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Get out of your mind - The Reason Why Modern Society is stressed

We all know that feeling of rushing through our day, disconnected, unfocused, feeling behind on our to do list and stressed out of our minds. In fact, I believe that last saying “stressed out of our minds”is not used properly to describe this situation. When we are stressed we are actually very much into our minds, in fact so much that we believe we are our minds and our identity is the content of our minds. This identification and the absence from the present moment are two things that tend to cause lots of stress in the body.

The key to elimination of this stress, is to bring awareness and attention to the #PRSNT moment. In this moment it is nothing to fear, nothing to be stressed about, because stress and fear belongs to the ego and the ego simply can’t live here. The ego feeds on thoughts and identification, labeling, drama, future and past. In the present, time doesn’t even exist, because this is the only moment that is. It doesn’t need time. Time is future and past. The ego likes time and tries to tell you you are sooo busy and have no time.

So, next “time” you are running around, stressed and crazy, stop yourself & take a second to tune in with your breath. The breath lives in the moment so you can always trust that it will help calm you. It’s like an inner GPS for peacefulness.

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EASY TIPS YOU CAN DO TO BRING YOURSELF INTO THE PRSNT MOMENT

  • If you extend your exhales and make them about twice as long as your inhales you will notice the instant benefits that happens due to a neurological switch of your nervous system.

  • Extended exhale triggers the relaxation part of the nervous system and is a great way to channel peacefulness.

  • You can’t be present and stressed at the same time.

  • You will not feel chaos when you are peaceful.

  • Embrace this moment & reconnect with who you truly are. Then, as you keep going with your day and feel stress arise, return to the Prsnt moment with your breath as a guide

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5 Ways To Use Fresh Herbs

KJERSTI BUAAS permaculture.JPG

I love and enjoy the process of planting from seed to full grown flower or harvest. Bringing my presence into this process is beautiful because it connects me to the natural world in such a special way. Reaping the benefits of what we plant is like an added gift. Life and gardening is quite similar. We plant seeds. Water & nurture. Love & give patience. Let go. And then, suddenly, we get to harvest the fruits of our labor of love. But, we need to give our attention and presence to each step along the way. And accept and love it just as it is. The fruits are equal to short moments of pleasure, that eventually will be gone (eaten) Then, the cycle starts over again.

Fresh herbs like rosemary, basil, sage, oregano and thyme have been abundant lately and I am integrating them into different recipes. We have planted our herbs in alignment with permaculture principles in zone 1 so they are easy to access. I love to snip off the herbs straight from the raised garden bed and mix and match into my meals. Below are some ideas for ways I like to integrate the herbs. I am not a vegan. Nor am I a carnivore. I actually work to not label myself as anything that my ego easily can take and turn into separation from others. I like to eat plant based and avocado is often present in my choice of plant fat. Coconut tortillas (found these on amazon) are so yummy and I use these to substitute for bread. When my body is asking for more carbs, I source for sourdough bread (the real kind http://www.pragerbrothers.com

Brussel Sprouts and farm potatoes with fresh rosemary & cold pressed extra virgin olive oil

Brussel Sprouts and farm potatoes with fresh rosemary & cold pressed extra virgin olive oil

Okra Bowl with sauerkraut, avocado, sweet potato and farmers market lettuce topped with garden herbs

Okra Bowl with sauerkraut, avocado, sweet potato and farmers market lettuce topped with garden herbs

Farm Egg and avocado sourdough toast with garden herbs

Farm Egg and avocado sourdough toast with garden herbs

Heirloom tomato and avocado sourdough toast with garden basil, thyme and oregano, garden chili, roasted garlic and drizzled with olive oil

Heirloom tomato and avocado sourdough toast with garden basil, thyme and oregano, garden chili, roasted garlic and drizzled with olive oil

Farm Egg on coconut tortilla, radish and fresh oregano and thyme (my friend has chickens and quail and these are amazing. So different than the store)

Farm Egg on coconut tortilla, radish and fresh oregano and thyme (my friend has chickens and quail and these are amazing. So different than the store)

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SOLAR IS THE FUTURE

ACTIVE, HEALTHY LIFESTYLE POWERED BY THE SUN

Celebrating the power of the sun as we got #solarpanelsfrom @brightlifesolar installed on the California summer casa. Using natural energy from the sun to power our needs & lifestyle is so great. In California the sun shines almost everyday so solar energy is such a great solution. Good solar panels also works good with cloudy conditions, so don't get discouraged if you don't live in sunny areas. In Norway, where I come from, and in Scandinavia in general, hydro & wind is utilized often. Solar is also used in many countries in Europe like England & Germany. Do you have solar or natural energy at your home or places you go visit? I’m curious to hear about your experiences with it and if it’s been a positive switch for you. I hope renewable energy like solar, alongside with wind and hydro power will be prominent in the way we harness energy in the future 🌎 🌊🙏🏻

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THE ANSWER TO OUR "LIFE PURPOSE"

KJERSTI BUAAS HUDSEN COLLECTIVE MITTENS 5 BY DAVE LEHL.jpg
I am at peace with that it does not really matter what I do or that my “doing” is secondary. It’s how I do it and if I am bringing my full presence to it that leaves me feeling fulfilled and is my primary purpose
— Kjersti Buaas
BRING YOUR FULL PRECENCE TO WHATEVER YOU DOP: @BPRSNT

BRING YOUR FULL PRECENCE TO WHATEVER YOU DO

P: @BPRSNT

Some of us love what we do and some don’t at all. Some things and tasks feels overwhelming, boring etc & some are simply things we care for & love doing. The truth is that if we are doing a job, task or activity that we really enjoy, we are naturally tapping into our Being. Then it feels like a dream, we are creative and feel purpose. If we are doing a job that we don’t like, we most likely don’t care to bring our full focus into it. Many of us are doing jobs that we don’t like or connect with or find any purpose in. We might feel stuck and “unhappy” and not fulfilled at all. For some of us our health is compromised by what we do. Yet, still, we might not want to change that job because it is stable and secure. Or maybe we are scared of change because we are identifying ourself, our value and self worth so much with what we do. It’s not uncommon for us humans to do so, in fact that how we typically condition our selfs.

If we don’t want to we don’t necessary have to change the job or task, but rather look at how we are doing what we are doing. Ask your self questions like: Am I present in my job? Does what I do get my full attention? Am I bringing laughter and playfulness into my “doing”? Am I taking my “self” very seriously or can I be lighthearted while doing this task? Am I just doing this task as a means to an end? Am I depending my self worth on this outside condition? How identified am I with what I do? When your “doing” is filled with presence, you allow for your Being to shine & you start to shed the layers of identification. The ego can’t tolerate the sun rays from your being - it will dissolve when you bring awareness to it. When you allow for your Being to ripple into what ever you are doing, your doing suddenly comes to life, becomes creative, vibrant and will therefor also be experienced as joyful. My favorite place to be is in the now. It’s when I feel fulfilled

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LOOSE YOURSELF

FINDING MY INNER ZEN IN THE WOODS OF COLORADO CAPTURED BY ALI VAGNINI FOR ZEAL OPTICS

FINDING MY INNER ZEN IN THE WOODS OF COLORADO CAPTURED BY ALI VAGNINI FOR ZEAL OPTICS

Ever thought about the concept of what would happen if rather than trying to find yourself, you completely let go and allowed to loose yourself? The practice of NOT trying to find myself feels strange and challenging, but to be honest; to completely be comfortable with not knowing who I am is the most liberating thing i’v ever felt. It’s even more liberating than hitting a 80 foot jump on a snowboard, flying through the air (this can be scary too but most of the time liberating 😊)With this approach to life, I am realizing that my expectations around who I should be is disappearing. Even other people’s expectations are disappearing, as they were only illusions of a limited mind anyways. What is left is just me. Exactly what I was looking for in the first place. It’s my Being. Not defined. Not categorized. When we give up trying to define our selfs, we open up space for our Being to come to life. Additionally, we open up space for others to be just them selfs too. Pure consciousness without labels, makeup, fancy clothes or gold medals. It’s life itself and here in the PRSNT moment we are always enough 

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URBAN PERMACULTURE

KJERSTI BUAAS BPRSNT GARDEN.JPG

I loooove and enjoy the process of planting from seed to full grown flower or harvest. Bringing my presence into this process is beautiful because it connects me to the natural world in such a special way. Reaping the benefits of what we plant is like an added gift. Life and gardening is quite similar. We plant seeds. Water & nurture. Love & give patience. Let go. And then, suddenly, we get to harvest the fruits of our labor of love. But, we need to give our attention and presence to each step along the way. And accept and love it just as it is. The fruits are equal to short moments of pleasure, that eventually will be gone (eaten) Then, the cycle starts over again. We humans have everything in common with nature. We just tend to forget sometimes. During winter time we bundle up to protect ourselves from the cold and hide as we prepare for lighter times to come. When spring comes, we shed our layers, gain color and start blooming like we are born a new. We are connected to everything and there are no walls separating us. Our primary purpose is not what we do, but to Be fully PRSNT in what we choose to do.

Farming and gardening brings me into the now so easily. Its a meditative act where I connect with the plants and myself. I have been practicing permaculture since I earned my permaculture design certificate back in 2014. It´s such a beautiful approach to gardening, landscaping, farming and more. I use principles from permaculture in my day to day life. Getting to grow the food I eat is such a beautiful bond. What we eat becomes a part of our presence, energy, spirit, footprint and essentially our performance, I have become such a big fan of eating clean and supporting good practices. My dream and goal is to be able to live and eat mostly straight off the land. 


PERMACULTURE GARDENING I ABUNDANT HARVEST

Permaculture design is a system of assembling conceptual, material, and strategic components in a pattern which functions to benefit life in all its forms. The philosophy behind permaculture is one of working with, rather than against, nature; of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless action; of looking at systems in all their functions, rather than asking only one yield of them; and allowing systems to demonstrate their own evolutions. (SOURCE: https://permaculturenews.org/what-is-permaculture/)

Red onions from our recent harvest. We pulled, cut and picked our dinner fresh out of the soil and the trees

Red onions from our recent harvest. We pulled, cut and picked our dinner fresh out of the soil and the trees

Lilikoi from our recent harvest. We picked these from the ground as the fall when ripe

Lilikoi from our recent harvest. We picked these from the ground as the fall when ripe

Red onions from our recent harvest. We pulled, cut and picked our dinner fresh out of the soil and the trees

Red onions from our recent harvest. We pulled, cut and picked our dinner fresh out of the soil and the trees

Lilikoi is also called passionfruit.. We picked these from the ground as the fall when ripe

Lilikoi is also called passionfruit.. We picked these from the ground as the fall when ripe

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BEHIND THE SCENES AT SIMPLY STRAWS

Over 500 million plastic straw are used and disposed of every day in the USA alone!!! Simply Straws makes reusable glass straws that are durable and dishwasher safe. Just check this video to see for yourself how strong these straws are!! #simplystraws wants to help eliminate the absurd amount of plastic that ends up in all the wrong places. Plastic does not ever break down, it just continues to live in smaller and smaller pieces that end up in sea animals and birds. How sad is that?? So, who is with me today and want to #pledgeagainstplasticstraws and #stopsucking ?? 🌏🙏🏻💙 

Take a peek inside the headquarters of Simply Straws with me

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UTFORDRING TIL PETTER STORDALEN

SIMPLY STRAWS GLASSSUGERØR

SIMPLY STRAWS GLASSSUGERØR

Hver dag kastes det utrolige mengder søppel og engangs-plastikk ligger kanskje helt på toppen. Plastikk-sugerør er noe vi ikke tradisjonelt har tenkt over at vi bruker mye av...men tall viser at i usa alene kastes det over 500 millioner sugerør hver dag!!! Det er helt sykt og absolutt en stor påkjenning for miljøet 🌏 

Det positive er at mange har fått øynene opp for dette problemet og flere har begynt å ta ansvar ved å redusere sitt eget daglige forbruk. Dette er noe bedriftene merker seg - forbrukerne sitter jo markedet. Mange tilbyr nå alternativer til plastikk-sugerør som ikke har den samme negative påvirkningen på miljøet, nettopp fordi de er alternativer som kan brukes på nytt. Jeg har preiket om dette lenge og siden 2012 har jeg støttet @simplystraws 🙏🏻 De så problemet tidlig og kom med sin løsning; gjenbrukbare glass-sugerør. Du kan bruke de på nytt og vaske de i oppvaskmaskin som annet bestill. I tillegg til å beskytte miljøet, beskytter du også tennene dine 

Det er kult å se gjenbruks-bølgen komme til Norge og folk her hjemme virker å være både veldig åpne og kunnskapsrike rundt hvorfor det er viktig å kutte ut unødvendig engangs-plast som brukes hver dag. For plastikk brytes jo som kjent ikke ned!!!

Det er mye vi kan gjøre som individer og flere små dråper blir jo også etterhvert til et stort hav. Med det sagt, noen har en større plattform og kan nå flere. Derfor har jeg utfordret Choice hotell-eier Petter Stordalen med en video og et glimt i øyet, til å ta initiativ til å slutte å suge. Jeg sier med glimt i øyet fordi dette ikke må misforstås som et angrep på Petter eller Choice. De har allerede en miljøvennlig profil og gjør mye bra, men jeg er muligheten til å gjøre noe i forhold til plastikk-sugerør spesifikt. Hva med en løsning hvor Choice hotels bytter ut alle plastikk-sugerørene i barene på hotellene?? Det kastes antagelig mange slike svarte, små sugerør etter kun en drink.... mange dråper å samle her :) La oss se hvordan det går og om Petter tar utfordringen

PS: #stopsucking og #pledgeagainstplasticstraws er amerikanske kampanjer som har fått veldig positiv oppmerksomhet verden over, startet av @lonelywhale Foundation med skuespiller @adriangrenier i spissen og #simplystraws 💙

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MOVING MEDITATION

SWIMMING CAN BE A GREAT MOVING MEDITATIONP: @chanellesladics

SWIMMING CAN BE A GREAT MOVING MEDITATION

P: @chanellesladics

What is your relationship with the #PRSNT moment? Every day I do 2 x 20 minutes meditation sessions but to be fully transparent, some days it can be challenging to find space and time to practice. This especially happens when family is around or I have a long “to do list” or if I am really stressed out. With that said, I know how beneficial a consistent meditation practice is, so rather than getting frustrated when I can’t do my regular practice, [or skipping the meditation] i’v learned to find a way to flex and flow with what er is going on around me. One solution that I absolutely love is to practice #movingmeditation 🏊‍♀️ This style of meditation can be integrated into activities like for example running, swimming and snowboarding. In fact, you might even feel like you have been meditating while immersed in these activities. The reason for this is that when we connect with our bodies and breath, we naturally become a part of the #PRSNTmoment, because the body and our breath is always present.

RUNNING, TUNING INTO THE BREATH AS A MOVING MEDITATION

RUNNING, TUNING INTO THE BREATH AS A MOVING MEDITATION

When we systematically apply a technique of breath awareness to an activity, we draw the attention of our minds into the moment and practice what is called a moving meditation. It’s similar to when you just get “lost” in the activity but with an added layer of mindfulness. The result is a strengthened capacity to return to the #prsnt moment - In day to day life, when stressful situations arise, this is a great tool to have in your tool belt. Did you know that fear can’t live in the present moment? The ego, who is is responsible for triggering fear, pain, disappointment and so on, can’t survive in the now. That’s why, when we draw our attention into the #PRSNT moment, we feel so good. We become free from the ego and feel love, fulfillment and bubbling positive vibrations 🙏🏻




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What actually happens when we write down our goals!

It amazes me what happens when we actually write down our goals and start taking action to invest in them...

KJERSTI BUAAS GARAGE WORKOUT

On a rainy day in the fall of 2016, after a work out in my garage, I wrote down some thoughts on a piece of paper. I don't know if you can relate, but often when I am in movement, I feel really creative and inspired to take on life. It´s something about the natural aspect of being in the flow of movement that ignites me, sparks my inside flame and brings me the confidence to think I can take on the world :) 

I started to scribble away on the paper and said to myself to just let anything come out - not to judge my thoughts or feel like it had to be perfect. I had a blurry vision and it needed to come out in the shape and form it wanted to. Eventually, I paused and realized that my vision had become more clear as I put the words on my paper. I saw that I had created myself some pretty epic, abstract goals. It sounded something like this:

I am here to guide meditation to big and small groups, help spread love and compassion and elevate the collective consciousness. Keywords: Big room, people meditating and breathing together, another form of speaking gig where we are elevating together. The audience is feeling and doing, not only listening...

How will I attract this: Take a meditation course and be open to every opportunity. I will attract this naturally as I am following my inner compass (heart)

I didn't really know what, when, where this goal would manifest, but I folded the paper and knew that because I had followed my heart, I would not need to fight to make this happen...In December 2017 I started studying meditation with an online program.

Dream Team aka Me, Klaudia Medlova, President of The UN Mr Lajčák & Chanelle Sladics 

Dream Team aka Me, Klaudia Medlova, President of The UN Mr Lajčák & Chanelle Sladics 

Skip forward about 6 months as I find myself in New York, at the United Nations Head Quarters. During the winter Olympics in South Korea I had received an invitation by the UN president himself to the #Youth72 Dialoge together with professional athletes, Chanelle Sladics and Klaudia Medlova. As we arrived at the UN I was told that I had a spot to speak during the open mic session. At first, I panicked, as I didn't know what to talk about on such short notice, on such an "important" stage. But, as the president himself opened up the conference by saying, the more raw and organic, the better, I felt sort of calmer. The planner in me wanted to prepare so badly but the freestyler in me spoke louder. I took the challenge to let go of control and trust that whatever came out on stage was perfect for the moment. I walked nervously on to the stage with my bare feet...

Continue reading below the video for the full story...

Professional snowboarder and four-time Olympian Kjersti Buaas is passionate about physical health but also about mental and spiritual health. She has been practicing meditation for 8 years and uses it in preparation for and during big competitions.

When I came back home I found some old notes on a piece of paper. To my surprise (yes, I had forgotten about what I wrote on that rainy day) I had accomplished the abstract goal I wrote down about a year ago. Looking back at this video reminds me that when we follow our inner compasses we will start to attract what is true to us and what belongs to us...

So I want to ask you some questions:

What are you dreaming about?

Do you have any goals written down at the moment?

If not, what is preventing you from writing down your goals and dreams?

What needs to change in order for you to start writing down your goals and take action on them?

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