travel Archieven - Anouk Prop

Mirrors of life

awareness, happiness, healthy living, holistic healing, life, love, meditation, mental health, mindfulness, positive psychology, relaxation, self development, selfdevelopment, stress management, travel, wellness, yoga

There’s potential in every individual. Every idea has the possibility to succeed in its time and place. We only don’t always see that, often blinded by fear, doubts and insecurities. Unhelpful things that are holding us back to live life to the fullest. Then life becomes a heavy struggle and we find ourselves crawling through time to get somewhere. When we finally arrive at a place, we feel so exhausted and unable to enjoy the present moment.

Therefore it’s good to look in the mirror once in a while and see who we really are in essence. That’s challenging and a very courageous thing to do. Being vulnerable and open up to the parts of ourselves that we rather would not see. Or want to hide. Our shadows, our darkest places within. Questions will come up. Self criticism to the fullest. Am I a good person?

Look again. Dive into yourself and see that deep essence of love and care that is inside of you, no matter what. This is where compassion resides. There where everything ok is the way it is. The place from where self love arises.

When there’s love for the self, there’s love for others and when there’s love for others, there’s love for the self. We’re all fighting the same battle, pulling ourselves up through the journey of life and trying to find our way back home.

Connection is the key to deep fulfilment and giving gives so much back in return. Now look again in the mirror and see the beauty of others through your eyes, reflecting love for all that’s dear to you.

Notice the difference in how you see yourself now in the mirror. Can you see the sparks? Of the greatness that you are, with an infinite potential to live life to the fullest? Take the leap of faith and jump. Feel you can fly. The wings of love are carrying you. Into the unknown. Into the beauty of you.

Let’s make a journey into your world.

Story in pictures | Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood | Dubai

Anouk Prop 2018

https://www.anoukprop.com

The journey

awareness, happiness, life, mindfulness, positive psychology, self development, selfdevelopment, travel, wellness

A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step…in the right direction.

Here you go. Walk the walk. Twists and turns. Just do it.

If you do the right things with the right intentions, your path will lead you wherever you need to be. Be in the journey without losing your focus. Let the distractions come and go like the waves of the ocean you’re riding. Keep going. Breathe in the breathtaking views that surround you as an invisible hand guiding you through the tsunami of life. Embrace the encounters. Sending out imaginary postcards that are anchored in this present moment, forever imprinted in your soul. Breathe out everything you are leaving behind.

You’re on your way. It gets lighter with every step. Providing you a powerful palette of colors. Create your own life painting talented artist. Set your life on fire with home in your heart. Keep it burning with another breeze of air that lifts you up as high as the sky.

Sometimes you might find yourself in doubt, not knowing where to go. Wondering about the next right step on your path. Scared to walk into the sea of the unknown, yet deeply filled with a vulnerable braveness to close a door behind. Standing still on the doorstep. Observing the infinite possibilities in front of you. Overwhelming waves of life are coming towards you. It’s taking you away from the place where you belong. Right here, right now. Grounded as the palm tree with the magical ability to move with the whirlwinds of emotions. Fiercely surviving each storm.

And you know what? It always follows its gut. Towards the light. Why go straight through when you can go up? Why continue and go on and on, top heavy at a point and break? If it doesn’t feel right, change your direction. Go deep within. Listen. Let your prana flow. Suck it up from the ground. Feel it from the tips of your toes. The sun shines through your voluminous fountain of life. The wind blows your leaves. And up you go. Lifted to wherever you need to be.

No other place to be than the journey. Here. Now. Life.

Travel is a wonderful therapy

awareness, happiness, mindfulness, self development, travel

Indeed. Especially for two very popular conditions: ‘stuckness’ and ‘notknowingness’, often strongly interrelated. All caused by our monkey mind producing unhelpful thoughts as ‘I’m stuck. I can’t see it anymore. Who am I? I don’t know what to do. What’s the next step? What is the right thing?’

Well, if it doesn’t go right, go left. Why would you remain in a situation of suffering? Know that you always have the choice to take a step. Pick yourself up and leave the rest for what it is. By literally stepping out of the situation in which you’re at, you’re not only making a strong statement to the monkeys in your mind, but it also creates space to let things be and to observe everything from a distance, without being caught up in your own stuck story. Isn’t it a relief to experience that the whole circus continues without you as well? The monkeys don’t need a babysitter. All of a sudden you can see things more clearly, overviewing everything as a whole. Being in a new environment stimulates the senses and opens your eyes to whatever there is. Breathe in the smell of interesting insights and approach everything with curiosity and openness. Without judgment.

Take a step. Go. Connect with the present moment. This is what there is right now. And that’s right.

By the way, you don’t have to travel the whole world. Of course, it’s great to dive into other landscapes and be indulged by indigenousity. But the real challenge is very close by. Not running away on an escapade, but being able to change your view by seeing things differently, only by taking the right step with awareness. Sit down. Be still. Meditate. Move mindfully. Travel out of your mind. Into your body. To the here and now. Where everything ok is the way it is. Connect with the wisdom of your heart. Then open your eyes and see. With new eyes. Observe the beauty of the mess that the monkeys made. Smile. They were just playing mind games. Smarty pants, but you know buddhi better.

There you are. Where you need to be. Now. At home in the journey.

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”
-Marcel Proust-

Bangalore, India – September 2017