Just one more year and then I’ll be happy

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“You used to think that it was so easy
You used to say that it was so easy
But you’re tryin’, you’re tryin’ now

Another year and then you’d be happy
Just one more year and then you’d be happy
But you’re cryin’, you’re cryin’ now“
Baker Street – Gerry Rafferty

Those lines always land somewhere deep. They remind me of the times I used to tell myself that if I could just get through one more year, everything would finally fall into place and, then I’d be happy.

I have learnt that the years just keep passing by, and things don’t fall into place automatically. Happiness isn’t out there, and material things only give you joy for a little while and, the rest fades so quickly.

We think that if we had more, or better, or bigger, we’d finally feel complete. But wherever you go, there you are. Wanting never ends.

If you aren’t grateful or content now, getting what you want won’t suddenly make you happier. It feeds the ego for a moment, but soon you’ll want something else, something shinier, something louder. That wanting is an elusive beast that never rests, always yearning for more.

I have learned that you don’t really need much to be happy. It’s the people, the family, the friends that make life feel full. The moments you share, the memories you carry, those stay. Everything else is just things that weigh you down.

We come into this world alone, and we leave with nothing. So, what we gather along the way, love, connection, moments, that’s what truly matters. We only get one chance in this life so follow your heart instead of material things.

In the end, happiness isn’t something we chase into the future, it’s something we choose in the middle of our ordinary days.

Quotes

“You can never get enough of what you don’t really need.” — Eric Hoffer

“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” — Epictetus

“The desire for more is the root of all unhappiness.” — Buddha (attributed)

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” — Robert Brault

“Wherever you are, be there.” — Jim Elliot

A New Day, A New Beginning

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“If you wake up and don’t want to smile
If it takes just a little while
Open your eyes and look at the day
You’ll see things in a different way

Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow
Don’t stop, it’ll soon be here
It’ll be better than before
Yesterday’s gone, yesterday’s gone”
Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac

January arrives with a soft reminder that we’re allowed to begin again. Some of us make resolutions and some of us avoid them entirely, and most of us wobble somewhere in between. The truth is that the date doesn’t matter as much as we pretend it does.

If you slip, think of it as a pause. If you lose momentum for a day or a week, give yourself permission to simply start again from where you are.

Any moment can be a reset button; change doesn’t have to be tied to the calendar. It’s a choice, a desire, if it matters to you, you’ll find your way back to it. If it doesn’t, you’ll find reasons and excuses.

An easier way to set resolutions and feel positive about it is to keep them broad. Choose things that genuinely make you happy, that bring you joy, that lift your energy instead of draining it. When you follow what feels good, you move toward your goals without forcing yourself into something rigid and draining.

Joy has a way of guiding you without pressure. A walk because it clears your mind. Music because it shifts your mood. Time with people who make you feel like yourself. These small choices add up. They quietly pull you in the direction you want to go, without the guilt or the all‑or‑nothing mindset that resolutions usually bring.

Make a list of all the things that bring you joy and a list of the things that drain you. Be honest with yourself. Then slowly start removing what weighs you down and make space for what lifts you up. It doesn’t have to happen all at once, even small shifts can change the way you move through your days.

Write down your dreams too, the big ones and the small ones. A simple bucket list has a way of reminding you of what you actually want, not what you think you should want. And you’ll be surprised, when you look back at the end of the year, by how many things you’ve crossed off without even realizing you were moving toward them.

Some of us may have major changes coming up because of choices we’ve made or choices that were made for us, a job loss, a move, a shift we didn’t see coming. And the only thing we can count on is that nothing stays the same forever. Change has a way of arriving whether we’re ready or not.

But even in the middle of uncertainty, there’s always something you can anchor into – your ability to adapt, to choose your next step, to meet the moment with an open mind.

You don’t have to have everything figured out. You just have to keep moving gently in the direction that feels right for you. And remember, you can change your mind at any time. You’re allowed to choose a different path whenever you need to.

If you think of life as a series of lessons, then nothing is really good or bad, it’s all experience. Each moment teaches you something, shows you something, nudges you toward who you’re becoming. When you see it that way, the pressure softens, and the journey feels a little lighter.

Quotes:

“Change is the only constant in life.” – Heraclitus

“When nothing is certain, anything is possible.” – Mandy Hale

“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot

“There are no mistakes, only lessons.” – Robin Sharma

“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” – Alan Watts

Don’t You Feel it Growing Day by Day?

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“Don’t you feel it growing day by day?
People getting ready for the new
Some are happy, some are sad
Whoa, we gotta let the music play“
Listen to the Music – The Doobie Brothers

It is that time of year when you feel the pull to shed what no longer serves you and prepare for another beginning; another chapter waiting to unfold.

This is the season when New Year’s resolutions are made with good intentions, albeit only to fade after a few weeks as we slip back into familiar habits.

Instead of piling on more promises to yourself, what if you first released the weight you have been carrying. Expectations, people pleasing, negativity, guilt, perfectionism, control, fear of failure, shame, judgements and all the other heavy things you may have allowed into your life without even noticing.

When you let go of control, you let go of expectations. You free yourself from the urge to fix everything and everyone, and you give others the space to learn and grow in their own time.

You can never truly control another person’s mind, thoughts or perception. And when they do not behave the way you hoped or expected, it is only natural for disappointment and sadness to arise.

If you realized that the only person you can truly control is yourself, your life would become more peaceful. You would stop spending your precious energy hoping others will comply with your wishes, and you would return to living your own life with ease.

Whatever we think, we bring about. If your mind is filled with negativity, you will attract more of it. If you choose gratitude and begin noticing the small things that bless your day, you will find even more reasons to be grateful. You will begin to attract and manifest experiences you had not even imagined.

The LAVA Hypnosis Protocol I created helps you let go of negative emotions. It allows you to feel the anger, sadness and pain that live inside you. Then it guides you to vibrate into a higher frequency where those emotions can shift into healing. Finally, you arise from the ashes of pain and sorrow and step into a feeling of peace and happiness.

This New Year, focus on how you want to feel and let go of how you want others to live. Let people choose their own path and free yourself from the burden of feeling helpless.

May the new year meet you where you are and open the door to a softer way of living, where being happy matters more than being right and where peace becomes your natural home.

Quotes:

“You only lose what you cling to.” – Buddha

“Let go of the illusion of control and you will find peace.” – Unknown

“You can be right or you can be happy.” – Gerald Jampolsky

“What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.” – Vern McLellan

You are today where your thoughts have brought you. You can be tomorrow where your thoughts take you. – James Allen

A Fork in the Road

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test, and don’t ask why
It’s not a question, but a lesson learned in time

It’s something unpredictable, but in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life…”
Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) – Green Day

There are days when it feels like nothing changes. Each one blends into the next, a quiet repeat of yesterday. Life begins to feel like a loop, as if we’re living on repeat.

Some find comfort in routine, content to move through the trance of each day. But as the years slip by, they look back and wonder if they truly lived or simply went through the motions.

Others feel a quiet pinch, a restlessness in their relationships, their work, their health, their spirit. They sense something missing but are afraid to act. Fear holds them, fear of failure, of risk, of rejection, of losing the safety of their 9-to-5 job, of what they know.

And then, life offers a fork in the road.

These moments come quietly or sometimes like thunder. The choices we make shape our future and color our past. We can either look back with regret or with scars that tell stories of faith and fulfillment.

When we listen deeply and follow the whisper of our heart, something shifts. The path begins to open. Each fork becomes a sacred invitation to choose faith over fear, to move toward what calls us, even if we’re not yet sure what that is.

We are always one decision away from a different life.

Those who know what they love and live it fully seem to carry a joy that radiates from within. But even those who are not sure can begin. Moving toward what feels more true, even without knowing for sure, is far more alive than staying stuck in what no longer feels comfortable.

Trying and failing is not the enemy. Regret is.

The deepest sorrow would be to reach the end of our days and realize we played it safe. That we never dared to live the life that was waiting for us, just beyond the edge of courage and faith.

Quotes:

“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” – Mary Oliver

I Love a Rainy Night…And So Much More

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“Well, I love a rainy night
I love to hear the thunder
Watch the lightnin’ when it lights up the skies…”
I Love a Rainy Night – Eddie Rabbitt

Everything changes. Nothing stays the same forever. But the memories remain.

When even those memories begin to fade, the moments we capture, on phones, in photos, in videos help us relive the beauty of time spent with loved ones…or those rare, special times spent alone.

I love a rainy night.
I love the sound of thunder and watching lightning light up the skies.
I love sitting on the beach, listening to the waves and watching the sun set.
I love the sound of children laughing and playing in the park.

I love watching old videos of camping trips when our kids were little.
I love the memories of road trips across borders, along coasts, east and west.
I love Halloween nights with my daughter, trick-or-treating in tiny costumes.
I love the laughter, the dancing, the costumes at Halloween parties.

I love the weekends spent dancing the night away.
I love the sound of friends playing guitar or cajón at get-togethers.
I love traveling with family and friends to places far and wide.
I love summer days exploring small towns, hiking trails, and stopping for craft beers and wings.

I love cottage weekends under star-filled skies.
I love friends dropping by with food, or cooking together in my kitchen.
I love that our children, now adults, still want to spend time with us.
I love milestone celebrations: birthdays, weddings, and everything in between.

I love meeting up with colleagues who became friends whether in Toronto, London, or Amsterdam.
I love reconnecting with childhood friends after 46 years and feeling that same bond.
I love when neighbours from my childhood visit me in Toronto, or when I meet them again in Shillong.

I love the spontaneous drives to my cousin’s place in Virginia and McLean.
I love when I’m in flow…when the words for my blog pour out and I’m done in a jiffy.
I love when young people reach out, and I can share what I’ve learned so they don’t have to go through the same pain I did.

I love my morning walks to the subway station on workdays, quiet moments that ease me into the day.
I love listening to podcasts and audiobooks as I walk.
I love how certain songs become time machines, instantly transporting me to the people and moments we once shared.
I love when friends become family, chosen bonds that grow deeper with time.

I love that I’ve come to a point in life where I feel happy and content where I truly feel I have everything I need.

Nostalgia is a beautiful thing…and realizing that the only moment we truly have is now, makes it even more precious.

“Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” – Robert Brault

 “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” – Dr. Seuss

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” – Maya Angelou

“We do not remember days, we remember moments.” – Cesare Pavese

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” – Dalai Lama

Memories Become Bottled Nostalgia

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“Every rose has its thorn
Just like every night has its dawn
Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song
Every rose has its thorn”
Every Rose Has Its Thorn – Poison

Life is a journey we all walk alone, even when we are surrounded by others.

Along the way, people hop on and off, friends, coworkers, partners, even our kids. Some stay for a while, some just pass through. And sometimes, we think someone’s going to be with us until the very end… but the truth is, no one walks the exact same path forever.

Eventually, they become memories and bottled nostalgia. Little snapshots of laughter, love, and lessons tucked away in the corners of our minds. Even while we’re making those memories, there’s this quiet awareness that everything is temporary.

The joy we feel in the moment often turns into longing later. Every rose has its thorn. And sometimes, we don’t realize how good something was until it’s gone. That’s when regret sneaks in.

But every person we meet leaves a mark. We shape each other, sometimes in big ways, sometimes in ways we don’t notice until much later.

They may not walk beside us forever, but their essence stays with us, in our choices, our habits, our hearts.

So even when we walk alone, we’re never truly alone. We carry pieces of everyone we’ve loved, lost, or learned from.

Maybe that’s the quiet beauty of life…not the permanence, but the imprint.

Quotes:

“Whatever comes, let it come, what stays let stay, what goes let go.” ― Papaji

“People come, people go – they’ll drift in and out of your life, almost like characters in a favorite book.” — Nicholas Sparks

“Some people come into our lives as blessings, others as lessons.” — Mother Teresa

“Holding on is believing that there’s only a past; letting go is knowing that there’s a future”. ― Daphne Rose Kingma

Your eyes are just holograms

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“I don’t care about their different thoughts
Different thoughts are good for me
Up in arms and chaste and whole
All God’s children took their toll

Look my eyes are just holograms
Look your love has drawn red from my hands
From my hands you know you’ll never be
More than twist in my sobriety”
Twist In My Sobriety – Tanita Tikaram

Everything is connected, nothing exists by itself, and a hologram reminds us that we are not separate from life, we are a smaller reflection of the whole thing.

At times we may feel like making and keeping genuine connections with others is hard. We all want to be seen as more than just the superficial outward version of ourselves.

Maintaining our authenticity and resisting putting up a false front is not easy because we don’t want to be judged as not being good enough.

We are all special, yet all the same. We all have done good and bad, learnt what is right and what is wrong. Some people may think the world of us while others may carry wounds we’ve unknowingly caused. Life is a constant unfolding, a process of learning and growing.

Some souls enter our lives briefly, teaching us what we need to learn before moving on. Others remain intertwined with us for a lifetime or until death parts us.

At times, life itself feels like a hologram. As if we’re characters in a simulation, being watched to see how we respond. If we learn the lesson, we move forward. If not, the same patterns repeat until we do.

But when we begin shedding the layers, when we stop performing and start being, we find ease and we live our life in flow. We stop pleasing others and attract those who truly resonate with us.

When we stop worrying about how we’re perceived and start living genuinely, we live life on our terms, without regret.

Living authentically takes courage. We fear being misunderstood and rejected, yet authenticity should be the easiest thing because it is who we are at our core.

Maybe our purpose is just that…to peel away the layers, return to our source, and remember who we’ve always been.

Quotes:

“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” – Carl Jung

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” – Steve Jobs

“How bold one gets when one is sure of being loved.”- Sigmund Freud

“You were born an original. Don’t die a copy.” – John Mason

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” – Maya Angelou

www.mindvasana.com

I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For

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Blog by Lata Advani Viseu

“I have spoke with the tongue of angels
I have held the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone
But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for
But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for”
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – U2

I continue to search—for what, I’m still not sure. At times, confusion clouds my thoughts, and nothing feels certain, so I choose to live one day at a time.

Maybe that’s the only real way to live: being fully present in each moment, embracing life as it unfolds. After all, tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone.

Doubts only seem to creep in when I wander into the future, linger in the past, or mourn the fact that the present can’t stretch on forever. So I bring myself back to now, again and again.

I’m grateful for the people who fill my days with joy—friends, family, shared memories. I can travel freely, attend concerts, take hikes, soak in this beautiful life. And yet, sometimes a quiet whisper reminds me: nothing lasts forever; this too will pass.

The future both excites and saddens me. I’m curious about it, eager to see what’s next, but I also ache to hold onto this moment a little longer.

As I inch closer to deciding where and how I want to spend the rest of my life, I can feel one chapter closing and another waiting to begin.

So I remind myself to practice detachment—not to cling to people or moments. We arrive in this world alone and we’ll leave it the same way. Nothing is forever, and holding on too tightly only invites suffering.

Instead, I choose to enjoy each day fully. To take life one step at a time. To drown out the noise of the naysayers and follow what feels true to me.

Quotes

“Time moves slowly but passes quickly.” –Alice Walker

“A wise man adapts himself to circumstances, as water shapes itself to the vessel that contains it.” – Chinese Proverb

“All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy. For what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves. We must die to one life before we can enter another.” – Anatole France

“One day, you’re 17 and you’re planning for someday. And then quietly, without you ever really noticing, someday is today. And then someday is yesterday. And this is your life.” –John Green

“Remember, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.” –Dale Carnegie

Who’s Going to Be There Anytime You Fall

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“Who’s gonna pick you up whenever you fall
Who’s gonna be there anytime you call
It’ll be me
Oh, it’ll be me

Who’s gonna soothe you in the middle of the night
Who’s gonna hold you and make it right
It’ll be me
Oh, it’ll be me

I’ve had my share of the rough times too
You gave me all that you had
You were always there to stand by me
Now it’s my turn, darling, to give it all back”
It’ll Be Me – Exile

Some of us are lucky enough to have a few people we can count on—those we can call to pick us up when we fall. But many others walk through life alone, with no one to turn to when they’re feeling down or overwhelmed.

Some folks may even be in relationships, married even, and still feel lonely—misunderstood, unseen, or judged.

Have you ever felt like you’re living a lie? Like you can’t show up as your full, authentic self? Do you find yourself playing along just to avoid conflict, keeping the peace by compromising your truth and silencing your voice?

If you can find just one person—be it a friend, a sibling, a partner—someone you can truly trust and open your heart to, the weight you carry begins to feel lighter.

Imagine the gift of having someone to talk to who won’t judge you, who sees you, understands you, and accepts you exactly as you are.

Too often, we take the people in our lives for granted. Only when they’re gone do we realize what we’ve lost. We hold grudges over small things, end friendships over petty disagreements, rather than sitting down, talking it through, forgiving, and making an effort to see the world through each other’s eyes.

One thing I know for sure: the relationships we build and nurture—the connections we make—are what matter most in this life.

If you spend your whole life chasing career success, wealth, and status, you might one day find yourself surrounded by everything you ever wanted… yet completely alone, with no one to share it with.

Love is the only thing that truly matters. Love without expectation. Acceptance without judgment. Let go of what you can’t control. Be here, now—because the next moment isn’t promised to any of us.

“The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved.” — Mother Teresa

“We’re all just walking each other home.” — Ram Dass

“Be yourself—everyone else is already taken.” — Oscar Wilde

“True friendship comes when the silence between two people is comfortable.” — David Tyson

I’ve Been Through Fire, Been Through Rain

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“I’ve been through the fire, and I’ve been through the rain
But I’ll be fine
‘Cause I’ve got faith of the heart
I’m going where my heart will take me
I’ve got faith to believe
I can do anything
I’ve got strength of the soul
And no one’s gonna bend or break me
I can reach any star
(I’ve got faith) I’ve got faith”
Where My Heart Will Take Me – Russel Watson, Star Trek Enterprise Soundtrack

In this life we will go through fire, and we will go through rain, we will go through storms and pain, but with faith to believe, we know the sun will come out and everything will be alright again.

Sometimes when I close my eyes, I see the galaxy with billions of stars shining down on me. In that cosmic expanse, I see smiling faces of those who have passed cross my mind’s eye. Those smiling faces remind me that our loved ones who have passed are at peace and in a happier place.

I seek answers from the Universe, searching and searching. But then, I quiet my mind, turn inward, and suddenly – I have all the answers.

The truth is simple: You are enough. You have nothing to prove. Just be yourself, live fully, do what brings you joy. Let go of judgment – of yourself and of others.

What you give, you receive. Love, and love will flow back to you. Give hate, and more hate will find its way in return. Life, at its core, is simple.

When I ask about my purpose – how I can make a difference, how I can ease the suffering of others – the Universe whispers back an answer that feels almost too easy.

“You are already making a difference. You are already helping. Just live and be you.”

But is that truly it? Could it be that simple? To live authentically, to understand that our thoughts shape our reality?

At this moment, I am safe. And this moment is all I have. The past is gone; the future is uncertain – so living in the now is the only choice that makes sense.

Life is simple.

Quotes:

“Live now; make now always the most precious time. Now will never come again.” Jean-Luc Picard

“… the prejudices people feel about each other disappear when they get to know each other.” James T. Kirk

“You know the greatest danger facing us is ourselves, and irrational fear of the unknown. There is no such thing as the unknown. Only things temporarily hidden, temporarily not understood.” James T. Kirk

“The universe is always conspiring to help us, if we only trust its wisdom.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Trusting the universe means surrendering to the flow of life and embracing the unknown.” – Alan Watts

I live one day at a time

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“I live one day at a time
I dream one dream at a time
Yesterday’s dead, and tomorrow is blind
And I live one day at a time”
I Live One Day At A Time – Joan Baez

In a time when everything seems too much, living one day at a time and dreaming one dream at a time seems like a good strategy and a quiet rebellion.

In a world spinning with war, displacement, political nonsense and division, living one day at a time needs to be a conscious choice made by us, individually.

The headlines scream panic, demanding us to pick sides. The news is loud, but the soul, it whispers something else.

We can hold both grief in one hand and hope in the other but we can’t carry the entire weight of the world at once.

We’re capable of holding so many emotions at once. Grieving for suffering, standing up for justice for those living in war-torn countries, and still choosing to love, nurture, and create something gentle in the world.

Sharing a kind word, enjoying walks in nature, spending time with friends, dancing — those acts are just as important. They don’t ignore the pain of the world, they honour it by choosing life in the face of it.

Each gesture sends out quiet ripples, shifting the energy, gently rewriting the story.

The future is uncertain, the world feels heavy, and we can’t predict what comes next but choosing compassion, love and joy is an act of defiance and courage.

We can’t control the storm, but we can choose how we move through it. Hang in there my friends, this too shall pass, hopefully soon.

“Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

“No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s our real disaster.” – Dalai Lama XIV

“You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.” – Bob Marley

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” – Viktor Frankl

Blowing With The Wind of Change

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“The world is closing in
And did you ever think?
That we could be so close?
Like brothers
The future’s in the air
I can feel it everywhere
Blowing with the wind of change

Take me to the magic of the moment
On a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away (dream away)
In the wind of change”
Wind of Change – Scorpions

Lately, it feels as though the winds of change are blowing strong, leaving life spinning out of control and there seems to be nothing we can do to stop this roller coaster.

In moments like these, I sometimes feel hopeless and helpless but then I remind myself that nothing is permanent and this too shall pass.

It is difficult not to get sucked into the drama and chaos going on around the world. It can play with your mind and quickly get you into a negative mindset which can then quickly spiral down to despair.

As negativity takes a hold, you will notice that it seeps into other areas of your life. This is when you need to make a conscious effort to change things to offset the pessimism and shift your mindset.

I slip on my headphones, lose myself listening to upbeat music, dancing to its rhythm. I watch lighthearted comedy films and read or listen to inspiring books.

I meditate and journal and release negative thoughts by pouring them onto paper and setting them free. Spending time with friends and family uplifts me too.

I have been making a conscious effort to detach myself from my thoughts and instead of hanging on to them, letting go of them and trusting that it will all play out as it needs to in the end.

We come into this world with nothing and will leave with nothing and everything in between is temporary. I remind myself that am safe in this present moment and the present moment is all that I am guaranteed.

I remind myself of the wonderful people and blessings in my life. I turn my attention to those who are spreading kindness and making a positive impact in the world. By shifting from despair to gratitude, I begin to feel lighter, and a sense of harmony and flow returns to my life.

When I find myself back in this state of calm, I can release my anxiety, let go of my fears about the future, and fully surrender, trusting that everything will work out as it’s meant to be.

“Hope never abandons you, you abandon it.” – George Weinberg

“Never lose hope. Storms make people stronger and never last forever.” – Roy T. Bennett

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” – Desmond Tutu

“Courage is as often the outcome of despair as of hope; in the one case we have nothing to lose, in the other everything to gain”. — Diane de Poitiers

Like A Rolling Stone 

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Blog by Lata Advani Viseu

How does it feel?
How does it feel
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?
Like A Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan

So many of life’s challenges and suffering come from our attachments, yet letting go of results, material possessions, and people is difficult for most people.

We all want to be happy and avoid getting hurt, yet we constantly put ourselves in situations that set us up for pain.

We bank our happiness on other people or on material possessions and hang on to them for dear life afraid of losing them.

When there is a loss, a breakup, death, we feel helpless and get caught up in grief.

The job that you gave years of your life to suddenly is gone or the person you thought you were going to spend the rest of your life with is no longer there for you.

Fires, natural disasters, wars can all change you and break you or make you stronger. It is in those moments you realize what is important to you. When you lose everything beyond your control, the suffering is immense.

When you make a conscious choice not to be attached to anything…because as we all know, nothing lasts forever, it can be freeing.

When you live in fear, regret, or are afraid of disappointments, you allow the outside world to control your life. If you let go of control, you let happiness in and detach from the outcome.

Reaching that state of being is challenging because during our younger and prime years, we are preoccupied with accumulating. As we grow older, we start to recognize the fragility and impermanence of everything in life.

The sense of freedom that arises from living in the present, savouring each moment without clinging to it, and knowing it will eventually pass but that you’ll be okay, is truly a wonderful feeling.

“The root of suffering is attachment.” — Buddha

“If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to.” – Lao Tzu

“Most of our troubles are due to our passionate desire for and attachment to things that we misapprehend as enduring entities.” – Dalai Lama

“A burning passion coupled with absolute detachment is the key to all success.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“Detachment does not mean non-involvement. You can be deeply involved but not entangled.” – Jaggi Vasudev

www.mindvasana.com

You can do magic

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“I never believed in things that I couldn’t see
I said if I can’t feel it then how can it be
No, no magic could happen to me
And then I saw you

I couldn’t believe it, you took my heart
I couldn’t retrieve it, said to myself
What’s it all about
Now I know there can be no doubt

You can do magic
You can have anything that you desire
Magic, and you know
You’re the one who can put out the fire”
You can do magic – America

Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

The start of new year is a chance to wipe the slate clean and begin fresh. This year instead of focusing on what you want to lose or gain, how about focusing on what you already have? 

Magic happens when you appreciate what you already have in your life. The more you see the beauty in every area of your life, the more things you will attract into your life. 

When you operate from the energy of lack, envy, jealousy, judgement or fear, you will be continually chasing and comparing yourself to others. The more negative you feel toward someone, the more of that energy you will attract for yourself. 

Stop waiting for something in the future or for someone to make you happy. When you are happy, you will attract people, things, opportunities that you never dreamed. Every thought you have creates an emotion, so happiness is a choice. 

We complicate life but life is simple. What you give you get. Let go of expectations and outcomes and instead focus on how you want to feel. Do things that bring you joy. 

Let others live the way they want to and stop judging them. Everything you judge, you are judging from your perspective. Live authentically, true to your passions and yourself and let others do the same.  

Happiest are those that choose to see the good in every situation, the ones who expect and accept that life is happening for them not to them. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Even things that seem like negative experiences are lessons that needed to be learnt. 

I have been on this journey of living my best life for quite a few years and have dabbled in many different things.  I have learnt that mindset is very important. How you look at things creates the emotions you feel and, leads to the actions you take in any situation.  

I have learnt that letting go of things that I cannot control and staying in the present moment are the keys to peace of mind. 

This year expect magic in your life and see it unfold even if you are not sure you believe in magic. 

“There are only two ways to live your life: One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” – Albert Einstein 

“Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” – Roald Dahl 

“Magic is believing in yourself. If you can do that, you can make anything happen.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 

“All human beings have magic in them. The secret is to know how to use this magic.” – Sybil Leek 

“The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” – Bertrand Russell 

I am what I am

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“Don’t try to change me
Or rearrange me
Don’t try it
Accept me for the way that I am
You know I love you
Oh, how I love you
But you got to understand
That I am what I am

I see you look at me
With those wondering eyes
You seem to ask yourself why
I do the things the things that I do
Oh, I can’t seem to get through to you
So don’t try to change me
Or rearrange me”
Don’t Try to Change Me – Shalamar

Why is it so hard to let them be?

Why do we make excuses for our loved ones? Why do we try to mould them to think the way we do? Why do we want and expect them to act a certain way or stop acting a certain way? Why do we feel hurt or sad when they refuse to do what we want them to do?

Why do we try to control their actions and behaviours so that our friends or family think positively about them? Why can’t we just let them be? No one can change unless they are ready to change. No one can push anyone to change.

As I was thinking of this topic, I came across Mel Robbins post promoting her book, The Let Them Theory, the premise of which seems to be about accepting people exactly the way they are without judging them or trying to change them to be more like whatever you think is the ideal way.

How peaceful life would be if we were not anxious about how our loved ones acted or reacted. We want our friends and family to love them, so we try to control their actions but when that does not work, we feel hurt. We cannot control how anyone reacts, so letting go of expectations is the answer to living a life free of anxiety.

This also applies to the workplace and in every area of your life. You do and be your best self and let go of expectations. The folks that care about you and love you will also accept you as you are because they want you to be happy.

Sometimes we may not agree with one another, but each person is an individual with their own experiences and desires, so all we can do is accept their choices and let them know that they have our love and support. Live and let live is the key to living a happy life.

As the new year approaches instead of making a long list of resolutions that will probably only last a few weeks, why not decide to stop judging or expecting others to be who you want them to be and instead allow them to do and live as they please?

“The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of unconditional love and acceptance.” – Brian Tracy

“Unconditional love teaches us the power of letting go and allowing others to be free to follow their own path.” – Paulo Coelho

“Because one believes in oneself, one doesn’t try to convince. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn’t need others’ approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.” – Laozi

“When you love someone unconditionally, you accept them for who they are, flaws and all.” – Brené Brown

“Unconditional love means not expecting anything in return but cherishing the happiness of the person you love.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

We All Been Playing Those Mind Games

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Blog by: Lata Advani Viseu

“We’re playing those mind games together
Pushing the barriers planting seeds
Playing the mind guerrilla
Chanting the Mantra peace on earth

We all been playing those mind games forever
Some kinda druid dudes lifting the veil
Doing the mind guerrilla
Some call it magic the search for the grail”
Mind Games – John Lennon

You are always playing mind games with yourself.

One moment you are feeling blue and a friend calls and you chat with them for a few minutes or a couple of hours and they hang up and ask you how you are doing now and you realize you have totally forgotten what you were feeling blue about in the first place.

Your mind plays tricks on you when you allow it to do so. It can take you to a place where you want to drown yourself in sorrow or it can take you to a place where you are so focused on the present moment or planning for a fun event in the future. In the end the choice is yours, how long you want to stay in that space.

Your thoughts control your emotions and the meaning you give that thought produces the emotions you feel and that affects the quality of your life. If you can learn to control your thoughts you will be able to control your life.

Some things that have helped me over the years are: meditation, keeping a gratitude journal, listening to music, dancing, journaling, nurturing great relationships with family, friends and colleagues.

For some this may seem like a lot of work so, even if you did just one thing like the gratitude journal, you will find you are attracting more of the things you are grateful for and the cycle will continue and you will begin to notice the synchronicities and feel in flow with the Universe, wondering why you are so lucky.

I had also years ago decided, to expect things to work out instead of trying to protect myself in case I may be disappointed about something I was hoping for does not work out the way I wanted it to.

Now I just believe everything will work out the way it is meant to work out. If I am disappointed, then I will feel the disappointment and all the emotions at that time instead of worrying about it twice, once in my mind and once when it actually happens.

Change the mind games you play with yourself, we are all mind benders and it is up to us to decide what mind games we want to play or how we want to bend our minds to live the life we want to live.

“You have two choices: to control your mind or to let your mind control you.” — Paulo Coelho

“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think.” – Buddha quotes

“The meaning you give to an experience determines how you feel in that moment” – Tony Robbins

“A mind is like a parachute. It doesn’t work if it is not open” – Frank Zappa

“You can either leave something for people or leave something in people” – Ann Lemont

Cause thinking of you jumbles up my mind

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Blog by Lata Advani Viseu

“I don’t walk down through the village or other places
That we used to go to all the time
I’m trying to erase you from my memory
‘Cause thinking of you jumbles up my mind

I love you too much to ever start liking you
So, let’s just let the story kinda end
I love you too much to ever start liking you
So, don’t expect me to be your friend.”
Don’t expect me to be your friend – Lobo

Sometimes you meet someone, and they jumble up your mind in a good way and then there are other people that jumble up your mind in negative way.

You may know someone who just rubs you the wrong way and every time you hear their name your mind jumbles up in a bad way. When you meet another person with that same name or even of the same nationality, you immediately classify them in a negative light because of your bias. Isn’t it strange how certain people have that effect on you?

In the same way, there may be songs that you listen to that take you back to happy times and then there are other songs that remind you of sadder times in your life. Music has such a huge impact on us and can instantly change your emotional state. Sometimes we can use songs in place of words that are hard to say to a person.

Some lyrics dig deep into your soul and have so much impact on us. A passionate speech by a leader can drive followers to do things they normally wouldn’t consider doing for any reason.

Books have that same impact, words on paper or digitally can bring you to tears or to laughter. Words can be used to hurt, spread rumours and false information or they can educate and entertain us.

Ultimately, we have a choice as to how we want to use words whether in our speech, the music we listen to or books we read. What you think about, you bring about, so pay attention to how you speak to yourself and to others.

“The tongue has no bones, but is strong enough to break a heart. So be careful with your words.” -Unknown

“All I need is a sheet of paper and something to write with, and then I can turn the world upside down.” -Friedrich Nietzsche

“Music has healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a few hours.” — Elton John

“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.” ― Maya Angelou

“Music is the soundtrack to every good and bad time we will ever have.” ― Alex Gaskarth

www.mindvasana.com