To meditate is so much more than simply sitting still and closing your eyes. Yes in a way it's all there is, but it is much more beneficial than it might seem.

When we disconnect our brain for a few minutes and instead open our hearts, we can truly look inside ourselves and see new things. Hear our true voice and feel what we really feel.

Some people have trouble sitting down relaxing. That's why I love walking meditations so much. One of my friends Jörgen Tranberg just released a new set of meditations called 7 Walking Meditations which are truly great.

The meditations are based on a unique interaction between the emotional and the physical body, both are equally important for you to be able to feel good. He has also created a background music with different frequencies because the brain and the body are affected by sound frequencies.

These meditations are based on science, psychology and research.

You can truly experience transformation when meditating. And when you combine walking, music and meditations there is no end to the possibilities. :)

You can experience the healing at all levels through the unconditional universal heart. The universal space through all the cells. You can experience the depth of your original source. The highest level of consciousness and visit the place where everything is.

​How is that for a trip!?

Music has always been an important part of my life. As a child I took piano lessons, guitar lessons and I sang in various choirs. I performed and I went to a music school for several years. 

It was the singing that really got to me. Preferably in a big choir in a big old church where the tones resonate with all breathing entities in that room.

There is something extraordinary about standing in the midst of a huge crowd of beautiful voices which echoes all around you. Voices ascend, tones mount and sopranos, altos, tenors and all harmonies fill you up - inside and out.

"Music is God's little reminder that there's something else besides us in this universe; harmonic connection between all living beings everywhere, even the stars." - Robin Williams

Music was such a big part of my life, for so many years, that at a certain stage, it had to stop. I was fed up.

For years I didn't pick up an instrument what-so-ever. I didn't sing a single note. At weddings or other church occasions I squirmed when having to. 

I tried singing on a couple of occasions both in a choir and in a duet, but no.

When I had kids I was fed up with noises altogether. I stopped listening to the radio.

At first I wasn’t paying much attention to this change. It was a natural process. 

But as the years went by, I felt this void, something was missing.

And so I sent out a wish - out into the universe: "show me the music – once again!"

I knew I needed to bring it back into my life but there was no rush. It would come to me at the right time.
And I knew I wanted to sing in a small group of music loving peoples, preferably in harmonies.

But the years went by and nothing happened. And at times I was surprised. Where was my music?

But just before Christmas last year, I happened to sit in a car, with some wonderful women. And as the talking, laughing and giggling went on; we realized we had a shared interest: music.

And there it was.

I had found my soulgroup of music loving people.

And the dreaming took off. We pictured ourselves on a stage in front of lots of people. We dreamt and we played with it.

We met, we sang and we practiced (and giggled). We kept dreaming of that stage performance, and we even composed our own song.

And in March this year, it was time. Pure Cor was ready and we sang on a stage in front of 300 people (and another 1000 online).

I don’t want to save the world

I don’t want to be 6-figure-successful

I don’t want to run a 1 million projects

I don’t want to upshift

I don’t want to write a cook book

​I don't want to become a Youtube celeb

I’m surrounded by people and social media telling me to work, to improve, to grow, to build something, to fight, to gain, to compete, to always aim for more. For bigger, broader and better. Dream big, make a change, save the world!

But what if we don't want to?

In my confusion with what is me and what is everyone else I do have 1 million projects going on at once. But sometimes I wonder why. What is pushing me to keep on doing this?

I look at others bragging about their 6-figure businesses, how they grew from small to big. How they started with nothing but two hands and a at best a computer (usually a Mac). And at times I am jealously wondering – how do they do it?

What if we don't want to, need to, wish to. Are we lazy? What if I just want to sit under a palm tree and sip on a cocktail?!

I will probably never save thousands of children from trafficking, become a famous yoga teacher, run several marathons in every capital or in the desert. I will never tour the world as a famous rock star, create a fund-raising community and speak to thousands of people at once on how to save the world.

I will never rescue pandas, tigers or whales (unless it's from the comfort of my computer).

I will never learn how to cook raw food and then write a fabulous cook book about it with glossy pics of carrots that I have grown in my own garden.

I will never have a clean home with fancy furniture from Svenskt Tenn. My nails have not seen a french manicure for many years and my hair is at its best chopped off at the local drop-in hairdresser place.

I am not, however, any less happier.

The only thing that makes me unhappy is when I think I am not good enough. When I compare myself and think this old soul won't do. Cause it does.

Instead I do what I do because I love it.

I sing, not for the sake of being famous, but because it’s my passion. I write blog posts and books, because it's my soul speaking and I can't get it to shut up. I teach dreaming and living soulfully to groups because it is in my nature I can't help myself and no it doesn’t make me rich at all. I travel because it is my spirit’s journey.

I work out – not to become a triathlete but to feel good. I meditate and do yoga not to be trendy, but because my body yearns for it. I give money to charity because others do fund-raising so well. I speak to small groups because it's where I am comfortable and it is where my heart is at the mo.

I do what I do because it's my life and I need my soul to sing at this very level and this is my (current) life song.

​What is your life song? How do you sing it and what is your happy-level? I'm sure it is just perfect. Just for you. Right where you are now. And if it's not - you have the prerogative to change it. Any time you like.

"On a deeper level you are already complete. When you realize that there is playful, joyous energy behind what you do" - Eckart Tolle

There is a lot of talk about creating your happy life these days. I know, I talk about it too. I even teach it. 

Just dream it and you can get it. Just work hard enough and you will fulfill all your dreams. Get the right education, do your exercises, take the right course or self-improvement plan and your life will vibrate in 7 different colours. If it doesn’t work, it’s your own fault. Fake it til you make it.

Law of attraction works in a flash and if it doesn't- you are doing it wrong. You are not letting go, you are not creating your vision board right. You haven't prayed hard enough and you haven’t wished in the "right" way. Perhaps you clinged on to your wish too tight? 

Perhaps you need to be better, cleverer, wiser, truer, freer, looser?

Perhaps you need to let go, need to work harder or need to do it the other way around.

Perhaps healing and kinesiology work for most people – but not for you?

Are you one of those people who still have a backache after several sessions at the acupuncture clinic? And money always flow out of your hands?

Is that the case?

I believe sometimes we simply have to let go. We simply have to be sad, have a back ache, be miserable and just cry. Hide in a cave for a while and simply be with it. Well, we don't have to - but we have to...

Yes it is no fun whatsoever. But it is what it is.

If you're in a miserable state, perhaps you'll learn from it, perhaps you won’t. Perhaps you'll come out at the other end a better person, perhaps you won't.

Sometimes life simply sucks whether it is your fault or not.

Yes there are several friends, preachers, laws and techniques out there to help us, to guide us, to lift us. And all the believers out there will tell you that their therapy is the best and it “aaaalways works for them”. Adding to your guilt when it doesn’t work for you.

But sometimes we are simply not there in mind and heart to receive it. Simple as that.

Or perhaps you are looking too hard for a "result".

The best thing you can do in that situation is to accept it as it is. Sit with it. Be with it and stop blaming yourself. Follow your rhythm. Cause you, and only you – know best.

And do you know what – it’s ok.

I am currently really sad. Really sad. My dad died a few months ago. And no matter what I do to cheer myself up, it doesn’t work. It simply doesn’t. And trust me – I have tried and I have all the techniques available to me that you can dream of. I have lots of friends with good good advice and they all reach out to help me. And I love them for it. But right now. I just need to be sad.

And yes I know that people far worse off than me managed to turn lives around. But that is them.

And so I am. Simply am. I go about my daily life and cut down on all the unnecessary chores and missions. I manage. But I am glum, blue and downright miserable.

But I allow myself to be here.

Because I follow my rhythm.

And I know my rhythm will bring me up one day. It will even vibrate in 7 different colours. But until I’m there I won’t push it.

I will be me in all the colours there is.

Have you reflected on 2015. Was it a turbulent and eventful year? Chaos that needed to be aired?

Or was it a non-event of a year. Sleepier than usual?

How many of your goals and dreams did you achieve?

What are your thoughts on 2016?

Are you worried that history will repeat itself again next year or are you simply happy with what you’ve achieved and wish to achieve even more?

Good!

Then these easy-to-follow steps will help you along the way.

But first. Let’s reflect on the fact that we sometimes find it hard to believe in ourselves.

When you start dreaming about what it is you want to bring into your life. What you want to experience, your dreams and wishes, at first you might actually feel a bit unsure of what it is you truly want. It is as if you are scouring and searching for ideas.

Ideas then start to take shape in your mind and when you think about them your heart starts singing. You get this tingling sensation in your stomach.

That’s what you should aim for.

Your next step would naturally be to start talking to people about your dreams. And this is where it might get a bit tricky. Some people worry about you, and some people don’t believe in your dreams. Some are even jealous and will do all in their power to stop you from reaching your dreams.

If you have dreams you believe in – only speak to people who will support you. It is hard enough as it is to convince yourself. You need on cheerers! Don’t allow yourself to be affected by negative energies.

If you are unsure and need a second opinion – fine. But choose your advisors carefully.

Now let’s get to work:

1. Think about all the things you are grateful for in 2015 and list them.
2. Write down all the things you need to let go of from this year. Then let them go. Don’t let them hold on to you.
3. Write down all the things you wish to experience in 2016. Pick five.
4. Break them down into achievable steps.
5. Write them in your calendar.

Voila! You will have a very successful 2016!

Good luck!

​Are you affected by the news, the world, the tragedies, the hardships?
I would think so. Does it seem meaningless? Hard to know how cope with the negativity? Were you depressed even before Paris and now it is all falling apart?

So how do we cope with it?

I really think it is possible to live in the midst of life’s crisis and be happy at the same time.

How so?

Is my life perfect?

Do I have all the things I need?

Is everything in order?

Of course not.

Yes, I do have a loving family and friends, a job, a house, food to eat and all the basics. And sure it helps a long way.

But I am also going through a lot of personal issues. My dad passed a few weeks ago, one of the hardest things I’ve experienced in life. People at work are extremely stressed out and even burnt out. Some of my relationships certainly could be upgraded. I am dealing with some truly draining issues that sometimes keep me awake at night. My work situation truly could improve as well. And yes, Paris did affect me too.

And yet – I’m quite happy.

So what’s the secret?

Well there is no magic formula. I guess this attitude of mine is a life craft. It has taken decades to build up. But in case your’re interested – this has helped a long way:

• Supportive environments. Find people, groups, environments that lift you up.
• Do fun stuff every day – give yourself the gift of laughter.
• Meditate – clear your mind every day and build your space.
• Eat, exercise and sleep well.
• Spend time alone. Learn to like you.
• Get energy from Mother Nature.
• Ask for help when you need it – alone is not strong.
• Focus on your blessings – not your misfortunes and think of how grateful you are every day.
• Affirmations – Are o-so-powerful

I read this one every morning:
“Today will be a day filled with laughter and fun stuff. I am healthy, positive and I am surrounded by positive, inspiring people. I receive exactly what I need at the exact right time. I focus on meaningful and uplifting things. I am full of energy and I am connected to my source. I can create whatever I want and need. I am love.”

​My dad died a couple of weeks ago.

Something ended. A life. But also dreams, hopes, things the way they always were.  A life which was known the way it was known.

And for the first time in a long time I feel lost.

It is not such a nice place to be in.

You see, when a parent dies, it does not only affect you in that obvious way. Losing a parent is not only the losing of a dear person. A loved one. A hero. A role model.

It is also an occurrence which awakens one thousand questions within.

Where is he?

What is life?

What is death?

Who am I?

Who do I wish to be?

It is like teenage hood all over again.

I am one of these people who would describe myself as a spiritual person. Growing up in a church – matters of life and death were always comfortable questions. Always raised. Always spoken of. I do not shy away from them. They are all familiar to me, have always been.

So comfortable I sometimes even wish to die. No, I am not suicidal. But I am curious to see what happens when our earth light is shut down. I eagerly await the moment when I will find out for sure.

At the same time, I believe all humans are in contact with life hereafter. Now and every day. Life and death are only definitions here on earth. We are not earthlings. We are spirit. That I believe.

Death (as we define it here on earth) is a place we can go to anytime we like. We can visit our dead relatives. Connect with angels and all kinds of spirits.

I don’t question it. I don’t fear it. It is as natural to me as it is reading a book, cooking a meal or brushing my teeth.

I do not fret death. I do not question a life after this one. Or even parallell to this one as time is only a figment.

In my heart I know there is a completely different set of rules to the ones we follow here on earth.

And that is perfectly okay.

Therefore, when my dad was on his deathbed. I was not afraid. I was not questioning his upcoming journey. I definitely did not want him to go now, but I knew wherever he would end up – it would be a good place.

But now when he is gone all that I was so sure of I am not so sure of anymore. Now his absence is definitive. It is constant and all that was is no more.

He is gone and I don’t know where. I don’t know how or why.

I am not sure of anything.

I am lost.

To an outsider, being lost might seem like a romantic state, a peaceful place to be in. All options lay ahead. All possibilities are open. Nothing is set. The next step could be anything and everything.

But lost for a person in the midst of the tornado is nothing but romantic. It is void. It is hollow. It is lonely.

All that I thought was real is no longer solid. It is open and confusing.

I linger in some in-between-place. A place I am not used to be in since I have never lost a parent before. I have not visited this land previously.

Lost I have been. Many times. But not like this. I have not before lost touch with the strings overhead. The strings that connect me to a generation above. A string which held me more solid and in more sturdy a place than I have ever realized.

He was always there. Always there. And that counts for much more than I had realized when he actually was here. In the flesh.

When we are lost, we try to find solid. Something to hold on to. Something to understand, something to put our hopes to. Something to keep us sane.

But lost means we don’t have any of that. We float. We shiver. We drift.

And as much as our mind tells us, all will be well, we cannot see it.

Losing a parent is not something we can understand – until we do.

Losing a parent is something much more than losing a parent.

Losing a parent brings on questions you did not even know you had.

Questions you did not even know existed.

It means that all you believed in is shaken up. Is uprooted and thrown up into the air. And no one is there to catch it.

Losing a parent means you are partly losing yourself.

I find the more I live from heart, the closer I get to my core, my true me, the harder it is to cope with being in an unsupportive environment.

Environments in this argument are things like home, work, a course, certain groups of people, family, study groups, etc. But environments can also be things you feed yourself with like reading news, watching tv. It can also be just one person or even yourself.

I have always been sensitive to environments. Especially the ones that drain me of energy. Know the feeling of walking into a room feeling totally numb or cold? For no particular reason.

When you go from this general notion of knowing or sensing unsupportive environments to have a conscious awareness of them it is even harder. The awareness brings to such pain because not only can you sense it, you can also see clearly that you are doing bad to yourself by staying in these negative environments. It is almost like you are pushing yourself towards harmfulness. Forcing yourself to eat dirt.

But some bad environments are not all bad. Perhaps we need to be at work because it pays the bills. Perhaps you need to visit your grandparents, even though you’d rather not, because it also does you good. Perhaps you hang out with people who do you no good, because they’ve been your friends forever.

But what if you could reduce these worlds, or at least reduce the amount of time you spend there?

We need supportive environments. Life is a hard one as it is. Why pushing yourself to be in these environments where you feel depraved. Environments which don’t feed your soul and which don’t nurture your being?

Look araound and analyze your environments. Be kind to yourself and make sure you are surrounded by love and compassion. Not trial and negativity. At least not all the time.

Find new friends, go to work if you have to but see if you can be a positive environment bubble while you are there, minimize time with relatives you’d rather not be related to.

Reading the news? Do you have to? Does it light you up? Fill your soul with joy? Yes it is terrible with all that happens in the world at the moment. Compassion is very important. But does it make you stronger and more giving when you dwell upon one bad newsstory after another?

And do consider cutting some chords in life. Perhaps you will grow and be a better person for it.

You ar worth nothing but good!

Do you ever find yourself in a negative situation? 

Do you at times feel empty, down or low on energy?

Any energy thieves in your area, at work or where you live?

If the answer is yes, these handy tips might help. 

1. Go with love.

2. It is rarely one person’s fault. And even if it is. Blaming leads nowhere. 

3. Don’t try and change people. Instead see things for what they are and go from there. If you think people will change the only frustrated person in the equation will be you. Don’t do that to yourself. You are worth so much better. 

4. Boundaries. Oh it is so easy to go all in and give, give, give. Helping others until you drown. Especially if you are one of these “helpers” in the world who can’t help but helping. To the extent that you go extinct. Don’t go there. Set boundaries. Go within and ask yourself. Can I do this? Will it truly help the other person. But most importantly – will it nourish me? The universe is sending people into our lives to test us. But remember: you are not a victim, nobody has power over you.

5. Don’t feed the dwellers. People love to dwell and dwellers love a listener. When you pay attention to somebody else, you are giving them energy. You are feeding them. Do you sometimes end a conversation with a friend feeling completely exhausted? I used to have a “friend” like that and at the end of each conversation she always said “oh thank you Pernilla I feel so much better now”. And there I was – absolutely drained. Listen, give advice, but kindly excuse yourself after a while and say “I have to go but I will send you healing energy”. That way you stay balanced.

6. Adapt! Yes, but if you are dealing with energysuckers you need to be careful with this one. Adapt to a certain extent. Listen to what resonates with your goals and dreams. Be flexible. Show the world you’re a bigger person who doesn’t let nitty gritty little things bug you. But adapt at your phase. Adapt with love, respect and within your boundaries.

7. Do stuff that fills you up. Watch comedies, read uplifting affirmations, yoga, go for a run, get a massage, play your instrument, play football, take in healing energies from nature. Nurture yourself more than you usually do. You need it and man are you worth it.

8. Responsibility! As you know, you are responsible for your actions and words. But you are also responsible for your own wellbeing. You can’t blame someone else. No matter how difficult and evil the other person is. The way you respond and react to him or her is your responsibility. Equally important. You are not responsible for other people (well accept your kids that is). Other people must set their own boundaries and take care of themselves. The other person must also listen, adapt, fill up with energy and take care of their own laundry. It is not your job!

9. If all else fails. Withdraw. Withdraw for as long as you need and as often as you need. It is ok. If you need space – embrace it. It is yours to have. You need to survive. Breathe, be and relax until you are ready to face the world again.