On this particular day, I took a bike trip organized by my university along the beach almost all the way to Poole, ending at a particularly nice almost-sunset where I took more photos and used one for a quote a while back.

The beach is kept clean and dotted with beach huts that can be rented out to visitors. Turn away from the beach and you’ll be looking up beautifully vegetated cliffs with all types of plant species I’ve come to be very familiar with thanks to my course. Take a look back out, past the sand, and you’ll get a glimpse of boats sailing among worn away chalk cliffs in the distance.

My last post asked you how you deal with stress and all that life hands us. There are many things one can do to create a balance, but the truth is, I already know the main solution… and that is to trust the process; trust that the Universe knows what it’s doing, because it does.

This is easier said than done. We’re taught from a young age that we must have control and power over everything in our lives, but the moment we lose the tiniest bit of control, it feels like the end of the world. But we never had that control in the first place. There are times that life seems to flow and everything works out one thing right after another, but society has taught us to always want more and never be completely satisfied. So we worry and we doubt. We resist change rather than accepting and working with it. We tell the Universe (or God/your belief) “I got this!” and try and take control which only throws a curveball into what is already so nicely laid out for us.

My theory is that “worry causes reason to worry”. The more we worry, the bigger of a build-up we get of things we have to worry about. I’ve been writing this post off-and-on for a few days now, feeling a bit like a hypocrite. One moment I trust, but if I don’t get an immediate response that things are working out how I want them to, I get anxious and worry. But even if I need that reminder that things will be okay and to just enjoy the moment and trust the Universe; even if it’s a constant cycle from worry to calm and content, at least it’s a cycle and I’m getting somewhere.

The next time you’re worrying, take a deep breath and trust the process.

(Original image from workisnotajob.’s blog page, print can be found here)

Lately I’ve been feeling overwhelmed and stressed. I feel as though I have to cram too much into my days, like stuffing an already overflowing suitcase. This usually happens to me around assignment deadline time, but this time everything is piling up. I try to meditate twice a day to keep my sanity, but even my meditation sessions seem tense. With university assignments, finding a placement, dissertation; work; family; friends here and far away; my long distance relationship; Four Leaf Clover; staying healthy; sleep; etc… I just don’t seem to be handling it very well at the moment. I wish I could blog at least once a week because it is so fulfilling and allows me to feel in my element, but other “priorities” make it near impossible.

When there is so much stress raining down, it’s harder to keep things in perspective and easier to let those negative thoughts seep in. I’ve had trouble balancing and managing my time for as long as I can remember and university has made that even worse. You always give me great advice, so I’d love to know: how do you do it? How do you create balance in your life and prevent all the negativity from pouring in and clouding your days?

(Original images taken from Katka Pruskova’s Vimeo Flowers Timelapse video)

Tiny Buddha is a range of articles on different life subjects written by all kinds of people in different situations, each one with a lesson that was learned and worth sharing. I’ve noticed that days or weeks that I don’t find the time to read Tiny Buddha don’t have that extra bit of positivity for me. It’s hard to keep a cheery disposition 24/7, but Tiny Buddha makes it a bit easier. I’ve since shared it with many people and have gotten a variety of responses from enthusiastic to nonchalant. Everyone is different, not everyone is ready to accept certain changes into their lives, and the writing style from an article may not click with the reader. Either way, I felt it was time that I share this wealth of knowledge with you.

A few of my favorite posts include this one here, here, and here. You can also find Tiny Buddha on Facebook and Twitter. I often times share my favorite posts on the Four Leaf Clover pages.

(Original logo from Tiny Buddha webpage)

I stumbled upon Morgan’s sad story on the Huffington Post in an article titled “Free Morgan: The Ocean Wants Her Orca Back” and I couldn’t stay silent, I knew I had to share this on FLC, Twitter and Facebook.

This coming 1st of November, a court hearing will be held for Morgan to be released from the smallest captivity tank in the world and into rehabilitation so that she may swim freely once again. Please help this young orca have the possibility of living in freedom by clicking here and sharing Morgan’s story. Thank you!

(Original images from the Free Morgan Foundation website and Facebook page)

For months I’ve been wanting to share numerous songs, but I felt like I couldn’t just post a song after having not written for so long. I don’t know whose rules I was following, but I’ve decided to throw them out the window. So here I am with an uplifting and very-fitting-for-the-occasion song from Colorado band OneRepublic. You may remember them from their famous song Apologize.

This song does more than simply have you dancing in your seat. OneRepublic is giving portions of the profit from the Feel Again single to Save The Children’s Every Beat Matters campaign. The song was actually made using the heartbeats of children!

What do you say? Does Feel Again make you smile and sing along? What song always lifts your spirits? And how cool is this music video?!

(Original images from OneRepublic.net and OneRepublic’s Facebook page)

(Original image found at StevePavlina.com)

(Original image from Tiger Time)