Do you ever question your beliefs?

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Today, I would like to share with you a short video I recently created about beliefs. In this video I cover what beliefs are, how they are formed and what made them stick with us.

Do you ever question yours?

Are they serving you well?

Are they empowering you or are they unhelpful to you?

Unfortunately, many people never ask themselves these simple questions, and as a result of that, live a life based on somebody else’s beliefs.

I’m not here to say that all of your beliefs are necessarily bad or wrong. I’m just here to point out, that it’s important to, at least once in a while, do an inventory in your life and ask yourself: ‘Is this what I truly believe or is that someone else’s belief? Is this who I truly am?’ And many other, deep questions you may have.

I hope the video will inspire you 🙂

Jana x

Protecting your energy

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This week, I would like to address a topic I feel we don’t talk about much, unless you are part of a spiritual or a self-developmental circles, you are taking a meditation classes or training to become a therapist or a healer.

The topic is: Protecting your energy field. 

Just the other day I was speaking to a friend and he was telling me how drained he feels at work, especially around particular work colleagues. Halfway through our conversation, it became very clear to me, that he needs to start protecting his energy field and do this on a regular basis. He is an empath, and empaths can unconsciously, and very easily, pick up other people’s energy, which can leave them feeling tired, even exhausted.

I can fully relate, because I’m an empath too. As an empath and also an introvert, you sometimes perceive the world as an overwhelming experience. You have a rich inner world and worry about so many things other people would not even give a second thought to. Also, you may feel everything on a such deep level, that you take it personally.

But, whether you are an empath, an introvert or not, I believe it’s important to protect your energy field as much as possible.

There are so many techniques you can use to protect your energy. Over the years I’ve learned quite a few from my teachers, and now, I also teach them my students and clients. Many of these techniques are so easy to apply into your daily life and can take only a couple of minutes of your time. All you need is an open mind and a willingness to put in some work.

Today, I’d like to share with you my favourite three.

*An important note*

Before you begin these exercises, make sure you are not driving! 

1) White Light

Make yourself comfortable, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. As you are getting centred and grounded, visualise that you are standing in front of a beautiful white light. This light is here to protect you and your energy. Visualise, that you are taking a step into this light. As you’ve taken the step, the light is surrounding your entire being now. It is a protective shield of energy where you can feel safe and secure. Trust and know that you are being protected. When you are ready open your eyes.

2) Four mirrors exercise

Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. When you are feeling more centred, visualise, there are four long mirrors placed around you. One is in front of you, one is behind you, one is on your left and one is on your right. These mirrors are not facing you, but they are turned away from you. Trust and know that any negative or heavy energies that reach these mirrors will be reflected away from you, and will also be automatically transformed into a positive energy. You are safe and secure. When you are ready open your eyes.

3) Archangel Michael

Do you believe in angels? Call upon Archangel Michael to protect you with his beautiful blue protective light. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. When you are ready, call upon Archangel Michael. It can go something like this: ‘Archangel Michael, I call upon you now. Please surround me with your beautiful blue protective light. Please, keep me safe and secure at all times. Thank you so much Archangel Michael for your help and your protection. And so it is.’ When you are ready open your eyes. This is a simple prayer we use in the spiritual circles to call upon Archangel Michael when we feel we need protection. I personally ask Archangel Michael for protection every single day.

I hope this post has inspired you.

With love and best wishes, 
Jana x 

Dreams & Magic: ‘I want to be a Wizard!’

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I have known a lady, who’s son, when he was little, had the best way of answering questions. His answers were always full of fascination and amazing possibilities. There was one answer in particular I really loved, and it still puts a smile on my face every time I remember it.

Every time you asked him: ‘What would you like to be when you grow up?’ His response was the best: ‘I want to be a wizard!’ No hesitation, no second-guessing. He wanted to be a wizard.

Whether he became a wizard or not is irrelevant 🙂

The point of this post is to remind us of that child-like wonder we used to have. I’d like you to notice all the incredible things that surround you. When we are children we see the world through a different lens. We do believe in magic, in fairies, dragons, unicorns and many, many mysterious beings. And some of us still do. We do believe anything is possible. But for most, that child-like wonder quickly fades away by joining adulthood and all the responsibilities, daily worries, meeting deadlines and everything that comes with it. That child-like wonder is almost non-existent in adulthood.

The good news is, however, we can still tap into it.

I’m not asking you to believe in any mysterious creatures, if this doesn’t resonate with you. I’m not asking you to strive to become a wizard 🙂 What I’m asking you, however, is to consider becoming more open to the incredible possibilities which lie in every corner of this Universe. What I’m asking you is to dream. Dream as big as you can. Go back to your childhood and ask yourself what were you thinking of becoming when you were a child? Ask yourself, what brought the most joy to your little soul back then? What activities did you enjoy? Wouldn’t it be great to re-visit these activities again? You may even find a stepping stone that can lead you to your true life’s purpose. I’ll leave that for you to decide.

The world is full of magic and many possibilities, even if we can’t always see it that way, especially these days when we are going through a lot. But by becoming open to seeing the world from a slightly different angle, a new perspective, we can notice so many incredible things we have not been able to see before.

‘When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.’
– Dr. Wayne Dyer 

Looking at life from a soul’s perspective

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Lately, I’ve been noticing that more and more people are being quite impatient with each other. They are also being easily triggered by each other, and as a result of that, feeling edgy and uncomfortable. I must admit, I’ve also been getting triggered more than usual lately, and feeling quite edgy and a bit blunt (although feeling so much calmer in the last few days).

And all of this is completely understandable. 

Let me explain how I see it: 

With the constant pressure upon us, with the new rules, with all the changes we are still adjusting to or resisting, certain parts of our personalities, some we didn’t even know existed before, easily come up to the surface.

The more I’m noticing my reactions and responses to some situations, the more I understand there is a lot of work that I need to do on myself, especially ‘inner work’.

I have my own opinions on the current situation. I have my own perspective on the ‘new normal’ and I also get frustrated with it sometimes, especially when I think about it too much.

But, what really matters, I think, is how we truly feel about everything that is going on, on the inside. Because there, lies our wisdom.

When I get still and I listen to my intuition, I always get a higher perspective on things. I look at myself and everything that I’m experiencing, from a soul’s perspective, rather than from a human perspective. With that, ‘in mind’, I feel calmer and more at peace with myself and everything that is happening around me.

In these moments, I keep asking myself more deeper questions, such as:

‘What can I learn from this experience? What is it in me that is making me to judge? What is it in me that is making me to point my finger at others? How can I let go of what is no longer serving me? What more inner work do I need to do to become a better version of myself? How can I be more loving and compassionate towards myself and others?’ 

When I ask myself these sort of questions, I feel more in control, while having the knowing that it is up to me how I want to perceive everything and respond to everything. I am aware, that there is still so much power that lies within me, and there is still so much I can do. I dwell in the knowing, that I have a choice. I get still to access this wise part of my being. Every time I feel edgy, impatient or frustrated, I know I need to go home. I need to go home to my true self, to my soul. 

Celebrating 10 years of sobriety

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Yesterday, I celebrated 10 years of sobriety, and I must say, the last decade has been quite a journey.

So where do I begin? 

Since 2010 I’ve been on the path of so much learning, transforming, but also releasing many unhealthy and unhelpful habits. Some of these habits offered me some temporary relief, others were quite harmful and affected my life in many ways. One of them was a temporary alcohol dependency.

I’ve never really opened up about it before, but as I’m celebrating 10 years without alcohol this week, I’ve decided to share part of my story in this post.

In my early twenties suffered from a severe anxiety and panic attacks. During that time I was often turning to alcohol, which temporarily numbed the unpleasant feelings I was feeling. To be honest, I never really liked the taste of alcohol, but at the time, it offered me some relief from anxiety, which was hard to cope with. Unfortunately, with the hangover, in the morning, the feelings of anxiety always deepened, and I was feeling twice as bad. And what did I do to block these ‘twice as bad feelings’? I poured myself another drink.

I got depended on it. It seemed easier to have a drink to ‘fix’ the way I was feeling, then to deal with the unpleasant feelings I was going through on my own. I became trapped. It was getting more and more difficult to let go of the alcohol, and I felt I had to have a drink every single day. I was lost and scared.

You may be asking, at this point, if I sought any help. Yes, I did. But at the same time, I also knew I had to become willing to help myself first.

To cut long story short, after a very painful 4 years of living this way, I stopped drinking alcohol completely. At the beginning, it was hard, because I didn’t have the ‘quick fix’ that would numb my anxiety for a while. I developed other unhelpful habits, which took some time to let go of. I’m still working through some of them. But after about 6 months, the thought of going back to alcohol became irrelevant. I’m pleased to say that I am now 10 years alcohol-free, and my daily battle with anxiety also faded away.

It has been an interesting journey and so much learning came out of this experience. Even though the times were tough, I wouldn’t change them for anything. The whole experience taught me so much about myself, my life and that I can overcome anything, if I’m really determined to do so.

If you are struggling, please do seek a professional help. Please know that you are not alone and you can get through anything. There is so much help out there. All you have to do is get out of your comfort zone and ask.

Jana x 

3 ways to stay motivated

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Recently, I was filling out an important application form, which took me couple of weeks to work on. The application required so much tweaking, adjusting and thinking things through, just to get my answers into the shape I was 100% happy with. I eventually submitted it last Thursday, with a very positive feeling and knowing that I’ve done my best.

And this has inspired today’s post.

When you are working on something, such as filling out an important application form, changing a diet or perhaps writing a book, you need to be disciplined. But having discipline also requires certain amount of motivation. And I know, from my own experience, that motivation is not always there when you need it. Very often, you have to begin, keep going and then you become motivated.

This week, I’d like to share with you my 3 favourite ways to motivate yourself:

1) Plan ahead and keep promises to yourself 

When I was working on the application form, I set the time of the day I’d be working on it. This helped me to stay on track and do certain amount of work every single day. Make an appointments with yourself. Set a reminder on your phone or write it down in your diary. Once it’s written down, don’t postpone it and don’t procrastinate. Keep promises to yourself. Treat it as an important appointment you need to attend. This is about your future. Be disciplined.

2) Have a positive mindset 

I know this can be easier said then done, but staying positive is very important. What often helps me to keep a positive mindset, is looking after myself (drinking enough water, eating nourishing food, keeping promises to myself, as mentioned above, and finding moments of stillness, daily). It energises me and helps me to stay motivated.

3) Keep reminding yourself why you are doing, what you are doing 

Do you want to get to the next level? Do you want to create something better for yourself, because you are currently not happy with your current situation? Do you want a better career or more opportunities? Do you want to feel more content? I’m sure you do. And I know when you are working on changing your life or working towards something, you may not always feel motivated. That’s completely understandable. Try this: When you feel de-motivated, remind yourself why you are doing, what you are doing and simply get on with it, even when you don’t feel like it. Many successful people kept going, because they set their minds to something and kept working towards it. They kept going and then they became successful.

I hope these tips have inspired you. If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to contact me: jana@mysticbutterfly.co.uk 

Keep well and stay motivated, 
Jana x 

Dealing with situations ‘out of your control’

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Recently, I’ve been dealing with a situation when someone had to sort something out on my behalf. I had no control over it and all I could do was wait. During that time, the communication from the other party was quite poor and I was getting very frustrated with the lack of update. At the end of each week that had passed I kept calling or sending them emails, trying to find out what is going on. I could not see what could be taking them so long. To me, the issue didn’t seem that hard to resolve. I felt they were putting it aside and not treating it as important.

We all have examples in our lives when somebody else has to deal with something on our behalf. They can be some professional people who are, e.g. issuing a contract for our new accommodation or someone responding to our request by email or returning a phone call with an important information. We trust these people and expect them to get back to us ASAP, and if they don’t have any answers yet, at least keep us updated on the progress of the situation. Updating someone makes us and our requests important and more at ease.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work that way. We all have certain expectations and if these expectations aren’t fulfilled, we feel disappointed. When you have to keep reminding someone over and over again the same thing, it can feel quite frustrating. If you are someone like me, I’m sure you can relate. When I wait for someone to get back to me, I always think how I would deal with the request. I know, I don’t like to keep people waiting. I respond to them as quickly as I possibly can, making them feel valuable and their requests important. If you are someone like me, and you are an empath, you can easily put yourself into other people’s shoes and understand how frustrating it can feel to wait for a response for ages or being completely ignored. But I also understand, not everyone is an empath or has a similar outlook on life. I know I can’t compare everyone to myself or to the people on my wave length. That’s something I’m learning to accept more and more.

But let’s go back to the situation I’ve described above. In the end, I’ve decided to let go. I’ve cut an invisible cord (in my mind) between myself and the institution, and made a peace with them getting back to me when they were ready. As soon as I’ve done so, things begin to speed up and the situation got sorted out very soon.

I’d like you to understand that if something like this occurs in your life, first of all, it isn’t your fault. It’s simply someone else’s failing. People know exactly what to do. Unfortunately, not everyone is doing their job properly or taking it seriously. There are all sorts of people in the world. Some people go to their jobs very de-motivated and only deal with what they really have to on the day. Most of the people are unwilling to put themselves into someone else’s shoes and understand how they may feel.

I’ve learned to accept that I have no control over other people’s actions at all. What I have control over, however, is how I view and respond to the situations I’m presented with. The important thing is I know who I am and how I would deal with similar situations and how would my actions make other people feel.

How do I relax?

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Do you find challenging to switch off and just relax? Do you find it difficult, because your mind is always wandering from one place to another?

I must admit, I sometimes have a problem in this area. And this is mainly because I love what I do. I love inspiring people by writing, teaching and always thinking about the next thing I could create. But I’m also a recovering over-thinker, and I sometimes still over-analyse every single detail of everything. I don’t always find so easy to switch off and take time off. At the same time, I understand how important it is to take that time off and how I feel after I do.

When I get out of the busyness and finally slow down and eventually relax, I feel lighter and I feel I can see more clearly and breathe more easily. I feel as if so much weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I feel at peace with myself and the world that surrounds me.

In a few days, 15th August, is a National Relaxation Day, and this has inspired today’s post, where I’d like to emphasise how important it is to reserve some time for relaxation, whenever’s possible. I’d like to share with you a few relaxation techniques I find helpful.

1) Just Be

I know this can be easier said than done, but see if you can give it a go. Once a day, whenever you find a moment, take some time out and simply be. Do nothing. Just look out of the window for a few minutes and just be. Notice what is going on outside and be present in the moment. I love this little exercise. It always help me clear my mind of any unwanted thoughts and makes me relaxed.

2) Zone Out

What kind of music do you like? Zone out by putting on your favourite tune. This is very therapeutic and incredibly relaxing. So next time, when you need some time out, plug-in, close your eyes and listen to your favourite music, even if it’s only for a few minutes.

3) Breathe Deeply

When we are busy or stressed out, we forget to breathe properly. Breathing correctly is so important and very powerful. Try this: pause several times a day and close your eyes. Then, take a long, conscious breath and breathe out (slowly and deeply). Repeat this for about 3-5 rounds, then open your eyes and notice how you feel. I find this exercise very empowering and extremely relaxing.

I hope these few tips have inspired you. 
Jana x 

Are you a past traveller?

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Your past does not define you. The mistakes you’ve made in the past do not define who you are. You are not the same person you were a year ago, a month ago, not even ten minutes ago. Neither your past experiences define you. They are just your teachers on this journey called life. You are always learning, growing, expanding and that’s the beauty of life.

I’d like to ask you a question: ‘Are you a frequent past traveller?’

In my first book, Mystic Butterfly – a guide to your true self, I have a section in one of the chapters, where I ask my readers, whether they’d consider themselves to be a frequent past travellers or a future travellers? I ask this question, so they can begin to notice, where their mind wanders the most: the past or the future? And this is not a place for judgment, no matter what the answer is. It is simply to acknowledge, where they currently are.

Today, I’d like to focus on past travelling. So, if you are one of the people who often travels back to the past, carry on reading. This post is for you.

So many people travel back to the past. Travelling back to the past isn’t necessarily a bad thing, if you are thinking about some great memories and also about the lessons you’ve learned from your past experiences. However, travelling back to the past, on a frequent basis, can become a problem when you are visiting some painful experiences over and over again, when you are resenting them and they may still be controlling your life.

If you have ever been in therapy, you know that talking about past can feel painful at first, but going deeper and recognising what triggers you, while working through your past experiences, can be very healing and transformational. That’s why therapy is so helpful.

I am a recovering past traveller, a very frequent one. I still travel back to the past, of course, but when I do, I quickly realise, that past is a place of reference and not a place of residence. When I de-tour back to the past, I know I need to go home, I need to go back to the present, because that’s the only place where the true life exists.

Coming back from the past to the present isn’t always easy, but when you keep practising, it becomes easier. I have a useful technique, which never lets me know and I’d suggest you give it a go.

Whenever you notice your mind wandering back to some unpleasant past memory, take a deep breath and breathe out. Then, ask yourself: ‘Where am I?’ Then, respond to that question: ‘I am right here in this moment. This is where my power lies. This is where I make the choice what I want to give my energy to. I choose to stay in the present.’  This exercise will allow you to re-connect with the present moment.

And here is one more: Meditation. Meditation allows you to deeply connect with the present moment- the only place where the true life exists. If you are new to meditation and would like learn more about it, check out this page on my website: http://www.mysticbutterfly.co.uk/meditation/  You’ll find there a step-by-step process how to meditate. There are also many of my guided meditations. Sit back, relax and let my voice be your guide.

I hope this post has inspired you and these two techniques will help you.

With love, 

Jana x 

3 reasons why ballet is amazing

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One of my favourite interests in life is ballet dancing. I’ve been taking ballet lessons as a child, and returned back to it again as an adult a few years ago. Taking ballet classes brought so many incredible benefits into my life (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual).

These days I miss being in the ballet studio, but ever since the global pandemic hit, I’ve been ‘religiously’ attending ballet classes on Zoom every Thursday. Of course, this feels slightly different, compared to the studio classes, but the benefits I’ve been receiving have been equally wonderful.

Ballet teaches you so many things. It teaches you discipline, it helps your body posture, it teaches you to be fully focused and present in the moment, and it also teaches you be more patient with yourself, while learning and mastering new moves and techniques.

Today, I would like to talk about some of these benefits and I’ve picked three I’d like to focus on. And this doesn’t mean you only have to take ballet lessons to experience similar benefits. Absolutely not. You can choose any activity you like, which can help you feel great and it’s good for your mind, body and soul. And as a bonus, the benefits described below, can also help you create a healthy mind-set for achieving your goals.

1) Ballet teaches you to more present

When you are ballet dancing you have to be fully present and focused on what you are doing. The ballet moves require your full focus and participation. If you find your mind wandering, you can get easily lost and suddenly you are not keeping up with the music and the rest of the class. You have to be fully present in the moment. I find this extremely helpful, because my mind is very busy most of the time. When I’m in the class, however, I leave my worries and daily concerns aside, and fully focus on what I’m asked to do by my teacher, so I can experience the full benefits of the class.

2) Ballet teaches you to be more patient with yourself

Being patient in ballet is very important. You have to practise, practise, practise, and then practise some more to master the dance moves. This can be a hard work. It is in ballet I learned to be more patient with myself and stopped comparing myself to others. I stopped being so hard on myself and I accepted, that if I want to get better at it, I need to be more patient with myself while maintaining  a regular practice, which is extremely important.

3) Ballet teaches you to be disciplined

Another great thing I learned from my ballet lessons and ballet teachers is to be disciplined. As I mentioned above, you have to be patient with yourself, but that patience needs to be also supported by discipline. To be able to accomplish any dream, you have to have discipline. You have to practise regularly, you have to believe in yourself and you have to drop the excuses. When any obstacles arise, you take a deep breath and you keep practising.

So whether you choose ballet or any other physical activity, I hope you enjoy it, I hope it will make you feel good and it will bring many benefits into your life, including building a healthy mind-set for achieving your goals in life.