Unreasonably happy

New HUGE timeline started today, as I recorded this episode in my new apartment! My own home! There is chaos and I don’t have lights everywhere and all my clothes are in the corner and I have ONE spoon, but I'm so excited and emotional and grateful and this is simply a sweet little episode inspired by the fact that I brought Norwegian cinnamon back from Paris in my luggage today. Long timelines can be wonderful and so can short ones. Tiny moments of meeting, something you experience that marks a before and after, a first time (always easier to catch than a LAST time, which we often don't know we're experiencing). I know some are ending now and it's sad and it's life and it makes sense and I know a whole bunch are starting too (if you want more drama for these thoughts, listen to the song "Always starting over" from the musical If/Then, all bout those possible timelines and connections) So glad you're here <3

I'll let Laura tell her story below, and I hope you'll join us for this lovely, silly, honest conversation about perfectionism, should's, how long change can take, vulnerability around people pleasing and how hard (and rewarding) going after what you actually want is! I hope you find this as comforting and normalizing as I did, always nice to know we're not alone <3 For years, Laura felt stuck. Desperate to change her life and to embrace something cool & creative. But every attempt she made to change, was met with so many seemingly unsurmountable blocks. She didn’t know what to do. Maybe she wasn’t good enough. was this even realistic? Still today, Laura regularly has conversations with wonderful, bright, creative women who feel the same. They have a secret dream. They want to do something bigger. But they dont feel they can. She is fed up of this being “our” story. As Laura has worked past these blocks herself to acknowledge and embrace her own dreams. She is determined to change this narrative for all women. Through her Coaching and EFT practice she wants to help all women live how they want to live and be who they want to be. No dream to ‘wild or far fectched’ (We are all more than enough. the only thing blocking us is our mind’s sneaky whispers otherwise) (*Elise here, can you see why I thought Laura would be a good match for the podcast themes? Yeah, me too ;) ) Laura would love to connect with you through the following: Free 3 day procrastination tapping series - https://forms.aweber.com/form/23/282056123.htm Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/going_for_something/ Website - https://lauraferrara.co.uk/ Enjoy!

An unreasonably happy year <3  Talking about kindness, some of my biggest lessons of the year and some reminders for youuu!

Oh how I loved this conversation! Join in our talk about self care and how we define it, how it's perfect to be an accountant (if you want to be an accountant), how putting yourself in new situations can unexpectedly bring you to exactly where you want to go, the battle of play and productivity, how to habit stack self care with picking up your phone and the importance of making your routines and rituals fit you. Who's this episodes happiness worker? Lena is a playful experience designer on a mission to make self-care more accessible and fun. Utilising her expertise in game design, theatre, and meditation, she crafts playful rituals. Her latest endeavour is Spirit World - a self-care app in which you take care of mythical creatures by taking care of your own well-being. Spirit world on Instagram here!

A thought or seven about moving, from the middle of a messy mess, all about big cleanups and decisions and changing and shifting and all the metaphors that come up with this process. What you hold on to, what you want to bring with you, what you accidentally accumulated and how to decide what comes into the next chapter.  Also, can you believe it's episode 40?!? So glad you're here! Assuming we're already friends on Instagram ;) Class available here, come boost your gratitude practice friend!

Todays episode is a clip from my gratitude class (so it's extra fancy and also has video)! As mentioned during the episode, this one was actually taken out of the Skillshare version, while left as a bonus in the version you can get directly from me, and I'm really excited to share the perspectives of what you're really doing and practicing when you start a gratitude habit. Because it seems so simple! Noticing what you like? And writing down three things? Seems too small to be training your brain to find solutions and be able to hold nuance and acceptance and awareness of your life, but I can speak for myself (and also... science backs me up*) after doing this for a loooong time now, it's annoying how well it works! My gratitude class "The power of positivity" contains all my favorite ways of establishing a flexible, tiny, easy, grounding, sweet gratitude practice, to notice, remember and enjoy your life more! Find it on my website here or on Skillshare here

In the spirit of feeling for yourself if something is a big deal or not, here is the story of my first little tattoo and how that felt for me, it was such a fun sweet experience and I can't stop looking at it and showing it to everyone ✨ GREAT exercise for self trust! *Yes yes, technically this came out on a Wednesday, but I got it on a Tuesday ;)

Aaah, the skill of discomfort tolerance, a term I learned from Karin Nordin, is todays topic, and not just "How good are you at being uncomfortable?" but also "What kind of discomfort is worth it?" If both options are uncomfortable, what's the right one for me? Speaking up or not speaking up? Getting up early or being late for work? Staying or going? Not all discomfort is created equal, and what's horrendously uncomfortable for me, might be fine for you. And vice versa of course. Sometimes what seems easy, is the hardest. Oh, to be a human! I'll share my example from last week and some reminders for you, that this, too, is a situation where you can choose. All about that life you've decided on, remember? There is a lot of talk about "Choose your hard" (listen to the episode with Tina for more examples) like how it's hard to work out and also hard to be out of shape, choose your version, and this is under a similar umbrella! Also, at the end of this episode I'm inviting you to my new gratitude class, find the link to purchase below! The Power of Positivity - Start your own gratitude habit As per always, come hang out over on instagram @elise.aabakken

Tina Ethridge is one of my favorite humans to follow online for acceptance and gentle self kindness reminders, which makes perfect sense, as she is a radical ADHD and AuDHD acceptance coach. In this glorious all-over-the-place conversation we touch on so many elements of happiness and figuring out who we are, topics of fun and joy and pleasure, how to work with your brain, how to know if you're feeling joy, what a happiness-worker is and a ton of non-sense. I hope you'll love it as much as I do! Find more info below and go follow her everywhere! Tinas website Instagram - @comfortandkindness Podcast - Connected Divergents

When you feel like nothing matters and everything feels blah and unnecessary and stuck and you're not sure what would help, let me share some Facebook/Reddit wisdom with you (which is backed with the book "Burnout" by Emily and Amelia Nagoski (sidenote, I haven't read it, but it's on the list!) about learned helpnessness and how much it matters to do something... that isn't nothing. A sweet little emotional episode of tiny things that remind me that I matter, and a reminder that you matter, you literally have the power to change the world and I'm not even using that as a metaphor! Glad you're here Song mentioned: Out of the frying pan and into the fire Original Post here (Found at Wholesome fox on Facebook)

One of my favorite permission slips and also a reminder I still need CONSTANTLY! Sneaky sneaky perfectionism showing up as "Oh, this isn't the right time to do this!" And catching it when it happens, like right now, this feels like the wrong time to post this episode (surprise surprise, brain is often like that) so here it is!

Not to play favorites, but y'all... I've been so excited to bring you this DELIGHT of a conversation, tune in, turn on the video to see both of our wonderful faces and enjoy! We cover everything from gratitude to depression, photography to raincoats and a lot of buckets and beach balls More about Marie-Claire: Marie-Claire Ashcroft, known as the Professional Rebel, is a Self-Expression Specialist combining personal brand photography with rebel confidence facilitation for creative, unconventional, quirky, and often neuro-divergent humans. With her trademark smile and infectious energy, her background in low self-esteem and depression comes as a surprise to many, as does her inspiring personal journey. Featured in Virgin Entrepreneur, the Counsellors Directory and Standard Issue Magazine as a happiness expert, she’s helped 100s of women across the globe with her unique and intuitive approach. Clients have described her as a life changing photographer and life coach; her membership community as mind blowing; and that she helps her clients feel understood by being incredibly in tune with their needs - ‘What you do saves lives’. Website: https://www.professionalrebel.co.uk  Confidence / Self Concept Freebie: https://www.professionalrebel.co.uk/wtf-is-wrong-with-me/  Selfies Freebie: https://www.professionalrebel.co.uk/how-to-take-selfies-for-your-business-a-free-guide/  Weekly-ish pep talks: https://www.professionalrebel.co.uk/pep-talks/ Facebook (i use my personal profile): https://www.facebook.com/marieclaire.ashcroft  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprofessionalrebel/

It's not even an exaggeration to say that other humans are my biggest source of joy. And yes, I realize that this is the most obvious thing in the world, because yours probably is too (even if you classify yourself as an introvert): your friends, your favorite artists, authors, musicians, your family, your favorite podcast-host, and also random people, the guy who makes your lattes, the woman who inspired you to follow your dreams, the kid who blew you a kiss at work, all human connections and what makes life worth living. However, the ones I'm talking specifically about in this episode, are all the little moments of connection to STRANGERS. And how important they are for your brain and your outlook on the world AND the potential for new friendships ❤️ Have a listen, and see if you want to take me up on the challenge to spread more light and be open (but detatched!) to the magic of connecting to other humans... starting now. Good for your brain. Great for your heart. Amazing for the world. Win win win win win 🏅 Sign up for my Triple Treat Thursday here Muchelle B's YouTube video mentioning the book below The book mentioned : The power of Strangers Instagram @elise.aabakken

Do you suspect that you're more loved/valuable/worthy, just overall BETTER, if you're not tired? Because this still sometimes trips me up. That if I can't "give it my all" then why bother, because it's not gonna be amazing and I might as well... not. But I don't actually believe that. And knowing what I know about persistent beliefs and how we change our minds and brains to allow for more flexibility and acceptance, this your permission-slip, from one tired human to another, that you can still choose to show up when you're tired, if you want to. Because you're always choosing anyways ❤️ Book a call here Instagram Newsletter/Triple Treat Thursday sign up

Is it too dramatic to say that friends make life worth living? Probably not! One of the longest running studies from Harvard university says this: "Robert Waldinger, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, says one of the biggest surprises they encountered was that what makes people happy is also what helps keep them healthy — relationships." So if you want to be happy and healthy (who doesn't?), putting energy into the relationships and community around you, is one of the best things you can do for yourself and it also benefits those around you! You know I love a win-win-win situation ;) Joined by wonderful Vicki, we had the loveliest conversation, see more information and where to connect with her below and tune in to a vulnerable, honest, sweet, whole-hearted conversation about friendships, honesty, and the horrible (but necessary) concept of friend-breakups. Vicki Smith is a licensed psychotherapist and a coach specializing in people pleasing and perfectionism. Vicki brings both her personal and professional experience into her work by blending her time as a mindfulness meditation teacher, her extensive training in Internal Family Systems as well as her background in body-centered yoga therapy. Her work allows clients to get to know the whole of their being. And her mission is to help folks not just TALK ABOUT the life they’ve always wanted, but to actually start LIVING IT OUT! Facebook Instagram Website Free resource for youu - Unleash your authentic self ------- Elise's sweet new improved website for booking coaching calls when you're ready to be your own friend. And then you bring that honesty and energy into your friendships and relationships with other humans in your precious life. Can't wait to talk with you!

"Be your own best friend" has SUCH a cliché ring to it, but I still wholeheartedly agree that it's one of the best recommendations for a happier life. Gretchen Rubin talks about this too, that yes, relationships with others are one of the biggest keys to happiness, but also supported by your relationship to yourself! So in this episode I'm talking about where to start if you don't feel like you're being a great friend to YOU, what I do and an example of what to avoid, as well as some gushing over next weeks episode! February is turning into friendship month here on the podcast and I'm here for it, hope you are too! Book a call here Instagram here Newsletter here

One of my many many beloved jobs, so why did I stop? Sharing a lot of love for transformation and some new perspectives on makeup in this episode (a surprisingly vulnerable topic!) and I'd love to know what you think! Appearance and makeup and the visual aspect of someone is SO impactful and it's been on my mind lately, and even though there are still many paradoxes and more conversations to be had, I wanted to share this with you. Mentioned is pretty privilege, which is the tendency to judge based on appearance, also known as the Halo-Effect, link here to an article by simplepsycology.org, to learn more about this super interesting phenomenon, which I think is so important to be aware of! Let's connect on instagram! @elise.aabakken

Do you get stuck when making decisions? Even seemingly "easy" ones, like when you're decluttering? "Oooh but it's just things, this SHOULD be easy..." Blah Often, it's not a case of not knowing what to do or how to do it, but more a situation where you don't really want to be the one responsible for the decision made. For the consequences. Or (raising my hand here) not wanting to deal with what I think making that decision means about me as a person. Here is a little episode with a couple of lighthearted questions to help you practice and also, a reminder of what breaking this pattern could mean for other areas of your life and your relationships. Happy listening! Book at free connection call with me here Instagram here Sign up for emails here

Do you feel like no matter how much you get done, it's never good enough? That the moment something is finished, you either overthink it (perfectionism, I see you) or go into comparison mode, wondering if someone else is doing it better? The thing is, it doesn't really matter how much you get done or how wonderfully you do something, if it never counts! This approach of "I won't be kind to myself before it's perfect" might sound like a good idea, all disciplined and serious-adult-mode, but it is probably hindering you in moving forward at all, making even the things you WANT to do, feel like sh*t, because of how you meet yourself when you do them. I wholeheartedly believe in the HUGE part your self-kindness plays in any personal growth journey and this episode is all about that and the strict, rigid, unnecessary "rules" you might have accidentally put in place for yourself. Tune in to get a little challenge on how to give yourself credit and how to catch yourself when you make up impossibly high standards for things you want to do and accomplish. And the best part? Is that it's probably going to help you do MORE of the things you want to do! Come hang out on Instagram here Book a free 15 min call here

Another fantastic guest! Ah, I'm so excited for you to hear this conversation with Amber Abila, my friend and colleague. Hope you are ready to be pleasantly surprised by a conversation with a coach for bingeing and overeating! Because honestly? I was a liiiiittle skeptical to having food and eating and body image as a topic for a January episode, with diet culture feeling like it's EVERYWHERE after the holidays, but after chatting to Amber about her approach as a coach, what she focuses on and debunking myths around having a coach for issues around eating and food means, I knew that this was exactly how I wanted to bring this to you! Getting rid of shoulds? And stepping away from and all or nothing mindset? Feeling good and finding joy? YES to all of it! Find her bio and all links below (and also, aren't we fancy with our video episode? :D ) BIO: Amber helps women stop overeating & binge eating so they can feel normal and in control around food forever. She gets what it’s like to wonder why food feels so HARD. She had a “perfect’ life from the outside, but kept the binge eating a secret because she couldn’t figure out what was going wrong. Once she discovered the magic of coaching and learned that she just needed some simple brain rewiring tools, she started making dramatic shifts in her eating habits and life. Guided Urge Audio- ⁠https://www.theconfidenteater.org/urge⁠ Insta- ⁠https://www.instagram.com/theconfidenteater_⁠

Spot my three favorite new words... or not NEW-new, but important and reframed for your enjoyment! - Temporal landmarks like New years eve for energy and change! - Encouragement as a concept, I have fallen in love with the concept after reading it in "The courage to be disliked" - Congruence aka how your values, actions and words match to be an honest, whole, real version of you (one of my main focuses for this year, to allow more of me!) One of my absolute best decisions of 2023 was starting this podcast and I'm so grateful you're here <3 Here we go! Instagram Book a free 15 min call here Because YES I preach a lot about self-love, self-acceptance, self-allowance, but gosh knows I love getting support when I get in my own way, and coaching has changed my life, it sounds dramatic, but it's true, and having someone in your corner (LIKE ME!) can help remove some of the blocks you find you keep bumping up against, EVEN though you have all the encouraging screenshots in the world ;) And one last thing.... How INCREDIBLY satisfying that the last episode of 2023 was number 23... and the first of 2024 is episode 24? :D

You probably relate to and resonate with lot of different labels and so do I! And I believe they can be used as tools for change and be genuinely helpful, not just to put you into a restrictive box (all a matter of interpretation surprise surprise!). Listen in to hear what I think the two criterias and how much impact a newer one of mine has had. I wasn't sure I actually wanted to share this, but in the spirit of being honest and real and courageous, it's had the biggest impact on me in the past year (well, technically almost 3 years now, but especially this one) and I want to talk about it because it was SO important for me to get this information planted in my brain and maybe it can help you too <3 Happy new year my friend, I appreciate you so much!

I just found one of the best (!!!) explanations I've heard for why we shouldn't do our "best", and I wanted to share it with you, as the whole concept of "Doing your best" has been on my mind lately and annoys me more than it should. Join me for a lovely capacity rant (feel free to check out episode 19 about The Energy Budget if you want even more context for that!) and the referenced reel "How to stop burnout" was by @mind.psy.guidance on instagram, run by Morgan Starr-Riestis. My instagram @elise.aabakken

A two-for-one episode! First, a little reminder to not fix routines and habits and systems that ain't broken. Trying to reinvent something that works is rarely the most efficient use of your time and this quote always reminds me of that. Secondly, a silly exercise for when you feel stuck thinking there are only two options and a very theatre improv-y example of how there might be... a third way. (Or more)  And since my brain works like this and loves associations, these felt like they belong together because they both involve socks! ---- Want to work with your brain, grow your creative solution finding skills and develop some more playful acceptance of yourself? I'd love for you to bring your stuck-ness to me! Send me a DM on instagram @elise.aabakken and let's talk about it, my style of coaching is a perfect fit for you (if theatre improving your way through life sounds like a fun time ;) )

I love coaching! And like most things I feel strongly about, it can sometimes be really hard to explain it in a coherent way (you might be able to relate, try explaining your favorite human!). SO, this is perhaps the most honest look into my brain yet, in the first (of many probably) attempts of an explanation of how coaching came into my life, how it works, what it means to ME and all the things I love about it. Will I get emotional? Absolutely Will it be messy and enthusiastic and a bit all over the place? 100% But in the name of showing you how I am MY most ME-self, I'm allowing this honest, excited, real insight into how much this matters to me and how fascinating I find this work! Ah, the overthinking is knocking on the door, but that's the work, right? Is it everything I think about coaching? Of course not! I could speak for DAYS about it, and I also have foreeever to get more precise, concise and specific. And I hope you enjoy it my friend, grab a hot drink that will be completely cold at the end of this episode! Book a 15 min free call here Instagram @elise.aabakken Website https://www.eliseaabakkenstudios.com/ Sign up for my emails here

Are you allowed to feel tired from fun? One of my favorite metaphors and one of my favorite permission slips, all in one! Talking about the parallels of energy and time and also: how you’re totally allowed to get tired from having spent your energy budget on joyful things you really really want to do how you don’t HAVE to be at full capacity to do anything how time often equals energy and the butter equivalent and what is worth it for you to get tired for.  Would love to hear what you got out of the perspective shift in this episode! Feel free to share on Instagram @elise.aabakken :D

Lennon Bone, one of my first creative coaches, from «Stop the starving artist», his company that helps artists monetize and build community around their art online. Make a hot beverage and enjoy this heartwarming, laughter filled conversation about business and art and humans and appreciation and the magic of a voice note sent at the right time.  We talk about (amongst other things):  the gift of internet what lies beyond social media our matching core values of making people feel seen and heard how do you scale kindness?  how money could equal time finding your voice as an artist how looking backwards makes the now make more sense how business can be a tool that helps you be a better person and overcome fears one of Lennons silliest promises for value being human and doing what you can with what you have is enough the more you do something worth doing, the more you will be chastised for it.  how ANYTHING can be misunderstood by the wrong person the infinite game and checking what you’re playing for where do you put your f’s and your efforts  books! to outgrow things and letting go how tiny things unexpectedly change your life what happiness means to Lennon  a big fear when it comes to reaches new levels sitting down with a new mess and self trust  anticipation and dopamine and the pursuit vs the result  a helpful belief when engagement is low screenshots and actions to remind yourself of who you are meeting friends from the Internet in real life And of course, the top two things that makes him unreasonably happy <3  Lennon's website https://www.stopthestarvingartist.com/ Lennon's Instagram Lennon's TikTok Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@LennonPBone

Ah, the joys of overthinking someones silence... Silence is such a huge topic and I'd love to go into more and what kind of subconscious messaging is happening when we communicate and our body language and the whole "Action speaks louder than words" theory, BUT in this episode, I'm talking about a quote I think you already know and, that might, nowadays, trip you up (if you're anything like me). Join me for a little reframe of what someone saying nothing, might mean and not mean. And what to do instead of assuming silence means horrible things!

A little association exercise if you're feeling a little down and alone and your brain conveniently remembers every other situation and time in your life when you've felt this way (thank you brain, you're doing great...) And hey, you're here, and listening to this, you're automatically connected to me! There is one human connection already <3 Book mentioned "Thinking fast and slow" by Daniel Kahneman

Did I expect lessons in empathy, meal prep, more restful rest and boosted entertainment from being inspired by villains this October? Not exactly, but tune in for this roundup of my favorite learnings from this past month, why it makes sense that you don't want anything in common with villains, my LEAST favorite moment and what the focus is for November. And I hope you have a very Happy Halloween! 🎃 👻 Link to my calendar here to book a 15 min coaching call to change

I feel like self-love is one of those big concepts that feel a bit vague and abstract, and sure, if I stop and actually think about it, I totally agree! It's pretty much one of the most important things in the world, AND, I believe in the perspective of it being a verb. There is doing involved. And what might that look like, for like, a normal human person like me and you? This episode is a real life example of just that, with some actionable steps for you to consider... I'm excited for you to hear it <3 Instagram @elise.aabakken (also, you know who loves themselves? Villains! 😎 Tomorrows workshop is almost here! Link to sign up here

Tis the season! Could embracing your inner villain help you thrive? I say yes 😎 Looking at why the way you INSIST on being the hero is actually keeping you stuck in perfectionism and people-pleasing, heading straight for burnout, and what you can do about right now. The villain perspective might sound strange and counterintuitive, but this wonderfully ranty episode will make it all make sense. Or will it...? 👀 Sign up here for the Villainous workshop the 25th of October Instagram @elise.aabakken Website www.eliseaabakkenstudios.com

A trailer? Maybe! The most ambiguous, intriguing information about episode 13, so that you feel tempted to go listen to that one and incorporate more villain goodness into your life. Is it working....? 👀

Oh hi friend! Here is one of my favorite ways to let others mean, judgmental comments stay with them, instead of being something that you carry around with you and let infiltrate the way you feel about yourself. Easier said than done, I know, but check with your body how detached you feel from others assessment if they say you have green hair. Can you feel that? That distance, that "meh", that "that doesn't bother me" feeling? Yeah, knowing you CAN feel like that in the face of others comments, imagine the power to stand in someones feedback and CHOOSE how you feel and respond! Magic 🪄 Disclaimer, if you DO have glorious green hair, please substitute for another color ;) My instagram @elise.aabakken My website www.eliseaabakkenstudios.com Book a 15 min free coaching call with me here (especially if the thought of someone criticizing your green hair feels really sticky and horrible) Mentioned at the end of this episode is Tina Ethridge, @comfortandkindness on instagram (and also her website) and her podcast is called "Connected Divergents", she is amazing and I can highly recommend following her!

The spooky season has fully inspired this episode (clearly, as there is like ONE WHOLE SWEARWORD in this) and here to encourage you to embrace and include the parts of you that are harder to love, invite those to your Halloween party and also potentially the strangest thought experiment yet about a bike and a tesla. Would LOVE to know what you think about this one and if there is anything you're embracing for October! Stay tuned for news on The Thing happening at the end of the month on instagram @elise.aabakken!

A reminder borrowed from a random friend of friend a million years ago, but still true and helpful advice. Come back to this when you need a little body-check-in <3 (Also, bonus story-time, in the brainstorming of this podcast, I thought "Okay, what if I have like, drink-a-glass-of-water episodes that are like 3 minutes, drink-a-cup-of-coffee episodes that are around 10 and then maybe longer ones that are for commutes/chores/walks?" and this... is one of the water-drinking ones! Hence the short and sweet format)

I'm sure there are more eloquent and research backed definitions and descriptions of these two feelings, but this is the biggest difference for me! Also this episode makes sense as I just got back from a fantastic trip to Barcelona with wonderful humans yesterday and was both VERY impressed and SUPER inspired, and I really, truly, most of the time... want both :D www.eliseaabakkenstudios.com Instagram - @elise.aabakken Happy mail sign up here

Another sweet little "Norwegian Non-Sense" episode and in this one, you'll learn what "satisfied" literally translates to in Norwegian, because it doesn't have the same exact vibe (in my opinion) as it does in English. And more about my take on enough-ness and peace (and another perspective to try on than the most obvious reference and association, if you know what I mean)

"Love yourself" and "Treat yourself kindly" are fantastic suggestions, and how in the WORLD do we actually do that? What might that actually look like in a normal human life? Hint: it's not doubling down on bubble baths... I have a quick, easy suggestion, it doesn't take any extra time out of your day, it's simply a tip to start signalizing some more kindness, more care and (dare I say) more love to yourself.

If you also love reading and learning and growing and being reminded that you're human, these inspirational books are some of the ones that have made the biggest difference in my personal development journey, giving permission-slips and helpful perspectives to start shifting into more of what makes you happy, sparks joy and keeps you going. I'd love to know which others you'd add to the list! 1) Gretchen Rubin - The happiness project https://gretchenrubin.com/articles/25-secrets-of-adulthood-that-ive-learned-the-hard-way/ 2) Marie Kondo - The life-changing magic of tidying up  https://konmari.com/  3) Karen Walrond - The light makers manifesto  https://www.chookooloonks.com/ 

Å glede seg - The delightful Norwegian expression of joyful anticipation and how embracing this can bring you more joy, even if it’s something far away. Even something TINY can connect you to more of your joy AND FUN FACT, did you know dopamine is an anticipation chemical (not a reward one), how cool is that?!?! The first of a series (maybe?) of episodes called "Norwegian Non-sense"! Nuance in translations, expressions and meaning of different words in different languages is SO much fun to me, so stay tuned for more tiny reframes and perspective-shifts by viewing concepts we already know in another language.

If you're familiar with yoga (or any other type of stretching) you know that aggressively forcing a stretch usually either leads to injury or at least discourages you to try again, because it's so uncomfortable and painful. And then you'll walk strangely for like three days after... Enjoy this slightly chaotic episode with a bunch of easy examples and tips on how to start small, lower the threshold to get started, and make the changes you want both kinder and more sustainable. Also a reminder for me to follow my own advice and a vulnerable share of what might happen when you don't.

A little explanation as to why this isn't called the Creativity janitor podcast (even though I still proudly hold that title ;) ) and more about how I ended up here! Introducing you to my love of metaphors and imagery.

First ever episode of this new adventure! A little introduction to what this podcast will be about and basically, it's just me practicing what I preach: making it easier to do the things you want, and sharing perspective shifts, ideas and thoughts that might help you too (if you often end up on the "should" train of how to be a human). Learn more about me and what I want to share here, in a real time "Let me try this because I'm pretty sure it will add to my happiness and what I believe I'm here to do" experiment :D Come say hi over on instagram @elise.aabakken for more joy and non-sense! Watercolor classes, joy-letter sign-up, original art and coaching over at www.eliseaabakkenstudios.com