggle! I was disappointed in myself, and there was a lot of self-blame.

After the first session with Jenni, I felt how my brain started dealing with new information, i.e., organizing itself for a new way of thinking and changing behavior. I wanted to listen to my personalized audio every night, and I started feeling more balanced day by day!

In just three weeks time, significant (unbelievable!) changes started to happen; my attitude changed and I felt more compassion and acceptance. My approach toward food changed too in the fact that now, I want to eat clean and healthy food.

I started enjoying meals with all my senses, and I am excited about cooking healthy meals for the family! I do not need to gorge myself anymore. I feel my metabolism has started to run properly; I can visualize the fat cells shrinking, and my weight is steadily decreasing every week.

Chocolate and candy have crossed my mind, but I do not have a compelling need to eat them; they do not interest me anymore. Once I had some candy at the movies, and I was not able to eat it as it tasted way too sweet!

A huge healing process started from inside out. In such a short time I was able to release the old issues that were inducing my self-sabotaging behavior; I understood and very gently accepted why I had to be that way. The past is not affecting me anymore.

I had my second video call after three weeks. Then, we worked with my mindset and boosted my confidence - it was really empowering! The third session was to complete our work together and make a plan how I will keep myself on the right track.

I enjoy myself and my life so much more now, and I see my changes also positively affect the people around me, my family, and the atmosphere in my home. My skin is glowing, and I am full of joy and energy.

Jenni is a gracious and trustworthy therapist and coach who warmly but firmly leads and helps her clients to gently see and let go of issues that can be painful and difficult to face. Transforming my habits was essential for me and affected all areas in my life. I can't thank you enough.

Karoliina, Helsinki

Happiness equals success - video blog

Believe me, there was a time (actually a few decades) when I didn't really like Mondays (or sundays). 

I ruined the half of my weekend thinking about Monday and I felt stressed out about the coming work week.

I often worked on Sunday evenings to make the next week easier. There were always so much to do and I felt like I never got anything finished as there were always something new coming up. Yes, there is a reason why it is called rat race. I kept doing what I thought I should do instead of thinking what I wanted and desired. I chased some kind of gold shiny objects and believed, it would eventually make me happy.

Now when I've been out of the corporate world for five years it's clear why I felt so miserable and anxious then.

I missed the crucial feelings of fulfillment. Stress and busyness had numbed me. My work didn't feel meaningful and work is a crucial part of our lives, as we all know. We need to do what we like.

We need to do what we like.

For a very long time, I believed success create happiness. 

It's a common belief that makes many people miserable. We have learned that we should be rewarded for the hard work and often people sacrifice their own happiness/health/wellness for doing the things they don't even like, but believing happiness is the reward of the hard work and sacrifices.

The big secret is: happiness is a key to success. 

By changing this belief I got clarity and was able to make the exit plan from the business world and started creating the life I truly wanted.

Watch the video and learn what you can do to improve your happiness today:

 

We create change by cultivating the art of presence, making conscious choices, shifting our mindset and making steady, constant improvements towards our goals - that is how you can create a happy life.

I have created a Mindful Living method based on my life-changing tools: seven practical tools for mindful living. Click to get access to this FREE 7-series video course. 

How has it been for you - let me know in the comments below. What does success mean to you? Have you found the balance between success and happiness? How did you make the change?

There is no right answer to these things and I am eager to hear your experience in the comments below :)

Much love, Jenni

My review of 2016 with 12 life lessons

Like every year, I did my annual review of 2016 this week. When I read my notes and journals, it feels that I was being tested, dancing all year on my tippy toes, falling and getting up more than 12 times as there was some kind of drama involved in every month.  

The 12 life lessons from 2016:

1) Leave proper goodbyes for the past regularly (no need to stick with the new year cycle) and make clear decisions and choose what you want, dare to ask for more but focus only a few things at the time.

2) Our greatest achievements are born when we are following our inner leads and passion. Not the others, the rules or the books. Learn the lessons and do it in your own way.

3) Following our passions and dreams can be easy. We don’t need to make it so damn hard. 

4) Burn the boats. Make things happen but plan B's put your plans on hold and prevent the progress if you are focusing on “what ifs.” When you set your desires, make sure you believe in them and in yourself. Make changes along the way.

5) The only way to get over the fear of failure and perfectionism is to do it anyway. See the fear, feel the fear and then - just do it. You will take a big leap towards your visions.

6) Learn from your fears. Don’t stand in the way of your own success. Find the root cause and do the work to release the old beliefs and patterns. It’s the only way to making the real, long-lasting change and preventing you repeating the same old.

7) It is an illusion to believe everything is under control. You can’t live for the future, live in the now and make better choices.

8) Relationships can be defined by the quality of communication. It’s not about them, it’s about you.

9) When you take responsibility for your thoughts, words, behavior - you will take responsibility for your life (and may lead it).

10) If something or someone doesn’t feel good, walk away (nicely). Trust your guts and save everyone’s time and energy.

11) Don’t try harder, try different. No matter you feel like you have failed, change things and move forward. 

12) Learn to relax and feel more - take the time to meditate, think and connect with yourself. It's not a luxury, it's the way to feel more happiness.

Happy, Bold 2017 - it's time to make those visions true! I  have no doubt, it will be exceptional, like never before.

Love, Jenni

Facing fears above the clouds

I’m standing on a tiny, two-inch wide cliff on my toes. I hold the Via Ferrata cable with my left hand and trying to find a good grip on the rock wall with the other one. I am totally focused on moving myself forward step by step on the vertical wall and to get on the wider ledge above me. We are climbing via Ferrata and the summit of Tofana di Mezzo. I don’t look down the drop of 650 feet, but I admire the magnificent view from 10,000 feet— the surrounding mountains, the green valleys, the blue sky and the fluffy white clouds that are literally around me.

I see the iron stick that seems to be hanging in the air, which I have to reach with my right foot. I turn my gaze back to the gray mosaic stone. Suddenly the skulking fear gets me, and I loosed my nerve and froze — shit, I lost it.

My mind is quickly getting overwhelmed: I try to find a good grip and my fingers wander nervously. I see the image of myself hanging there by myself on the wall, on a high mountain and having a huge drop below — just like in all those climbing pictures — what am I doing here, I'm doing that stuff!

What if I fall, can I trust the cables, can I trust the via ferrata self-belay kit is working, the umbilical cord as I call it as my life depends on it. I hate this! The fall factor is much higher in via ferratas than in a rock climbing fall. I would get hurt as I would drop at least 30 foot and hit whatever. I can’t fall — all this information occupies my mind.

My legs are shaking visibly, like in the old cartoon movies.

“Breathe Jenni, breathe,” I calm myself down. “You have felt this feeling of panic before, many times in different situations. Pull yourself together. Trust yourself; you got this.”

I called my inner tiger to help me out — this was not a good time for the lazy panda.

Slowly, inch by inch I force myself to move forward, taking steady steps, good grips and I’m climbing on the ledge. I breathe heavily and realize the worst is over.

There were more ladders, narrow paths on the mountain tops, some covered with snow, more cables and fun rock climbing — and after I had faced the fear thoroughly, I managed to enjoy it all. It was a blissful day, no matter we had to climb down and eat snow when we run out of the water, as the ski lift we planned to take down was under maintenance.

When climbing via ferratas, the iron routes at the Dolomites and in some places in the Alps, you get to hike and climb and see places that are usually only for rock climbers or not even for them. I’ve been rock climbing for a couple of years now, mostly inside but I’ve been at the Dolomites before so I kind of knew what to expect. I am lucky my husband is an experienced mountaineer, and I’ve learned a lot from him. Climbing the most challenging ferratas without experience and good planning can be life-threading.

The conditions can get serious up there, and climbing is very different outside. On our first climbing days, I got stiff of the fear and was not able to find the joy and the excitement of the climbing.

“Have I just become that fearful and lost that adventurer in me?” I pondered.

I recognized that itchy feeling of excitement and butterflies in my stomach was familiar for me, which was calling me to go for it. That feeling includes two options: either I go for it, face and get over my fears and challenge myself. It can mean I’d be failing, but I’d learn and experience and create change. Or, I could leave it and approve it was not for me this time. And regret it later.

I had to clarify this all for myself and get insight, so I sat down and had a mini-coaching session with myself:

• Why am I doing this?

• What’s behind the fear?

• Where is that fear coming from?

I remembered (ha!) it had been my dream I had set a few years ago; I had wanted to start climbing and mountaineering.

I’m a nature addict to the bone; that’s my Finnish heritage, and I’ve been skiing since I was four and I love the snow, the forests, and the mountains. I need the nature’s healing and balancing “green power” almost every day; it can be only a walk in the park and sitting on the grass. I enjoy the extreme adrenaline rush and the blissful feeling afterward. And exploring — all of it.

About the fears. I was getting out of my comfort zone big time that I hadn’t done for a while. Climbing these high mountains was new to me. I got stiff of the fear when I read the descriptions of the routes and the grades. I was afraid I would be drained physically, no matter I am in a good physical shape. I was afraid I was not good enough, and brave enough, in front of my hubby’s eyes. I didn’t trust and give myself credits. I noticed I had kind of lost my wilderness and guts.

Fears are supposed to keep us safe, but they are number one reason why we don’t stretch out from the safety zone and follow our desires, big or small.

It’s easy to stay there, satisfy less (and complain) and let the resistance rule. But we all have much more power, the knowledge, the capabilities and skills than we know - we need to challenge ourselves occasionally! New things won’t feel easy at first, not always even enjoyable but when you get over that first phase - bliss is waiting.

I decided to go for it. I relaxed my mind and the body. I called my inner tiger to walk by my side. That powerful, calm animal, who takes it easy when it can and roars when needed.

Quick self-reflection guide (how to handle crisis creatively, get understanding of what you need now and move forward)

When you feel it’s difficult to find answers or make decisions, take responsibility, pick pen and paper and ask yourself:

• How do you feel (be honest)?

• What do you need?

• What do you desire (how do you want it to be)?

• Who are you (in your heart)?

• What needs to change?

• How and where you need to adapt to get there (it’s about you, not others)?

• Think and ask the questions - get quiet and listen

Pro tip: If you don't find any answers, let it rest for a while - don't try to force, it makes it worse - trust the answer will come and forget it. Be willing to be surprised and open to the new and change things up.

Always with love, Jenni

p.s. if you got interested about via ferratas and climbing in Italy, see this cool video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziRuQIuqN_M

Photo by Joonas Makkonen

It’s all okay - Mindful living in the moments

I woke up at 2:27 am for hunger and racing thoughts. I knew I had two choices, either stay in the bed pressing my eyelids together and try to force myself back to sleep and eventually get frustrated, or I could get up and do something about it. Even though in that moment getting up felt like an effort, I knew “the tools” are working.

ONE MIND FULL NIGHT So I got up, ate a coconut yogurt and sat in the living room. The calm silence of the night is pretty comforting. I started breathing consciously in and out. I heard the traffic and the sirens. New York is one of the loudest cities in the world but actually, when you just focus to listen, there’s always some kind sound or wash, wherever you are.

The quietness, that floating, comforting and limitless space where the fulfillment lies, can be found behind all the noise.

I started scanning my body along my breathing and noticed some tension here and there and relaxed and released it consciously with the exhales. I observed my racing thoughts and emotions, simply recognizing what was going on in my mind.

I didn’t try to push the hassle away but I just followed-up and approved it all with the gentle self-compassion and curiosity. 

I sat in the living room maybe ten minutes, being fully present in my body, in my mind and in my breathing and the surroundings. I liked the calm space I had found and enjoyed being there alone. Soon I felt calm and noticed how I became tired again.

I was ready to go back to bed where I continued the conscious breathing counting in seven with the inhale and counting eleven with the exhale. Continuing to relax my body with the breathing. It’s a good old mindfulness trick giving the mind something else to do than worrying about the unnecessary things. I was sleeping sooner than I noticed and woke-up fresh and happy as I had listened to myself and my own guidance.

I do longer meditations too, depending on my schedule, but basically I’m using mindfulness and do mini-meditations along my days whenever I need the check-in, find the guidance what I desire, calm down, focus and balance myself from the feelings of rush or stress. Or when I just have time to be present and feel all the good in my life, which is the best way to recharge oneself and enjoy life. 

SIMPLE, EFFORTLESS EXERCISE The mind likes to warn us basically about everything scary and it just tries to keep us safe. Approving everything that is in that moment, is a way to release the negative emotions and the stressful thoughts, which are just thoughts.

Conscious breathing calms and roots us down when we are flying high. It activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms the body and lowers the stress levels. Breathing consciously in the middle of the day recharges your brain, your mind and your body in just few minutes.

If you’re are having a sleepless night or miss the peace during the days, try the tricks - bring your attention to you breathing whenever you are and give yourself a break to breathe: 

Count from 1 to 7 with the inhale, count from 1 to 11 with the exhale. 

IT'S FOR YOU TOO Many people still have think that practicing meditation is only something related to yoga, Eastern religions and spirituality. Or it’s woo-woo, which you just want to avoid. Or even though you would like to try, you don’t know how. Or you definitely don’t have time for it (a few minutes in the here and there, if possible 5 to 10 just after you have woken up).

I know, that’s what I said too. 

Meditation became my medication when I faced burnout and understood that peace and freedom I had been looking for, were to be found from inside. It was absolutely liberating for me to understand I can take the responsibility of my own wellbeing and create my kind of life.

I had meditated on the yoga classes for years but I was resisting to take the practice to my days as it felt difficult and weird without the yoga and physical exercise. Nothing really happened as I didn’t know what I should be feeling or how to recognize the voice of my mind and my heart. I was thinking about what I wanted to eat for dinner and then thought I just can’t meditate.

But that exactly is the practice. When the thoughts arise, you just go back to follow your breathing approving everything that is happening, without judgement. It will get easier. And your patience will grow. 

If you are looking for more happiness, and the feeling of being fully alive, feelings of love and compassion, ability to enjoy life, understanding, peace, balance and joy - these all are the benefits of the meditation and mindful living. And there are much more.

If you want to learn how to respond rather than react to life’s challenges, meditation helps. And it’s not only the emotional benefits when you get in touch with your emotions, but it improves the physical health too. And the relationships when you learn to be mindfully present.

Meditation is for everyone, it is the way to experience the life to the fullest and feel less stressed out. We need it in the middle of all distractions. It won’t take away life’s challenges, but when you become consciously aware and focus more on the present moment and less on your mobile phone, you'll become more connected with your emotions and feelings and needs, so you can take the responsibility of your own actions. You will get over the challenges sooner and you just don’t mind other people’s business that much.

If you want to be happy, be happy.

Ask, comment or let me know your thoughts - what have you found through mindfulness? What’s holding you back?

With love, Jenni

One step at a time

The whole idea was so outrageous that it was amusing me. I couldn’t even imagine how I could make it happen without miracles. I just thought, "Aha, how interesting." Then I added playfully, "Well, if it is meant to be, show me the way. I promise to follow, I have made my commitments to make this world happier place."

About three years ago I got an idea of the story I would need to write and publish some day. It was not a blog but a full book. The story should be written in English and first published in USA. It was quite challenging idea for a Finnish girl who had only published couple of blogs in Finnish. It was pretty wild idea for a girl who had just started to create her own journey and had consciously stopped adrift in her life. I knew I was not ready for it yet, so I left it to brew and forgot the whole thing.

During that time life had basically forced me to start doing the changes I had secretly dreamt about for years and stubbornly resisted. I didn’t have detailed plan of what exactly I was desiring to achieve but I trusted I would find it along the way. And no, it was not as easy as it sounds: I was about to change my whole life, give up of the external identity I had created along the years and dig out the authentic me and be happier than ever. It was not going to be a one month project.

My aim is still not to encourage people to leave their day job right away and jump to the freezing financial uncertainty, like I ended up doing without a security net or sponsors. No, we all don’t want to or need to do the same things. But I have to say finances will be found when they are needed when you're willing to do the things you have a calling for. Do the easiest and smallest changes – take a course and test drive the ideas. See how it feels and be willing to be open and curious. One step at a time. 

So me, the busy business girl who I had become, started to blog about my journey after I took the first step towards what was truly calling me, and signed up for a yoga teacher training in Nicaragua. All that encouraging support from the family and friends "you have to do what makes you happy" and how everything was organized so smoothly gave me confidence I could lead my life to right direction and my other foot was already out from the office door. I kept affirming: take one step at a time and the next steps will be exposed to you.

When you're driving, you can't you really see what is behind the curve, but you know the road is continuing and it will take you to your destination, so you keep driving.

I wanted to share my journey on the blog and encourage the other people to see it would be possible to do the wanted changes in their life and create the life they truly want live — there were so many overachievers like me struggling with their stressful, unbalanced and unsatisfied lives. I didn’t really want to expose my personal life but the pressure, the beep and the calling was strongly demanding me to write. It is the roar of creativity.

So I wrote almost ten blogs in two weeks time before I left to my training. After I published my first blog and shared it on my Facebook I ran out from the house. I was shaking when I sneaked back to see what people would say and afraid they would they persecute me and think that I’ve gone crazy. But they didn’t. Or none said it out loud to me. One step at a time my confidence as a writer grew.

But the big story, the idea of that book, took a big step ahead sooner than I thought. After two years when I started writing and creating my own path, I wrote the first draft of that book in Bali in Mastin Kipp’s Writers Mastermind retreat and amazing coaches and fellow writers. I had followed his inspirational work for some time and learnt a lot through him. When I saw his post about the retreat I just instinctually knew I had to get there, no matter what. Again in the miraculous ways and again I managed to get everything organized. But not without facing any challenges or fears along the year I waited for that trip.

Remember and feel the original intuition, it will take you somewhere great. I had to step back to that intuitive feeling many times during the year when the suspicious ego wanted to play small and take the control. I have to say, money is not an issue when you are willing to follow your calling. So again I had got everything organized and I traveled to Bali for a month. I had amazing time finalizing my transformation, which was one of the reasons I did the trip. And basically wrote my life to a better one and got the first version of my story done. It is still a work in progress.

Release everything you need to release. Receive everything you need to receive. Be patient.

Last weekend I participated on the Hay House Writer’s workshop in New York and I found my original spark of creativity and to work with my projects. I met amazing people, I need my kind of people and supporting peer group - writing and being self-employed can get lonely. 

I noticed how I had become overwhelmed by all the work I really want to do and create. I had almost lost the motivation as I tried to do and rush too many things at the same time without proper planning, routines and consistency and my goals felt like unreachable chaos — I was pushing on a string. I heard myself priesting to my coaching clients about the patience and how things will happen on time. I stopped to listen my own words and took the advice too. 

I'm still looking for my niche. I'm close but finding it requires releasing of some old habits and beliefs, which then creates space for the new. It needs work, eagerness and courage to test some of the new ideas. Without a doubt there will be many lessons to learn and challenges to tackle that will lift me on the next level.  

I have told to quite for a few people about my dream that Hay House would publish my story. Last weekend I realized I don’t need to worry about the publishing now. I will get my stories out in a way or another. Then when the time is right. There are possibilities, multiple options to publish in this digital world. I understood all I want is to do the work and concentrate to put my message on the paper - then I’ll see where it leads. Lightly, one step at a time.

With love, Jenni

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