The truth is sometimes you won’t understand why certain things are happening in your life.
It will feel frustrating and difficult.
You will question yourself – who you are, the choices you have made, the decisions you came to, your past and ultimately you still won’t find the answers in that.
We think that the more we know and understand, the more peace we will have but that isn’t always the case.
There are times in life all you can do is surrender and ride the waves.
To have faith and trust in the process.
That everything is happening for a reason for your greatest season.
I believe in you...
This is for you beautiful soul, if you’re in the fog, the uncertainty — doubting yourself, questioning yourself…
It may not make sense right now and maybe it isn’t meant to make sense right now, but one day it will.
We can’t always navigate life in our head, intellectually… logically.
And thus sometimes life will shake itself up with the twists, turns and all things unexpected to get you out of your head and into your body.
“For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must come completely undone. The shell cracks, its insides come out and everything changes. To someone who doesn't understand growth, it would look like complete destruction.” - Cynthia Occelli
Growth isn’t in perfection and success. Want to know what actual growth is?
MESS.
DESTRUCTION.
ROYALLY FUCKING IT ALL UP.
Mistakes.
Failing.
Doing something hundreds of times.
Becoming completely undone and hitting rock damn bottom.
In all of this glorious blaze is UNDOING. UNBECOMING.
Complete change.
Pushing outside your comfort zones.
Cracking under pressure.
And with that?
Absolute R E B I R T H ⚡️⚡️⚡️
Rising from the ashes – stronger, wiser and more resilient than ever.
So don’t be afraid to completely fuck it all up.
Don’t be afraid to completely change and do a 360 degrees.
All of this is beautiful, messy GROWTH 🌱
Keep going beautiful soul, you are on the right path and where you are meant to be.
For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must come completely undone. The shell cracks, its insides come out and everything changes. To someone who doesn’t understand growth, it would look like complete destruction.” – Cynthia Occelli Instagram Post
Cynthia Occelli is a fellow life coach with beautiful, empowering quotes.
Cynthia Occelli Quotes
“When people seek to undermine your dreams, predict your doom or criticize you, remember that they are telling you their story, not yours.”
“If you love beauty, it’s because beauty lives within you. If you love art, it’s because you are creative. If it wakes up your heart, a receptor for it already exists within you. Your soul is drawn to the things that will help you unfold your most glorious expression. Give in.”
Be more Fika! Discover and embrace this easy, simple and popular Swedish philosophy which has so many benefits professionally and personally. This article will explore The art of Fika, what is Fika, how to be Fika and the benefits of Fika.
What is Fika? Fika Meaning – Fika Definition
Fika is not only a noun and a verb, it is a Swedish concept and state of mind. Fika is known as a coffee break but it is much more than that!
Fika is a moment to slow down, to appreciate the good things in life.
To unplug from the ever busy world we live in and embrace the slowness of life.
To meaningfully connect with someone over a coffee or tea. No phones, no mind chatter, no distractions.
This concept resonates with many cultures around the world.
To have a coffee or tea break. To take a moment for yourself. To get your mind off things. To hone in on the present moment. A breather as Australians would say.
Next time you find yourself at work feeling stressed or when life is flying by – Fika.
Coffee anyone?
The art of Fika – Coffee break
Five ways to be more Fika at work
Take a break from what you are doing – it could be stepping out of the office to buy a fika coffee, making a tea in the kitchen, having a delicious snack at your desk without working – simply being there and savouring every bite.
Leave your desk. Go for a walk around the block, embrace the nature that is around whether that is a local park or taking notice of tree lined streets. Go to a fika cafe, fika tea bar, fika coffee house, fika espresso bar- a place that makes you feel relaxed and comfortable.
Pause for a moment in time. Take a few deliberate breaths. Focus your attention on your breath and how you are feeling.
Strengthen your connection with colleagues whilst conversation flows over a coffee. You may even find you are bonding over this daily ritual which everyone can participate in (forget hierarchy) simply enjoy your time together.
Get your creative juices flowing! A Swedish survey conducted noted that only 9% of ideas were brought up in a conventional work environment such as a meeting room. Given the calming nature of Fika, it isn’t surprising that it is a more conducive and pressure free place to brainstorm and bring up ideas.
Fika cafe locations around the world
Fika locations around the world
Fika in the USA
Fika New York. Fika NYC – Konditori, a Swedish Fika Espresso Bar in New York. In fact Konditori means a traditional gathering place to enjoy warm drinks, delicious baked goods and treats – Very Fika! Fika Hattiesberg in Mississippi known for it’s cosy and relaxing atmosphere with delicious sandwiches.
Fika in Australia
In Perth, Fika on Brix who pride themselves on excellent coffee. Melbourne has several FIKA cafes. FI:KA in Hawthorn (Fika Hawthorn), Melbourne – a very instragrammable location with its pink theme and drool-worthy rainbow hotcakes. In Ballarat FIKA Coffee Brewers has quickly established itself as the Fika hub of Ballarat with is all about attention to detail and considerations from the first sip. Fika Manly – Fika Swedish Kitchen and Fika Bondi in Sydney NSW. Both Sydney FIKA locations, bring all the best things about Swedish culture together with modern Aussie café culture.
Fika in Canada
Fika Cafe Toronto – Located in Kensington with beautiful house made food and coffee of course! It is known to be very instagrammable with it’s cool and airy interrior and artistic book wall feature. Also in Toronto, Moonbeam Coffee Company a cosy, homey spot for espresso drinks with an outside patio area too.
Fika Toronto Feature Book Wall
Fika in the UK
Fika Liverpool popular amongst locals for authentic tasy food and milkshakes. Fika Uppermill known for their afternoon teas and a place for baby showers. Fika Oakham a Scandi cafe offering Nordic inspired breakfast & lunch. Fika@44 in St Leonards-on-Sea known for good food in cool surroundings.
Fika in China
SMAKA café & bakery in Changning District prides itself on serving the finest and most delicious menu heavily inspired by Swedish and Scandinavian heritage and flavors, but also with an innovative and modern twist. Swedish coffee chain Wayne’s Coffee has a location in downtown Shanghai serving coffee, sandwiches and Swedish pastries.
Fika in India
Fika in Adyar, Chennai where Scandinavian design and Wes Anderson-inspired elements come together for a beautiful café and community space. “The style of the space is something of a hybrid—rustic chic. The vibe is relaxed and lounge-y, and the space itself is fluid and constantly evolving. It is also like an empty canvas and has the capacity to adapt to any events, like Diwali, or Halloween parties” says Architect Mahendra Kumar of Studio 62 in Architectural Digest India.
Fika in Pakistan
Fika Coffee Co. in Karachi, Pakistan known for their variety of coffee blends and cakes such as Tiramisu. They continuously search for the best and most innovative artisanal beverages in Pakistan.
It is important to consider how everyone’s perspective is different, they are unique to us as is a fingerprint.
When we consume media, we are experiencing and feeling actions and events unfold from the perspective of a character.
When we consider another person’s perspective, we broaden and expand our horizons.
We become aware and conscious of how we feel and perceive something to be.
We become aware of the fact that a truth may not exist because everything is perspective.
We become aware of our reality.
Quotes to evoke thought on perspective
When things don’t happen the way we want them to, it may be a blessing in disguise
“Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a remarkable stroke of luck“
Dalai Lama
It’s how we choose to see something
“The optimist sees the donut, the pessimist sees the hole.”
Oscar Wilde
Our perspective gives meaning to the world around us
“Songs are as sad as the listener.”
Jonathan Safran Foer
Perspective shapes the world we live in
“Loving people live in a loving world. Hostile people live in a hostile world. Same world.”
Wayne W. Dyer
Our mindset plays a powerful role in our perspective
“What is behind your eyes holds more power than what is in front of them.”
Gary Zukav
We can choose to see what happens to us as for our higher good, our growth, our personal development.
“Nothing happens to you, it happens for you. See the positive in negative events.”
Joel Osteen
Sometimes the only control we have is in our perspective.
“The only thing you sometimes have control over is perspective. You don’t have control over your situation. But you have a choice about how you view it.“
CHRIS PINE
It is easy to see a negative perspective and harder to have a positive perspective
“It’s so easy to look around and notice what’s wrong. It takes practice to see what’s right.”
Melody Beattie
Perspective shapes our direction
“Perspective is to painting what the bridle is to the horse, the rudder to a ship.”
Leonardo Da Vinci
Be open to other perspectives
“If you only have a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.”
ABRAHAM MASLOW
How others perceive you has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them
“Your perception of me is a reflection of you.”
LOUIS ARMSTRONG
“We can’t choose the filters that others choose when they look at us.”
anon
Thinking of other peoples perspectives can provide clarity
“Most misunderstandings in the world could be avoided if people would simply take the time to ask, ‘What else could this mean?'”
Shannon L. Alder
Perspective can help us with empathy
“Empathy begins with understanding life from another person’s perspective. Nobody has an objective experience of reality. It’s all through our own individual prisms.”
Sterling K. Brown
Perspective helps us differentiate and to form a point of view
“Perspective gives us the ability to accurately contrast the large with the small, and the important with the less important. Without it we are lost in a world where all ideas, news, and information look the same. We cannot differentiate, we cannot prioritize, and we cannot make good choices.”
Be a voice not an echo. Let us ponder that thought.
“It only takes one voice, at the right pitch, to start an avalanche.”
DIANNA HARDY
At a young age we are conditioned to be ‘normal’ to follow as everyone else does. The typical life path. Grow up, get a job, grow a career, fall in love, have a family… we are moulded into societal norms.
Do not be afraid to be your true self.
Do not be afraid of being different.
It is what makes you special.
The origins of ‘be a voice not an echo’ could very well stem from Greek mythology. Zeus was an almighty God of the sky and thunder. He was enamoured by the nymphs on Earth, particularly one by the name of Echo. Echo loved to chat and used her gift of conversation to distract his wife Hera from the affairs he was having. When Hera caught onto this she took away what was most important to Echo, her voice.
Don’t get caught out in the role of Echo.
Our voice is a gift. You are a gift.
You are so valuable.
You are uniquely you, there is no one else in this world like you.
“When you give yourself permission to communicate what matters to you in every situation you will have peace despite rejection or disapproval. Putting a voice to your soul helps you to let go of the negative energy of fear and regret.”
Shannon L. Alder
“It only takes one voice, at the right pitch, to start an avalanche.”
Dianna Hardy
“The human voice is the organ of the soul”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“We all have a voice. Some a whisper, some a roar. If you can roar, roar for others. If you can only whisper, keep trying. Every roar started small.”
M.L. Shanahan
““Throughout human history, our greatest leaders and thinkers have used the power of words to transform our emotions, to enlist us in their causes, and to shape the course of destiny. Words can not only create emotions, they create actions. And from our actions flow the results of our lives.”
The power of vitality and how to cultivate it through mind, body and soul.
The magic of vitality
There is radiant, powerful and abundant energy that surrounds the mindset and state of vitality.
It is to not only live but THRIVE with a life full of zest, energy and abundance.
It is electric. It is magic.
Vitality has a magnetic pull, a magnetic presence. It is an unstoppable force to be reckoned with.
The power of vitality is that it makes you feel fired up, energised and truly ALIVE.
Coming across it, hearing it, I was instantly drawn. The a-ha moment! The power of the vitality compelled me to include it in the name of this website.
in her vitality.
What is Vitality?
Vitality [zest, enthusiasm, vigor, energy] Approaching life with excitement and energy; not doing things halfway or halfheartedly; living life as an adventure; feeling alive and activated
Ben Dean Ph.D.
How can you cultivate and increase your vitality?
There are several ways we can spark vitality in our lives to be come more soul fulfilling, energised and happy! This article will explore how to through the mind, body and soul.
♥ The universe always has my back ♥ Everything is in my favour ♥ I trust in the timing of my life ♥ Everything happens for a reason ♥ I make the best decisions at that moment in time ♥ I can do hard things ♥ I am loved ♥ I matter ♥There are no limits to what I can achieve ♥There are endless possibilities in my life ♥ I am always learning, growing and evolving ♥ My life is full of unlimited abundance ♥ I am an unstoppable force ♥ I am confident, calm and centred ♥ I am strong ♥ I am resilient, I can overcome any challenge or obstacle ♥ Whatever life throws at me, I can handle it ♥ Life only gives me what I am strong enough to handle ♥ I am at peace
+ Rest. Rejuvenate. Recharge. With the hustle and bustle of modern society, we are more susceptible to burning out. We feel guilty when we aren’t doing something productive. It is okay. To give our best, we need to be at our best.
+ Gratitude. Being mindful, conscious and appreciative of all that we already have. A practice I love is to reflect everyday on three things I am grateful for. Even on tough days, I set myself the challenge to do so! Thank you for the roof over my head. Thank you for the ability to use the internet. Thank you for reading this.
+ Play. Have fun. Approach your life through the eyes of a child – be curious, be in awe, see the world from a different perspective.
+ Love who you are. Appreciate all that you can do. Recognise how important, unique and special you are. To boost your self love, see here for 46 affirmations to radiate self love.
Body
+ Nourishment – eating fresh, healthy, natural food in balance with treats.
+ Energising through movement and exercise
+ Spend time outside. Soak in the sun. Breathe fresh air.
+ Set your soul on fire. Pursue passion and pleasure. What makes you truly alive? What makes your heart race and beat unbelievably fast? Gives you butterflies and tingles within?
+ Pace yourself, ensuring you have ample rest and disconnect from the trap of always being ‘on’ and busy. Let the soul be. Here in the present moment. Now.
+ Immerse yourself in rich experiences. We live one life, enjoy it and savour every moment.
What gets you out of your comfort zone?
What’s something you’ve never done before but have always wanted to?
What gets your heart beating and racing?
+ Be authentic to who you are. Speak and be your truth. Honour your feelings. Embrace who you are.
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because in the end those who matter don’t mind and those who mind don’t matter.”
DR SEUSS
+ Listen to your intuition. Your gut feeling. That thought that tugs at your mind. What is it trying to say?Take the risk. Trust that your soul always knows what is best for your highest good and self.
In conclusion, the power of vitality
Vitality is a state of being. A state of mind bursting full of love, life and feeling.
It means to be exuberant, energised and enthusiastic. A zest for a soul fulfilling life.
Being in state of vitality means to be a magnetic, unstoppable force that infinitely draws in positivity.
You feel it running and coursing through your veins, in every fibre of your being.
It is to be truly ALIVE, savouring every moment and making the most of all the rich experiences we are blessed to have.
How to use Affirmations to Live a Soul Fulfilling Life
Truly believe in the affirmation. Anchor the affirmation within your body. Embody the affirmation. Feel the affirmation. If you are finding it hard to believe in the affirmation, it may help to be curious and to identify as to why you feel this way. A professional psychologist would greatly benefit in this situation.
Repeat them. I believe repetition enables you to permeate the affirmation from your conscious mind to your unconscious mind. Repeat them out loud to yourself. Repeat them in your mind.
Write them out repeatedly. “As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.” – Winfred Peterson
Say them out loud and record yourself and then play them back to yourself.
Write them on post it notes and place them anywhere to remind yourself.
Reflect upon affirmations.
Meditate upon them.
Examples of affirmations to live a soul fulfilling life
♥ I am strong. I am resilient. I can do hard things.
♥ I am so loveable. I am worthy of love. I am love.
♥ I can make my dreams come true.
♥ Everything happens for a reason. The universe has my back.
♥ I always make the best decisions for that moment in time.
♥ I make myself so proud.
♥ I am on the right path.
♥ Inner peace radiations within me.
♥ Amazing things can and are happening in my life.
♥ I am always safe. The universe protects me.
Concluding on the power of affirmations
In conclusion, it should be clear from this article the power of affirmations in living a soul fulfilling life.
Additional helpful resources on the power of affirmations in living a soul fulfilling life: