Enriching Reads: Installment #1

January 05, 2018 by Alannah Paren in Enriching Reading

I often talk about ways in which we can better ourselves or take time to re-center, so I decided that in this new year it would be fun (and beneficial!) to start featuring some soul-enriching books. Not only can reading be used as an activity of meditation, helping to uplift and enlighten ourselves, but it can also bring us closer together as we digest the words and thoughts of another, and even discuss the presented topics with those around us. This past week I finished Brian L. Weiss’ book, Many Lives, Many Masters, and I found it to be so thought-provoking, bringing up topics that I have wanted to discuss myself here on the blog, so I knew I had to share it.

In this non-fictional account, Weiss shares his experiences as a psychiatrist who is taught to rely on science, but soon learns that there is something beyond us and beyond science. He delves into his sessions with a particular patient who comes to Weiss through her uncontrollable anxiety and is cured through his hypnosis sessions that uncover her past life experiences much to both of their surprise.

Excerpt of Many Lives, Many Masters — Excerpt of *Many Lives, Many Masters*

Although I highly recommend reading the book for yourself, the most interesting things that I took away from the book were: we each must pursue our lives for ourselves, since we all have individual lessons to learn as we journey towards complete wholeness, and the entire idea of living out our karmic debts and having purposeful interactions with the people we have been reincarnated with. I realize that not everyone believes in reincarnation, however I think we can all agree that we should extract as many lessons as we can and that having meaningful relations is a key tool in this. Essentially, Weiss offers the idea that as we live each life and learn more lessons, we progress on our spiritual journey and get closer and closer to our true selves, which therefore eliminates unnecessary stress, anxiety, and fears.

I hope everyone’s New Year is off to a healthy and happy start! Here’s to raising our vibrations and getting more in tune with our spirits within! Happy reading!

(Feel free to share book suggestions in the comments!)

Many Lives, Many Masters: The True Story of a Prominent Psychiatrist, His Young Patient, and the Past-Life Therapy That Changed Both Their Lives

By Brian L. Weiss

Buy on Amazon

Reflecting + Letting Go

December 27, 2017 by Alannah Paren in Inspiration

As we approach the end of the year we are given the opportunity to set behind us anything that no longer serves us and move forward with specific intentions. Setting New Year’s resolutions is a great practice, but it should not go without also reflecting on the past holistically, and surrendering anything that does not fill us with pure happiness and positivity. It is important that we take this new year as a fresh start and shed any emotional weight that the past year brought.

The first step to making the most of this clean slate that 2018 presents, is to recognize anything that does not fulfill us or elevate us to a higher self. We must acknowledge whatever obstacles or rough times we dealt with this past year and allow them to be, letting go of the baggage and moving forward in a more positive direction. We cannot always control the events that have happened, but we do have control over how much energy we expend on dwelling on what cannot be altered or put towards cultivating something that advances us towards more bliss. A great way to help surrender feelings and other things we wish to release, is to physically write each thing on its own individual piece of paper, and then either place the pieces of paper wrapped in foil within the freezer, burn them, or simply tuck them away during a full moon. This clears them from your mind and psyche, giving them the proper space to be, while also stripping them of the power to influence your energy field in a negative manner.

It is also crucial that we forgive ourselves for anything we feel is withholding us from our greater potential, along with keeping in mind that everything happens for a reason. As we reflect, we must remind ourselves that although we may not have made some of the same decisions or taken the same actions that we did, at the time they might have been the most appropriate decisions and actions, and therefore we cannot blame ourselves. Life is a continual process of learning and broadening our scope of the world, facing various twists and turns, but with each new bump or sticky situation, having a larger “tool belt” to approach things with.

There is so much in this life to be grateful for, and when we utilize our individual power to bring upon more positivity, then we are doing the best that we can. Being that we are all human, I am sure that at some point in the past twelve months we were all tested or found ourselves in a period that lacked optimal happiness. But with that comes the fact that we are all now at this current point in life, having grown stronger and wiser in this past year, and can now apply our experiences to the future. Allow things to be, accept them for what they are, acknowledge their effect on you, and then approach future moments with a fresh outlook. May this upcoming year be filled with more love, laughter, and joyous moments!

Emphasizing Expression

December 20, 2017 by Alannah Paren in Inspiration

One of my favorite quotes comes from Maya Angelou who once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” During this time of the year that has a large focus on gift-giving, I wanted to recognize the fact that it is important to “give” in a sense all year long, and that one of the best ways to do so is through expression. This means actively expressing your feelings for those around you, reminding people that they are loved for and appreciated.

Golden Gate Bridge, San Fransisco, CA // April 2017

I think that a lot goes unsaid in our daily lives. For instance, we might really like someone’s style or really enjoy talking to someone, but we don’t always vocalize these feelings, leaving them as unappreciated thoughts. However, if we were able to acknowledge our thoughts and let people know how loved and respected they were, not only would they benefit in multiple ways, but we would benefit by opening up our own doors to positive energy. It is a natural tendency for people to be concerned with how they are being perceived by others, and I am sure we have all wondered at one point what someone else thought of us. In an effort to move towards a more accepting and loving universe, it is important that we begin to manifest our feelings into words and openly express them. This leads to people feeling more content as they receive the acknowledgement that plays an important role in our souls’ wellness.

It is unfortunate that most of the time, the things that we think to say are usually when we are in opposition to something, or strongly dislike a certain aspect, leaving the things we feel as positives as mere individual contentment without putting it out in the world. While you can still voice your opinions when you feel like something should be changed, we should try to match our adverse comments with an equal amount of positive comments about things. So the next time you find that you are thinking to yourself how great someone is or how much something meant to you, try to formulate your feelings to words and share them with the person that they apply to. Complimenting people and making your appreciation known is one of the most meaningful (and easiest!) practices we can do as individuals, and they often have a larger effect than material gifts. Letting people know how you feel when you have the chance is an opportunity that should never be passed up. Happy Holidays! Make sure to be in the present and let the people around you know how much they are cared for!

Ways to De-Stress and Slow Down

December 08, 2017 by Alannah Paren in Lifestyle, Inspiration

For me this week has been full of studying, (which I am sure anyone else who is a student can relate to, as finals are soon approaching!) and my abilities to manage stress have definitely been under the test! In an effort to help minimize stress and still enjoy this “crunch time,” I’ve compiled a list of my top three favorite ways to take a breather and regain perspective! (They are even great when you aren’t stressed!)

Three years ago, I was fortunate enough to travel to Costa Rica, and one of the biggest things I took away from that trip was the beauty of the Costa Rican people’s mastery of not stressing. Everything there seemed to work at a slower pace – a pace that allowed for a greater appreciation of the life and scenery surrounding them. They seemed to go through their daily lives with what I perceived to almost be an immense trust in superior guidance, which alleviated stress since they were able to accept that most things in life are out of their control. I hope that these following acts can help to ground you at any moment in your life and relieve some of the stress that can often bog us down.

Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica // January 2015

1. Watch the Sunset!! – This is my absolute favorite way to detach myself from the overwhelming feelings of life and be reminded of the unfathomable beauty on this planet. Within the past few months, I had a revelation of how rarely people take the time to appreciate the sunset. Most of us simply just take it for granted, even though every day we have the opportunity to immerse ourselves into a free opportunity to see one of the most awing processes. Its something literally anyone, anywhere (although not at the same time!) can relate to, and every evening the sunset is different, so this practice never gets old!! It’s a great occasion to mull over internal thoughts, ponder life questions, or spend time with someone you love and enjoy the energy of life together!

2. Read Poetry!! – Poems are a great way to reinvigorate your sense of belonging on this Earth. My two favorite poetry books are “The Essential Rumi” and Hafiz’s collection, “The Gift.” Every time I read a work out of either of these two books, I remember that these are the words of people long before my time, yet they still resonate with me. And because of that, I realize I am not alone in my feelings and life explorations. Give yourself a ten-minute mental break to find a quote or poem, and then really absorb what it is saying. You might be surprised to find how refreshing it can be to hear your feelings put into words by someone else, reminding you of your individual importance and also your validity in this universe as a whole.

3. Grab a Hot Drink (with or without friends) – It might sound silly, something as simple as “grabbing a hot drink” as a way to help solve the stressors of life, but it can actually do the trick! Regardless if I am alone or with someone, the act of taking time to sip on something can be a great reminder of slowing down your pace and taking a step back from frantic energy. Whenever I am enjoying a tea or coffee, I push myself to not check my phone and completely soak in the present moment, savoring the flavors of the drink and taking my time to thoroughly enjoy it. I think often times we feel we can’t afford even the smallest of breaks, but I tend to find that the time we consider we would be wasting on things, even though they have the potential to actually benefit us, ends up getting wasted anyways as we aimlessly spend time on our phones. I think it is healthy to schedule blocks of time where you know you are going to dedicate yourself to something meaningful, because after, you feel so much more revitalized and can actually focus better when you return to your work.

These three things are small, but can have a big positive effect! And even if these don’t strike you as things you are interested in, there are plenty of other great de-stressors out there! The important thing is that you compile your own list of things that you can turn to when you need a little relief in your life. Remember to stay positive, and as my mom always reminds me for those things that are extra anxiety inducing, “This too shall pass.”

Mood: Cloudy With a Chance of Happiness

December 01, 2017 by Alannah Paren in Inspiration

Entering into December and with the holidays (aka the season to be merry) right around the corner, I wanted to write about the reality of feeling depressed or apathetic, while still being happy or excited about certain things. In the past, I have had periods of time where I battled with deep ruts of depression, and more recently I have experienced times of apathy. It was the other day, when I was reflecting on how this past year has been full of some of the happiest moments of my life, while also acknowledging that I was going through some pretty strong negative emotions that were bringing me down, that I realized there isn’t a definitive line that restricts someone to solely being depressed or solely being happy. It occurred to me that life is a continuum of both sides of the spectrum of emotions, and that realization helped me shed a layer of anxiety and guilt I didn’t realize I was carrying with me. For the longest time I was subconsciously giving myself anxiety from the self-inflicted confusion that came from feeling thankful for aspects of my life and feeling excited for certain things, while at the same time feeling an intense darkness suffocating me overall.

I think one of the biggest things that come from situations of mixed emotions is guilt and confusion. Here we are, trying to focus on what we are grateful for and trying to stay positive, but then we are also feeling a cloud of gloom overhead. I know for me personally, this can either cause me to feel guilty for not being able to release my melancholy feelings (since I am always so eternally blessed and overjoyed to have the amazing people that I do in life), or it can cause conflict and uncertainty with myself since I cannot sort out why I am feeling opposing emotions. The moral to my story is that at the end of the day, we are all just trying to do the best that we can individually, day by day. This means that as long as we continue to give recognition to the things that we do have in life that make us happy, whether it be friends, family, or even looking forward to a holiday tradition, we are on the right path. And taking these positive steps in the right direction doesn’t make us any less human or any more immune to feelings of upset and depression.

In today’s society, I think we place a lot of pressure on the holiday season and teeter on the edge of focusing more on the negatives, claiming it’s a time when chances of gaining weight are higher and that hosting families and festivities is more stressful than enjoyable. So I think this winter presents itself as a great time to tackle some of the overwhelming adverse feelings we might have, while still allowing ourselves to be happy and look forward to certain seasonal merriments. I think it is also important to insert here, that there is in fact so much to appreciate during the holidays that often gets drowned out when we approach things with the mindset of “once the holidays are over, I’ll be able to relax.” If you find yourself being one of those people who do view the holidays in this way, challenge yourself this season to take the time to really soak in the cheer in the air and enjoy quality time spent with loved ones (something that might be rare if you are in college and living away from home like me!).

Overall though, regardless of what time of the year it is, this world is naturally filled with things that provoke sadness, even just turning on the news or checking a social media account can remind us of the things that we generally want to ignore. It is important though that through times of upset, we still try to see the positive, and hopefully these efforts will lead to an even bigger effect of lessening these sadness provoking things in our world. Hopefully we can move towards a society that has news that is more positive and inspirational.

Happy December 1st everyone!! Let’s embrace this month filled with spirit and gratitude!

Channeling Fearlessness

November 26, 2017 by Alannah Paren in Inspiration

Hello! For the longest time I have kept this blog privatized, being too insecure to allow my thoughts and feelings to be so exposed to those around me, but I have finally come to the point in life where I want to give my creative project the space and recognition I always envisioned it would have. As I continue to grow as an individual and solidify my purpose on this planet, my one steady goal in mind has been to leave a positive footprint in this world through my words. My ultimate dream is to dedicate my life to soaking up as many culturally diverse experiences as possible and then writing about them so that they are accessible to as many people as possible, in an effort to hopefully bridge the gaps between populations and blur the divisions among all of us. By the end of my lifetime, I hope that this world is more cohesive, empathetic, and receptive than when I entered it. So in correlation with what I am doing by releasing this blog, I have chosen to make this post all about being fearless and being your own biggest supporter.

My entire life I have dealt with insecurities and the fears that come along with the lack of confidence. Throughout my life, there always seemed to be questions looming in the back of my mind of whether or not people around me genuinely liked me, and essentially I just rarely trusted that I was being positively perceived. Until college, I naturally never felt as though I truly fit in with people in my same age range and I could never seem to find that place in the world where I was truly accepted. I feel like that has played a large role in my anxieties with food, since it was one of the only things I could control and I could at least make sure that I “looked” good even if I doubted people liked what was beneath the surface. Recently, I started to feel old insecurities slowly try to creep back in, but then I remembered that I have the power, just like everyone else, to choose to be fearless and pave my own path.

I think what I am trying to say, is that as individuals, we have every right to love and support ourselves. Why can’t we act in ways that make us happy and say things we think are funny without feeling ashamed? Lately, the closer to my heart that I have lived my life, the more I have attracted people who genuinely care and want to be around me. Not only that, but my confidence has remained steady and therefore it is easier to ignore people who aren’t as openly accepting. Being confident in yourself is something that has the potential to transcend to a level of visibility, taking the form of a noticeable glow that almost acts as a protective bubble that only magnetizes positivity as you go through the ins and outs of daily life. It becomes easier to find happiness in even the smallest parts of life when you find contentment with yourself. When you have established that you have in yourself someone who will always love you, will always laugh at what you think is funny, and will always believe in your abilities and dreams, life becomes so much more manageable and carefree.

Essentially, life is not a competition and we have to choose to live our lives for ourselves. I know the topics that I write about won’t be accepted by all that read them, and I know that half the time people probably won’t even take the time out of their days to read my posts. But I have come to the conclusion that that’s okay, and I can’t be afraid of all the things that might go wrong, because what about all the things that might go right? If I impact just one person by being so vulnerable, I’ll be content knowing that I am one step closer to achieving my ultimate dream. I hope that everyone can look at themselves and see that they have nothing to fear in living life in whichever way makes them happiest, because at the end of the day, the scariest thought is to never have truly lived at all, or to have never at least given yourself the chance of being happy. The next time you question even the smallest of things, like whether or not you should smile at that person from across the coffee shop, challenge yourself to shed any doubts and actually follow through with your intentions. The worst that can happen is that you acknowledged the light and power within yourself, and the truth is, is that even though we might fall down a few times along the way, once we have discovered our own fearlessness, that’s when we will all be living our individual lives as close to our heart’s desire as possible.

Thanks for reading! I know I haven’t been as consistent with posting in the past, but I’m planning to put the energy into making this a big focus in my life from here on out!

Embracing the Essence of the Soul

September 30, 2017 by Alannah Paren in Inspiration

As we emerge into this transformative time of the year, as it is not only one week into the Jewish New Year for some, but also one week into the transition of the autumn season, it is important to look within and evaluate what we hope to shed and gain in our lives. I personally feel that setting intentions is important daily, but it’s even more imperative during a time when the universal energy is in high support of an evolution, be it at the level of the world collectively, or at the level of the individual soul. Recently, I have been introduced to a lot of ideas about the soul and its purpose, the art of envisioning your ideals and actually achieving them, and forgiveness.

I always find it funny that often times the themes of life overlap, meaning that we can learn about a new idea and then it begins to pop up in various forms in other aspects of our life. One of these ideas is that of living our lives guided by our soul, rather than giving into the distractions of what our body might desire. According to Ancient Greek philosophers, the secret to ultimate happiness and a good life, is to listen to the soul. Everyone’s soul seeks what is truly essential to life: love, wisdom, courage, and justice. However, to be given the opportunity to go on such an enlightening journey, we are given human bodies, which have other desires. The philosopher Socrates says that this is often why people are prone to mental conflict, as we have both our soul and our body’s desires fighting to beat the other out. This can be solved though when we separate the distractions of the body from the truth that our soul speaks.

In lieu of this time of the year where we look towards who we want to become and acknowledge the characteristics we want to leave behind us, the ancient philosophers give us perspective on how to be successful in achieving our goals. For those of you who are familiar with the Law of Attraction (the idea that when we emit positive thoughts we attract physical prosperity in our lives, and the opposite when we are negative), this is essentially an earlier version of this idea. Dating back thousands of years ago, the importance of envisioning what you wanted something to be like and then working your way towards it, was vitally important. This is the spirit that built the great cities that we now learn about in textbooks, but it is also the spirit that the philosophers believed could be applied to an individual’s life as well. When we conceptualize the version of something that we hope to reach, we subconsciously align our actions in a way that effortlessly leads to the realization of this image.

Another important theme that helps us move forward in our lives and let go of what is no longer serving us, is the concept of forgiveness. I think this idea is fairly well engrained into our society in the aspect that we are all aware of it, but that we do not always remember to apply it. Lately, I have been letting go of things that previously upset me and realizing that I may not have the power to reverse upsetting things, but I do have the power to give my energy towards the positive things in life and dismiss the negative. I think it is important to note that forgiving ourselves is also crucial. When we love ourselves and realize that we are human and make mistakes, we lift off a weight that disadvantages us in our pursuit of what we truly desire in life.

With these three points in mind, I encourage you to take some time and reflect on what you hope to gain in the months ahead. Looking back, what do you hope to release and fix in the future? As you do this, reminding yourself to forgive and not wallow in the guilt or upset that certain things may have caused you. Set intentions and visualize what would make you the happiest, focusing on the positives with the viewpoint that you hope to achieve them, not that you don’t have them currently. According to the philosophers of ancient times, setting goals of what you want will change your perspective, and in turn will cause you to naturally begin to act in a way that will lead to the ultimate manifestation of your hopes. Above all though, these desires that you wish to attain should be desires that in the end will place you further on your journey to ultimate happiness based on the soul. As you take this time to reflect, clear your mind and listen to your heart and soul, what does your soul point you towards? By acknowledging the deeper longings within yourself, you can help to subside the temporary requests of the body. Honor yourself and take this opportunity to reign in the generative energy in the universe to help jumpstart your own transformation into an even happier phase of your life.

The Art of Releasing Contempt + Opening the Heart

August 20, 2017 by Alannah Paren in Lifestyle

In the midst of the modern world, we find ourselves working towards goals in educations, career fields, athletic scenarios, and other similar situations that can often cultivate a sense of competition. I think that this element of rivalry between our peers and those around us poses as a large hurdle we must overcome if we wish to reach a state closer to contentment and happiness. We are all beautiful, talented, and stellar human beings in our own way, so we need to learn to ease up on comparing ourselves to our counterparts and learn how to genuinely want them to succeed in life as well.

Juneau, Alaska // June 2016 — Juneau, Alaska // June 2016

Personally, I have dealt with the feelings of insecurities and inferiority in my own life, and I know it is easy to at first approach the person who is causing such feelings with an air of scorn. However, I learned a powerful lesson after reading The Art of Happiness, by Howard C. Cutler, which reflects on quotes and ideas from the Dalai Lama. In a particular portion of the book, Cutler writes of his experience on an airplane where he immediately took to disliking his seatmate without any real reason. At first Cutler allows himself to simply just go on feeling some sort of contempt for this complete stranger, but then he realizes he needs to look inward and release himself from these spiteful feelings. He forces himself to look at his seatmate and find the similarities between the two of them, eventually breaking everything down to the conclusion that they were both human beings on this planet and that everyone has their luck and challenges in life. After coming to this awareness, Cutler detached himself from negative energies and was left feeling more at peace.

Now as I move through life, if I ever feel an inkling of a grudge towards another person seep in, I remind myself to take a step back and really break down what I actually know about the person and why I feel like I have the grounds to feel the way I do. Almost every single time I end up feeling extremely liberated as I once again become cognizant of the fact that neither one of us has to be “better than the other.” We all have our own individual journeys, there is plenty of love in this universe for us all to equally receive, and another person’s beauty and light does not take away from our own.

I think that in our contemporary society it has become so normative and casual to say things like “I hate…” in reference to someone or something. In all actuality though, do we really hate what we say we do? Essentially, does not one fiber in our beings feel less than hate for this person or object? For example, even if someone said that they hated pizza, they are taking a strong side. That is saying that the person could not even find appreciation for the smaller elements like the basil, cheese, crust, toppings, or sauce that went into creating the pizza as a whole. I feel that in moving towards a more positive universe, we need to start looking at the sincerity of the things we are saying, especially when it comes to hate statements. People can definitely have opinions and dislike things or disagree, but it is important to also recognize that you can feel that way while still, after breaking something down, acknowledging feelings of admiration or empathy.

Allowing for Imperfection

August 14, 2017 by Alannah Paren in Inspiration, Lifestyle

Although I continue to write about the importance of staying positive, I know that at times it can be hard to see the light in every situation that we face. Sometimes as humans we cannot help ourselves from feeling sad, distraught, discouraged, or hopeless. This post will aim at helping to overcome the tougher times in life and acknowledge our natural feelings.

We cannot always predict what life has in store for us; life is a journey of ups and downs. Even the most positive of people can experience the other end of the spectrum of emotions. When life throws something at you that evokes within you some sort of sadness, grief, confusion, or anger, it is important to not get frustrated with yourself. In my own life, if I find myself extremely distressed by something, I can sometimes fall into a pit of upset. However, it is important to keep in mind that we are inclined to react to different situations in certain ways, so in order to ease our experiences through challenging emotions, we must remind ourselves that such experiences are temporary and that we do have the strength to persevere. During life’s less happy times, the key is to acknowledge what we may be feeling, and with that, acknowledge that there will be more good times ahead just like there were before we fell into a more melancholy time. This goes along with trusting that we have divine guidance for our life path and that sometimes we must go through some tough times in order for life to fall into better place.

I think it is important to also recognize that although we might not always understand the situations we go through or feel like we have the power to persist, these are feelings that come naturally to most of us and we are not abnormal in any way. Even when it feels tough to stay positive and push through, just allowing ourselves to live out our validated feelings and knowing in the back of our minds that we have the potential to return to a life of optimism, is an act of staying hopeful. I know that often times it feels as though once one bad thing happens in life, things spiral into a pattern of negativity, but we must try our best to release the little annoyances and find the little things to be happy about.

The next time you are faced with a trying situation, don’t get frustrated with yourself or with life. Or better yet, know that your frustration is valid, but that it is not the only thing you can feel. Within us all is divinity that is there to guide us if we just listen and trust. I cannot stress enough how supported we all are, even when we are physically alone. Our souls all harness the energy and power of the universe that is available for us to tap into at any time. Life will throw what seem to be bumps and unfairness along the way, but we must look at life with multi-perspectives and realize that both the good and the bad times in life are temporary.

I would like to end this post with a mantra that someone very dear to me enlightened me with. It helped me heal in a time of unexplainable darkness that I truly did not ever think I would get out of, and regardless if you have ever resonated with the feelings of a deep depression, these words are an important reminder for all points in life.

“You are worthy because you exist, you exist because you are worthy.”

Engaging in Empathy

August 06, 2017 by Alannah Paren in Inspiration

This next post builds upon the idea of not just being conscious of things, but also acting with feeling and intention. The other day it hit me that one of the key components that leads to a happier, smoother life is the ability to consider the feelings of others.

The human race is a species that thrives off of connections with others. We run our best when we are surrounded by love, care, humor, and joy, all of which work as a give-and-take cycle that can only be made possible with other people. With this in mind, if we go out into the world and only act with the attitude of “what’s best for myself,” we can cause harm to our cycle of reciprocation and begin to push away the people who provide us with what we truly want and need in life. We often forget to take a step back and reflect on the potential outcomes of our actions, not only for our personal sake, but also in a way that takes into account the effect we may have on someone else. I am sure that for many of us, the last thing we would want to do is to hurt someone, let alone someone who is close to us. That’s why, it is important to ask ourselves before doing something that could have a ripple effect onto another’s life:

“Will my actions affect someone other than myself?”
“Am I willing to take the risk and potentially, knowingly hurt someone?”
“If my actions do end up harming someone, will I regret it? Is this person’s suffering worth what I am about to do?”

Essentially, it is important to weigh out the potential benefits and potential consequences of the things we do and say. This is important to do even in situations that may have virtually no effect on others, because it is important to always be conscious of how our actions and words will influence the next step or moment within our life paths.

Considering others’ feelings goes further than it’s immediate benefit (because caring about others is SO positive), but it also can help in finding appreciation in your own life. For example, if you close your eyes and truly imagine what it might be like to live in a country where health care was not accessible or you had to walk miles to get drinkable water, you might be able to actually feel the intensity of real people’s situations. Imagining what they must go through, things like being exposed to sweltering heat, yet physically pushing themselves, or showing up to work each day despite battling the worsening symptoms of a serious health condition, can put our own lives into perspective. Compassion and empathy don’t have to go as extreme as considering the conditions of another country. It can be as simple as knowing that a neighbor down the street is dealing with a tragedy, becoming conscious of how they must feel, and then possibly going out of your way to show them the love and care that exists in all of us.

This brings me to another point, which is that through empathy, we act in a way that is positively perceived by others since they feel our care and kindheartedness. When others feel you exuding such lovingness, they too will act in a way of compassion towards you, refueling that cycle that I touched upon earlier. We should keep in mind though that the ultimate goal of acting empathetically is not to receive anything in return, as being selfless in and of itself is beneficial for the soul. Basically, when we think of other people’s situations, we should treat them in a way that we would hope to be treated if we were in the same situation, because later on when it’s our turn to be on the receiving end, our considerations will be reciprocated.

The moral of the story is that without empathy we cannot reach our highest potential. We need others in our life to help us live fully and experience the essence of life, and to do our best at maintaining such relationships, we must act from a place of love. We must act in a way that considers how those around us might be feeling, so that we can therefore do our best to align our words and actions in a way that will get others to a place of more love and joy, rather than of pain and suffering. Sometimes we make mistakes, and just because we may hurt someone near to us, does not necessarily mean that they will immediately stop showing the care and love they have for us. However, over time, if we continue to ignore the feelings of others and act in selfish ways that harm those around us, they may begin to pull away and shelter their tenderness for us.

The next time you hear of someone else’s situation or go to do something that you know will have an effect beyond yourself, take a moment and think of the emotions one might feel in response. Do your best to fulfill your own happiness, but try to lessen its expense on other’s happiness. Reach out and express your empathy whenever it is possible. As we journey closer to our own happiness, we must not forget about the value of the happiness of others.

Being Pleased with the Present Moment

July 31, 2017 by Alannah Paren in Inspiration

In today’s world it is so easy to get distracted by technology or lose sight of what is important. Sometimes it seems as if the likes on social media are more valuable than the personal interactions right in front of us. I recently read a quote that said:

“Nothing in this world is permanent, and we’re foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we are more foolish not to take delight in it while we have it.”

This quote really struck me when I first read it, but a week later, when I faced the end of a serious relationship I had been in, the words resonated with me on an even deeper level.

As always, I like to share the lessons and ideas that are currently inspiring me in my own life, because I know we are all human, we all experience the same feelings and emotions, and we can all often benefit from similar advice. I am taking this article back to the root concept of why I started this blog in the first place: gratitude. The idea is that we have so much to be thankful for right in front of us, and the more we show appreciation towards what we have, the more positivity we allow to flood into our lives. With the growing popularity of social media, our society has shifted to a more competitive and materialistic environment. It becomes easier for us to see all the possibilities that the world has to offer, it becomes easier to get lost in the idea of “what ifs,” and it gets easier for us to feel less abundant in our own lives. However, all of us have the power within to manifest a deeper energy and to center our focus on what we do have.

For example, I feel fortunate for my travels to Europe that I wrote about in my last post; I know that not everyone has the opportunity to travel and may never see the places I was so blessed to have seen. But situations are all relative, and someone who may see my travel photos and feel bitter towards me, should keep in mind that if they are viewing my photos, they must have some sort of technological device, and not everyone in this world has access to the daily luxuries that most of us take for granted. Yes there might always be someone who appears to be “luckier,” but there will also always be someone who is worse off than we assume we are. Everyone’s struggles are relative to their life situation and the things that they value.

This is why we can all find contentment in our lives, because we all have the strength and ability to shift our mindset and realize that we have things that deserve more appreciation than we often grant them. If we start by focusing on small things and reminding ourselves to acknowledge (either mentally or vocally), what we cherish, we will find that slowly our brain will begin to pick out the positives without us even consciously doing so. Eventually we can all get to a point where we are left with feelings of mostly happiness, since all the tiny things that we appreciate add up to an overwhelming feeling of gratification. Also, as we find ourselves enamored with all the good in the world, we positively charge our own personal energy that exudes onto others. This leads to a cycle of inspiration as those around us start to become more positive, even if it is just a smile in response to being surrounded by your optimistic energy.

It takes more energy to dwell on what we wish we had, than it does to feel thankful for what we do have. Plus, all that time and energy we spend focusing on negativity goes to waste, as we then have lost precious opportunities to have turned those moments of disappointment into moments of good memories. It is important to not get distracted in the multiple potential outcomes of a situation, but to actually live in the moment to the fullest. Some of the biggest regrets can be avoided by simply returning yourself to center and finding what there is to enjoy in the present.

If you seek for what you do not have, one day you might look back and realize that in that same moment that you were longing for more, you were ignoring so much you could have appreciated in that moment. Do not wait until you have lost those things and it is too late to go back. So as you move forward from this moment, remember to take any opportunities to voice your appreciation, find at least one aspect of each day to be thankful for, unplug from the diversions of technology, and detach yourself from preoccupied thoughts. With each passing day you shall find that there is more and more in this universe to be grateful for.

European Enlightenment

July 18, 2017 by Alannah Paren in Travel, Lifestyle

Last month I was fortunate enough to get to travel to Switzerland and Italy. The trip was definitely needed and it not only added another stamp to my passport (much to my joy), but it also left me with a better impression of myself, the world, and how I as an individual can benefit from other cultures abroad.

I admit that in the past I used to concern myself too much with how I looked, how I dressed, and how people perceived my appearance. I would buy clothes with a picture-perfect vision of me wearing specific outfits for specific destinations or activities. However, spending 18 days in Europe with multiple hotels and various transportations that would become a hassle with a large suitcase, I was forced to pack with function rather than fashion as my focus. Leading up to the trip I was pretty nervous, was I really going to be able to live out of a small luggage with limited supplies?

After zipping up what would be my life for the next nearly 3 weeks and flying 6,000 miles across the world, I landed in my first stop, Switzerland. As soon as I stepped foot off the plane, a rush of relaxation, happiness, and peace overwhelmed me. The crisp Swiss air and rolling green countryside with the misty Alps in the background instilled a sense of surrealism from the start. As my trip progressed and I moved on to my next destination, Italy, I continued to loosen up and it finally hit me that the art of minimalism truly is beautiful. I was not only surviving, but thriving. Not once did I stress out about what I was going to wear, how I looked, or any imperfections on my skin. I was just living and embracing my journey and the world around me. Letting go and becoming minimalistic is not easy, but once you find yourself in the midst of simplicity, you realize it is much easier and relieves so much anxiety. Now that I am back in the States, I hope that I can continue to maintain my newfound perspective on life and keep myself in check when it comes to materialism. Sometimes there is beauty in few options.

Another European concept that really stuck with me is something that the Italian’s call “Slow Food,” a movement started by Carlo Petrini. The idea is to eat locally, traditionally, and seasonally, along with have a relationship with food in the sense that you know the story of where it was grown or who played a role in the production. I have always believed that it is important to eat fresh and as close to home as possible, so I was impressed that the entire country of Italy has taken to the idea and come together to really enforce such ideas. Something else that resonated with me, is that Italians have long dinners where they enjoy the company of those around them, detaching themselves from technology, and coming together over multiple courses of food. During my stay, I had the opportunity to go to a family’s home in Rome, where they cooked us a homemade meal and we talked until late hours of the night. It was one of the highlights of my trip, and with minimalism, I hope to also incorporate into my life more locally sourced, homemade meals that are shared with family and friends.

Overall, my trip to Europe really opened my eyes to the benefits of living in the present, giving yourself up to the tides of life, and fully embracing whatever is currently at hand. I learned how Italians get so many paid holidays; they even get weeks off in the summer, which are meant to be spent with family and traveling. The value they place on their health and happiness through the food that they eat, time dedicated to family and mental rejuvenation, along with other lifestyle aspects, really inspired me to make changes in my own life despite living under different conditions. My intentions are to gratefully enjoy my time with those I love as much as possible, place my mental health high on my list of priorities, fuel my body with sustainable products, and wean myself away from materialistic distractions. I think its time we all take a few Italian lessons and “vivi la vita.”

Chartering into the Unknown

July 09, 2017 by Alannah Paren in Travel, Inspiration

We all know the feeling: that flit of nerves mixed with the periodic wave of excitement. It comes as a natural reaction whenever we cannot mentally prepare for what lies ahead in our life paths. This post is inspired by my last summer’s unforgettable trip to the wilds of Alaska, a land with much to still be discovered.

The White Pass train chugged deep into the forests of Skagway, Alaska. I was a long way from home and I wasn’t sure what I was expecting to see during this over three-hour-long excursion. The fact that I was on a train was a miracle, because I have always had an inherent, yet unjustifiable, fear of trains. As the picturesque scenery sailed by, I tuned into the tour guide informing us of the pioneers who first trekked the land that was now before us. And that’s when I started drifting off into a new series of thoughts. The fact that people willingly decided to travel so far into the unknown amazed me. I realized that if someone could embrace the mystery of the future on such a grand scale, I could embrace the change that is to come in my own life.

I go through periods where I am super excited about what is to come and I realize it won’t be as bad as I previously thought, and then before you know it I have again fallen into a self-created tremor. Why is it that embracing the future can come in such a drastic range of emotions? I think sometimes the present is so good that we want to hold on to it forever, which can create resistance towards the potential of losing what we currently have. However, I have found that in being so upset over “what ifs,” we miss out on fully enjoying things when we do have them. Sometimes it isn’t even an external change that causes us to spoil the good things in life, but rather our own fear of ruining them that leads to exactly what we wanted to prevent.

I have grown to love the mantra, “Everything happens for a reason,” because it is so true. We all have somewhere we are supposed to be, we are all divinely guided if we allow ourselves to be. We need to shed the worry, fear, and paranoia, and let the faith, joy, and love flood through. We need to savor every second and trust that the unknown is only unknown to us, but that it has been scoped out for us.

All of us have the potential to be courageous when it comes to embracing change.

Honoring Yourself

January 11, 2016 by Alannah Paren in Inspiration

As this new year begins many of us are setting New Year’s resolutions. We reflect on the previous year and ask ourselves what goals will bring us even more joy or bring us closer to the life we dream. Someone very close to me often reminds me that life is a continual journey of improvement, and that no matter where we start, every day can be even better than the last. This past year brought a lot of positive changes, and I learned a very important rule: everyone needs to take time for themselves and honor themselves in some way.

I recently went to a healing session, and the main message that was directed toward me was that I need to take more time for myself. Of course continually adventuring during my free time is fun, but sometimes it is good to take a step back from everything. Personally, I need to allow myself the space and time to organize my thoughts, reenergize, and get more in tune with my body. In doing so, I know that I will not only appreciate life even more, but the people around me will be pleased to be around a happier version of myself.

Honoring yourself can be anything that means something to you. Whether it be starting a new ritual or breaking a bad habit, or setting a reward for yourself once you accomplish something you’ve always wanted to do. It could be setting aside fifteen minutes everyday to read or write, sticking to your workout plan, or even researching a passion you’d like to pick up. Incorporated into my New Year’s resolution is to eat even healthier, for the sole purpose of feeling better inside and out. Recently I have battled with dieting and exercising as I felt that everyone around me loved me more when I was health-conscious, since taking care of myself results in looking better too. However, I found that I should want to be as healthy as I can for me, so that I can be happy, and not necessarily to gain acceptance from others. The key to common happiness starts with individuals loving themselves and finding contentment, and then spreading their happiness onto those around them.

Give yourself the gift of healing through the people, places, and activities that you cherish. We all deserve to breathe and attend to the needs of our bodies and minds. Feel free to share what you do to honor yourself! Here’s to a new year of being a happier, healthier you, in a happier, healthier universe!