Vicki Vrint - Lifes a Journey, Not a Destination

LIFES A JOURNEY, NOT A DESTINATION

Copyright Summersdale Publishers Ltd, 2020

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced by any means, nor transmitted, nor translated into a machine language, without the written permission of the publishers.

Vicki Vrint has asserted her moral right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

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It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.

URSULA K. LE GUIN

INTRODUCTION

Lifes a journey and what a journey it is! There are twists and turns, detours and delays, high points, a few low points and a wonderful mixture of everyday blessings in between. But when time flies past so quickly, it can be tricky to appreciate the good things, let alone relax and enjoy the activities we love.

The good news is that any one of us can transform an ordinary life into an extraordinary one, and this book shows you how. You dont need a big budget or hours of free time to succeed in fact, you can start right now by rediscovering the magic in everyday moments. A few simple changes to your routine will bring extra joy to your day, too, and as you progress through the book youll free up the time and build up the confidence to go for your bigger goals and dreams.

From simple tips to exciting challenges, from questionnaires to inspirational quotes, this book will help you to make each day special and fall in love with life again.

START WHERE
you are

The adventure starts here, with you finding the hidden moments of joy that are already scattered throughout your day, and adding in more where you can. There are so many things you can do right away to make your life more exciting and fulfilling, from simple changes like freshening up your routines or focusing on the little things that make you smile, to learning how to change your mindset and see the world in a different light. In this chapter youll get the chance to identify the things you love, and to discover ways to make sure that every day includes something special.

Press pause
and breathe

The first skill you need to transform your life is also the simplest to learn to press pause and take a minute or two to focus on your breathing. By doing this, youll be training yourself to be present in the moment, rather than rushing through your day on autopilot and missing out on the little things that make life wonderful. This book is full of ideas to help you reconnect with these special moments, but for now training yourself to take breathing breaks is a great start. Make them a regular event by taking one every time you boil the kettle or looking out of the window and watching the world go by: simply step away from your tasks, breathe and tune in to your feelings.

Live and love
EACH MOMENT

Better break times

If it feels like you just cant fit any me time into your current routine, think again. You can get a great boost from the smallest moments. Hopefully you already have at least ten minutes to yourself to relax at some point in the day, so start by making these existing breaks extra special.

Ensure you have somewhere clutter-free and calm to enjoy your downtime. At home, have a cosy corner to relax in for ten minutes peace. If youre at work, try to find a quiet space away from your workstation for your break, sitting outside when you can. Dont check your messages or to-do list; you could read, doodle, meditate or daydream anything that brings you peace. Youll feel all the better for a proper session of time-out.

Live for
TODAY

Time is precious today is precious so what are you going to do to make it special? Greet the day with a smile, look forward to the good bits and dont dwell on any tricky moments. Wear your best clothes today: the new top youve been saving or the shoes that are still pristine in their box. Book tickets to the film youve been waiting to see, text the friend youve been meaning to catch up with and, if you can fit in a trip to that park youve never visited before, well, do that too! Seize the day, live for the moment and dont put your happiness on hold.

Gather your gratitude

Its exciting to plan new adventures, but dont forget that there are wonderful moments to be found in your life already. Every evening, sit quietly and think back over your day, reflecting on all the positive moments: the times when things went well or when someone made you laugh or surprised you. Think about any beautiful images or scenes you saw too. Make a note of these gems that brightened your day or simply enjoy reliving them and feeling grateful for your blessings.

What makes you happy?

Working out what makes you happy is important when building your extraordinary life. Use these pages to remind yourself of the things that mean the most to you.

What must you have in your life to be happy? What do you need to feel fulfilled, relaxed or full of joy? If youre not sure, make a note of your happiest moments over the next few days and think about what caused them. It might be spending time outdoors, your daily swim, studying for an evening class, relaxing at home

I feel happiest when Im:

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When you look back at your choices, you might find youre able to group them together under headings like fitness, creative pursuits, learning, sociali zing, spiritual moments, etc. Make a note of these areas too.

These types of activity are most important to me: