Depression - The big scourge of mankind

Dreams.

What do they mean? Could they have a real purpose? Could they show us what we really want to happen? Or could they simply give us food for though, like a little voice in our heads trying to tell us something subconciously?

As i sat down sat today and reflected upon some comments i received on my previous troll post i realized some stuff. You can read about them here. Realizing you have depression is one thing. Admitting you need help and trying to combat it is another.

But let me talk about my dreams some more. I usually have very vivid dream that usually involve adrenaline and action packed scenes. I think it is trying to tell me i need something new. I keep seeing that fuse being lit up in slow motion and the words "ignite" light up like a thousand fireworks turning the sky crimson red.

I also keep seeing that i lose my left hand from the arm and having it replaced with a metallic strong one. What could that mean? I ended up agreeing that something is removed from me and something else is forced on me. Forced but required for me to function normally. That even though i have a metallic arm, i can blend in and disguise it, but i don't fit in completely. Is that the case with me being in Sweden and the people i socialize with daily? It could be. I can blend in, but i always feel like a stranger. Because i laugh, because i am loud, because i am silly and because i am sarcastic.

I don't mind, my goal is different. However i am losing focus to that goal. Today i also realized that my source of pleasure and happiness is also the source of my depression on some extent. Meeting someone that you care for and having him/her in a whole different place is a tough thing. But it's alright.

If by any chance you followed me from the beginning until now you can see the change. Posts of happiness, meaningful, with messages and pictures that depicted a vivid world full of life in Sweden gave their place to gloomy walls of text with no purpose than my own entertainment and i lost a part of me being judgmental. I am better than that. You are all better than that. We are unique in every way and we cannot be replaced. Try to find what makes you unique.

I can see myself now. Surrounded by light, shrouded by darkness. But i am uplifted by the truth. And so will you from now on. Take my hand and we will make it.

Sit down and reassess your life. You are probably in a better position than most people. Think logical. Take me for example. I had a hard life plagued by expectations, work, sadness and pain. Yet i made it. And now i am free, i have a girl i care for and trust her with my life. I am healthy enough, i study something i like, i am in a country that (sadly in a sense) is 100 times better or more forward than my own. I have free will and time to do things i like. Yet i am depressed and i am going through some of the toughest times of my life. Shouldn't i be happy? People starve, people work for scraps and a bowl of leftovers. Yet i have so much and even though i appreciate them i was ready to give up.

Find something you like. Do it. Don't be like me. I spoke about actions not words once yet i fell victim to my own wisdom and words. Act with a capital A. Appreciate the little things. Smile more. Talk to some strangers, help someone, care for animals. Read a book or paint. Talk to a friend. If they actually care for you they will listen. Check in your local university for scholarships or grants to consult with a psychiatrist. Talk to a professional there is no taboo to that. Seek help and you shall be rewarded.

I sit in the bus and i see all those angry faces around me. I am so afraid that could be you and me one day. If you make it this far in this post read it with me loudly. Shout it if you have to:

I will NOT be one of them.

Bulletproof your dreams because this is a long ride. Even at this moment when i feel i have a huge monolith chained on my feet and i feel old and tired i shall not give up. The stress of the economic restraint i have is weighting hard on my shoulders. It's the other cause of my depression as i have limited my exits immensly. I look for constant excuses not to go out. Don't do that. Repetirar efter mig (see how i sneakily added some swedish huh):

I will go out and have fun when time allows me to and i have an opportunity or an invite from someone that i enjoy being around with.

I hope this will serve as a wake up call for some people and maybe gain some trust and faith back from anyone that is left following me here, even anonymous. I should thank "disappointed reader" first of all since he/she made me realize how far from the path i chose i have strayed in such a short time.

Maybe i will try to write some more of my dreams and try to interpret them. Even more lovely it would be if you shared one of yours and wanted my opinion or just your own interpretation of the dream. I would love to read your experiences or how do you battle depression or simply to listen. I am a good listener. And much better than the misanthrope that was depicted in the last post.

Until then, Goodnight everyone from sunny Greece.

It's Groundhog Day - Updated

Ever felt you are trapped in the same day? With the same habits, doing the same stuff over and over again, meeting (or not) the same people all day long?

Well i got a message for you.

"It's Groundhog Day".

Day after day the same things are being repeated here. It's not the pursuit for happiness anymore, it's more like the escape from depression. I don't have the motivation to write anymore a lot.

I just came back from a presentation i did regarding nuclear power. It went pretty awesome. Some others talked about how movies can be actually based on facts such as snow melting and during the questions i remember asking:

"We live in an era where Michael Bay is allowed to direct and people want to see big blockbusters, explosions and shirtless vampires. Do you really think they will pay attention to such an important meaning in the movie?".

I don't even remember the answer.
But...
......
..............
.......
"End of transmission"
.......

I have not had the time to write, nor the motivation. Oh my laptop's screen was shattered and now i am enjoying the sun in Greece before i die in -35 with my lovely girl in Finland next week. So as you can see we have hit rock bottom here. We have managed to battle depression daily, be as judgemental, sarcastic and subtle as a bull in a glass shop can be and we have also run out of interesting topics.

BREAKING NEWS: UPDATE

 

I deleted the rest of this foul post. After reading through you comments i realized some things.

A) i suck

B) i have completely lost my target and my path

C) i am so depressed and i need help

I used to write interesting things, have fun, be outside and show countless photos with friends. Thing is, they were never friends, not of the deep bond kind of friends. We were just people hanging out together and i was just tagging along. There are other things that made me like this. My inability to progress through my courses, all the studying and most of all, the economic situation that forced me to cut back on my expenses and stay at home for countless hours.

And since i don't go out often i don't have interesting things to show. I though of using my situation to my advantage and write about depression and my battle to get over it and defeat it, to maybe help others as well, to try new things.

I don't know if i can manage to do it but i will try at least starting from my next post before i go to Finland. To clear things up though, i really like Sweden and there is no remorse or ill feelings or regrets. On the other hand i am so astounded by the way people behave and how civil they are that i recommend it to everyone. You should experience Sweden at least once in your life.

My issue lies within me. I need something to ignite my light again, something good to happen so i can see things in brighter fashion.

 

Until then, see you everyone! 

Indiana skinny and the lost silvemine

Thursday 28 August 2014

It feels like impossible to express within a few pages what is actually going on here in Uppsala. And even more impossible to post all 474 photos that i have taken in the span of a week. Wow a week? I am already here for 7 days. I feel like i just returned home, let alone moved to a new country.

I will keep things more compact for now since i need to cover 2-3 days of partying and resting. Photo wise...i will think along the way.

Waking up at 7:08 i wanted to gouge my eyes out with a fork. But no, we had to make a field trip. I still didn't know where we would go but they said to be outside the faculty at 8:50. So as usual i managed to crawl outside the bed, wore my isothermic pants and shirt, got a nice warm sweater and my sneakers and i just ran to the bus stop. Oh i forgot to take food, money, my mind. Good job Kostas. Also the day was hot for my clothing so i said i will probably die somewhere from heat or a stroke or epilepsia.

With no clue what to expect i arrive at the Geocentrum and i see some collegues, we chat a bit and some more arrive. We find out we are taking a bus trip to the Sala Silvergruva, an old silver mine around 1 hour away from Uppsala.

I sat down in the front with Fabian, a guy from Chile, who is very polite and a really nice guy. He also sent me some of the first lecture material since i don't have my student account yet. Tack Fabian!

It was SO hot. I could not sleep so i took some photos and talked to Abi and Fabian and listened to some music. Phoebe was next to me sitting with the other Kostas casually talking. The Colombian coffee was somewhere behind under a skirt. Behind me i think there was Ezre who is a very kind and polite guy from Ethiopia.

We reached Sala, i took way more photos than i should and we split into teams of two, around 19-20 each. A short, skinny Indiana Jones dressed swedish man, Joel led us to grab some gear after we had a stroll in the museum, gave us some information about the mine and we started our descend to the depths of the earth, 155 meters down. With an elevator. It was fascinating seeing how old meets modern. The shaky elevator went down for 5 minutes and i felt really reassured when Indy told us that we should open the other door or we would fall to the abyss.

Indy had a torch and a nice hat and he led us through the mind, showing us the wooden reinforcements, the cracks on the wall, where people rested and ate, the tiny corridors where up to 150 people spent 12 hours a day working in hideous work conditions and 2-4 degrees Celsius.

Indiana Skinny and the lost torch.

 The guided tour was like 1 hour plus and i actually expected to feel colder. I was amazed when Indy started singing in the concert room, a place that your echo was 12 seconds long. I might upload a video of that some time. More like audio but whatever. Also i loved the rest room, where there was actually heat and i could feel my hands which were so cold from holding the flashlight. Oh funny how there was a room with a bed and a table that you could spend one night for 400 euros. Alone. In the depths of the earth. Spooky. But awesome.

We started our ascend to civilization. I was starving. We gathered around some round tables and had a great discussion with everyone, we had people from Spain, Brazil, Chile, Australia, Sweden, Greece, Netherlands, Germany. Amazing multicultural meeting. #lovesweden.

Like a picnic. Foooood!

I ate a nice wannabe-greek sandwich with wannabe-Feta again, drank a coke and felt refreshed. I changed tables with some of our swedish friends, Sanne and Evelina and afterwards we went on the bus again to complete our tour. I sat with the program coordinator Suzanne and we talked and talked until we reached our destination, which was a place in the forests we could walk in. We failed miserably since there was a no-pass sign so we turned back and took another route for like 30 minutes until the bus. In the meantime i was talking with a swedish guy, Holger, who is very cool and funny and we shared stories about football, greece, sweden, women, video games, his parents that work in China and his ankle problems.

Really atmospheric pic from the mine.

Fika time!

So we have a second round of picnic, this time with leftover sandwiches and tasty swedish cinnamon buns and cakes.

Oh i slept for 30 minutes in the bus, i was invigorated. I am an ignorant baboon so i left my ipad open and had no battery. We reached campus and some people were making a safari. Dressed and painted like cats.

Dat ass.

I managed to reach home around 5:23. I opened my laptop had a quick shower and talked to my Красивый Ангел to set up a meeting. I was dead tired. I felt i could barely move. But my desire to see her overcame my obstacles. Even if it was for one minute, i would travel to the other side of Uppsala. We set up a meeting outside Gothenburg's nation at 8:30. I am there at 8:27 like the gentleman and apparent punctual idiot that i am. I ran to the bus station, i ran to the nation so i was there in time, hoping to be greeted by that miraculous warm smile. So i stood there for 20 minutes, throwing stones and counting sheep, feeling alone and depressed thinking if i should name my next post "20 minutes in the rain". Having no phone all that kept me going were my thoughts. She finally showed up from the corner and washed all my doubts and pain away with an innocent smile and puppy eyes. Brace your self Kostas. Snap back to reality.

We decided to go to Norrlands as usual since Gothenburg was empty. She talked about her jogging today and the marathon she wants to participate. I told her outside the church there is a theater play and horses. We both love horses so she grabbed me by the hand and we raced until there. I didn't care i'd collapse later in my bed. I ceased the moment, trying to freeze it and own it (woah there eminem). We took photos with the horses, patted them and kept going to the pub.

There i was my usual crazy self and we had a blast. Everyone was so quiet and i was so loud. I started stealing people's hats. Because i can. Some girls we didn't know joined us (Alessia and Angela) and i entertained them for like 45 minutes. Then we were bored. I could get into more details about how i felt when she touched me but let's leave it at that :)

First hat i stole that night.

 Yarr, Tortuga mate, savvy?

I am a proper gentleman so i walked her home. I gave her a kiss on the cheek and walked home happy. I had a great day Uppsala.

Goodnight to you with another amazing picture taken by a black rasta man that was so impolite and angry that i asked him to take a photo of us. Thank you kind sir. Depression suits you well.

Me and my new friends.

Flicka - Story of a boy and his dog

July 27th 2012.

They had been waiting for that call for one month now. He had a hunch that today was the day. Just came back from work, gave her a massive hug, a kiss on the cheeks and they laid down together on the bed daydreaming.

Phone rings, hearts racing, feet trembling with anticipation. He checks his phone. The number ends at 007. It was him. The man that was trusted to bring them their puppy one month ago.

"Hey Kostas! Why don't you come over at my place today at 15:00 so i can give you a present?", he said cool as a cucumber.

"Right on Mr. Panagiwths, be right there!", he replied.

She didn't hear him, for he had escaped in the kitchen to make it a surprise.

"Get dressed Alyx, we are going somewhere to pick up something!", he said assertively.

She wears her jeans and a shirt and they get in the little red KIA picanto. He reverses and starts climbing up the hill. The house was only 500 meters from their's. The little car struggling to climb, the coughing engine a sign of the miles it had devoured over the years. But they did not care. She starts to understand where they are going and grips firmly her seat and his hand.

They park outside the big steel gate. He pulls the handbreak, closes the doors and they hit the doorbell. The house is massive. It is beautiful and has a massive garden, green with trees and a little shed at the right. Next to the house is a big fence with at least 20 dogs inside. Guard dogs, ready to protect their property.

The house door opens and they see a big man coming towards us. He is holding something in his hands but they cannot see, for he has it behind his back. She holds his hand so tight it has turned red and ready to burst. But they don't care. This is the moment they have been waiting for, the last seed of their love, sown. It would seal their happiness, or spell their doom, as it turned out. The aftermath reminds me stories of prodigy, of people destined for great success, only to turn out bad, bringing death and destruction. But they also bring the need for rebuild.

The man lets them in the garden. They hear a squeek, a tiny little bark.

"I have something for you!", Mr. Panagiwths says.

And he leaves on the ground the cutest little puppy in the whole world. The living, breathing organism that would be both his happiness and bane, the thing he would love and loathe the most in the world after a few months time.

Naming her Flicka 2 years before i knew i would move to Sweden..coincidence? Or Fate?

She just hobbles around the dirt, trying to walk. She was only 8 weeks old. The feeling was indescribable. Alyx picks her up and the tree of them move to the pier on the left of the house. They sit on a bench made of rock, and a servant brings little Flicka a plate with rice and chicken. She is not leaving our side. She has big fluffly ears for her size and they soak with chicken as she dives hungrily in the plate of food. She is golden, shining bright like the sun, with a silky pink tongue, big round puppy eyes and skin so soft to the touch. They were in for a rollercoaster of emotions.

The breeder tells them the details, solves all of their early questions and they sign the contract. He pays him the rest of the money and put little Flicka in her transport cage. Hands holding, they walk calmly towards the car into their new home. The cutest bark, if you can call that a bark, shatters the silence of the mountain air. They were so happy.

And this was the beginning of the end...

Losing the path and regaining focus

This month was very important to me. The first hurdle to achieving my DCA (Definite Chief Aim) was overcome. I have been through some tough times lately, both physically and mentally, and the only thing that keeps me going is the fact that i am actually moving in Sweden in less than 4 months time. Great.

I also realized that i started this blog too early, or maybe that i gave it the wrong name, or chose the wrong subject. I always had a passion for writing but right now i simply do not have the energy to write multiple blogs while posting quality articles. I simply do not have many solid experiences of Sweden yet to write these kind of posts every day for 4 months and relying on myths or others does not reflect my idea of blogging about preparing to live there, hence i integrated some different things so far that pop into my head randomly or i just feel the need to write about (like the previous posts about my diary).

This does not mean that i will not post anything about Sweden or that i will turn this blog into an outburst of my sentiments, but i will definately talk about multiple topics.

I was watching The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug today and near the end the leader of the group had lost all focus, he was blinded by greed and revenge and he almost turned his back on his friends. 

Feeling dwarved by your problems?

It became clear to me that i was stuck in the same mindset. The boost i received from my admission was gone and i was back in my routine. So i use this post to regain focus and composure, as you should do too. I am watching this blog slowly grow and i never expected these kind of results only one month after its release. The next step would be to get my first subscriber, or my first comment on one of those posts, which would mean that someone actually cares to read what i have to say.

We should also see setbacks and minor issues as water off a duck's back, as we usually make small problems sound enormous while we are in a much better situation than most people.

• I have a good enough job, while around 30% of Greece is unemployed.
• I have a few good friends i care about and they care about me a lot.
• I am learning russian right now, something that fills me with joy and pride.
• I got accepted in a major university in Sweden to advance and kickstart my career.
• I am independant, healthy and perfectly capable of supporting myself.
• I am not the most stupid gorilla in the jungle.

Where is this going? Savor the small things.

People here say too often "Let's go for a coffee". They find a cozy place to sit, they open up their smartphones and one-two hours pass without them exchanging more than a few words. That is sad and reminds me on how we can just eat our food while surfing the web. We don't even taste the food, we just robotically do it. Reminds me of today's replay of "Fun with Flags", by Dr. Sheldon Cooper. 

You...are....a....robot....

So next time you are outside, think about the nature or the beauty that surrounds us, spend a real moment to talk to your friends and understand their problems, do not multitask while eating. Do not be a robot.

This is the next person that will add my friend Eva in Facebook.

Happiness is a horse

As you have probably noticed, i have been writing lately parts of my memoirs, fragments of a diary i kept for almost five years, spanning an incredible 852 pages. A friend of mine joked recently that i should make a movie and we will win a Cannes festival golden phoenix. And because the days and the date right now are special for me, i will write a bit more of that instead of all things swedish. And i prefer that instead of forcing my self to write about a topic that is not in my thoughts right now and will not satisfy me or have the desired impact.

This fragment shows how to keep a relationship alive and interesting, with small spontaneous gestures that go a long way and will be remembered for life. There is no need for a sleight of hand or to be able to pull a rabbit out of the hat every time.

This is so true.

Two painful months had passed and it was time for them to meet again. Living 300 miles apart means a relationship is tested on a daily basis. And making the most out of your scarce meetings.

It was a cloudy December day in Mytilene, and he was driving to the airport in a rented blue Kia Picanto. The engine was coughing by the frequent use, the right window was malfuctioning and the seats were uncomfortable. I remember the licencing plate was 3562.

As he was driving along the coast to the airport he was gazing at the sky, looking for an airplane, knowing that she would be inside and they would finally hug and let go of all things evil. Everytime they were together it was like they were engulfed in a magic bubble, a divine shield that repelled everything bad, evil, washed all their problems like a shower purifies your skin and body.

He finally arrived and went eagerly in the waiting room of the airport.

"The flight from Thessaloniki to Mytilene airport has just arrived", the announcer said.

The machine that brings the luggage starts working and he starts looking around for signs of Alexandra. Five minutes pass, and there she is. Cute and sweet, as he remembered her, wearing her trademark jeans and shoes and her black casual jacket, dragging a massive suitcase like she brough her entire furniture along. But he was used to it, and most importantly, he did not care.

They hug for a minute, time stops, emotions like a meteor shower. They kiss like it's their first time. He picks up her suitcase and she follows him to the car. She looks so happy. He looks happier. He always did untill the end.

I felt like this everytime we met for almost five years.

They get in the car, it's around 6:43 and he waits for the road to clear to turn left. He takes a longer time because he does not want anything bad to happen to her.

"It's clear come on, let's go!", she giggles, making light fun of him.

"I never want anything bad to happen to you, that's why i wait", he replies calmly.

She silences and looks at him with that look that say's "I love you", and he starts driving back. His hand always reaching out for her's, changing gears together. One day he would teach her how to drive.

Two miles from the airport he see's a sign on the left. It reads "Aiolos Horses". He has an injection of adrenaline and excitement. She hadn't seen the sign. He turns left, the road was small for one car, little houses scattered left and right, white with tiny roofs and flowers surrounding the upcoming forest. He see's a sign to move right, then left, then up the hill inside the forest. They come at a crossroad and he follows his instincs and turns left again. He feels a little lost, there are expensive houses and protection dogs around. But he keeps going for 500 meters and suddenly the ground changes from tarmac to rocky with a lot of dirt. He goes really slow but he can sense that they are getting nearer.

Then they hear it. A commanding neigh. Her blood freezes. Her senses tingling, trying to absorb any information. She is not sure if what she heard is real or just a product of her long desire. She hadn't been near horses for 15 years, and from what she told him and seen through pictures, she was a natural. He made her a promise back then, that he would take her once again to see her favorite animals. And he would keep all of his promises...

He drives around the bend and they witness an amazing little stable with 4 horses, one of them a really small one. The other two, majestic. A real stallion called Demis and a mare called Annie a pinto horse that reminded me of a cow. They were a joy to behold. It was sunday so the stable was closed, but i picked up the number near the gate when two beautiful german shepherd dogs started barking protectively. We would come back the next day. She was crying the whole ride home, holding his hand firmly. He felt so special and he never wanted to let her go. He wanted to be there for her and present the opportunity to do everything she never could but desired. Financial problems can be a bitch.

We would come back many many times.

She though that they went there just to see the stable. So next morning he arranged a meeting in secret with the owner to have a journey through the forest untill the hilltop.

"Get ready we are going somewhere", he says assertively.

Her heart starts pumping with anticipation not knowing what she will encounter but she feels sheer excitement and passion when she sees the familiar road leading to the stable.

He parks, locks the car. The ground was a bit muddy from last night's rain, but it felt more natural. Stavros, the owner, comes and greets us and opens the small steely grey door. She immediately starts observing the area, as she always did when she was in a new uknown place, trying to acclimatize. Then she let out a shriek and galloped towards the horses, patting them, hugging them, sobbing and full of excitement and happiness.

 Saddam had just arrived from Holland.

He was a little afraid but once he got on top of the horse he felt more comfortable. She jumped on it like not a single day had passed and proceeded to the nearest exit. They started their mountain climb. The smell of fresh air was invigorating, forests, horses, stables everywhere, little runlets and streams sprouting out of the rocks.

Much more comfortable

         He looked a bit out of sorts.

After around 50 minutes they arrived at the top, took pictures and gasped at the scenery. Breathtaking. Then they started their descent, but from a different road, making it even more exciting.
Back at the stable, she did not want to leave. She looked with melancholy, but speaking into their souls. Then hugs him and he reassures her they will be back.

Poor thing was injured.

On the way home, she stares outside the window, their hands never let go on the whole trip.

"You are the best thing that has ever happened to me", he says.

"I will never leave you and our love will stay strong through the ages", words spoken with passion, desire and love.

And she looked outside the window again, reliving her dream day.

Driving along the coastline.

Happiness Is a Serious Problem

Thursday 3/4/2014

I read a post about human longevity and it gave me some serious food for thought. We live way more than our ancestors did, and way more than most people do in 3rd World countries, all that in anno 2014. Yet we have some serious issues.

One of them is the lack of happiness. I currently live in a country struck by the economic crisis, where unemployment and corruption flourish and there seemes to be no ray of light at the end of the tunnel. For the past 15-20 years i have had a tough time, especially during 2012-2013. But i never lost hope, nor the desire to regain my composure and chase my goals.

Plastic friends are everywhere, they only know how to have fun and drink, but once you ask them for help or to do something new, something interesting, they bail out and throw any kind of excuse right in your face.

"Hey Maria (random name), let's go horse riding this weekend."
"I can't Kostas, i have no money, work at uni/school"

Same night you can find Maria and co. at the local club dancing her ass off and throwing 20 euros per night.

Yet you witness them in the nightclubs and cafe's, where people are meant to socialize and actually have a good time:

1. Get smartphone out.
2. Check in location including all friends.
3. Write that you are having a blast.
4. Wear your fake smile and take selfies.
5. Sit in the corner like a statue.

Now that's what i call fun. Let's throw a picture for the sake of it.

Seriously?

Let's not talk about their attitude when you try to approach them, or the male orbiters that pray and eye-stalk every good looking woman in the place.

PS. Orbiter: A guy or group of guys that surrounds women with no purpose or use, he just exists. Also known as beta male or AFC (Average Frustrated Chump).

So how do we combat this plague?

Unless you are willing to make an actual effort and you are not just a man/woman of words but action you can turn your life into something purposeful, that fulfills you, brings you joy and overcomes your depression.

Notice when you want something really bad and you make it your goal to get it even if it sounded impossible for you at the moment? You need a DCA, a Definite Chief Aim to be able to achieve your goals. You need to know what you want, where you want to be and a plant to make it happen. Of course we are talking about realistic targets most of the time (Napoleon Hill, The law of success).

 

Not like this.

The same book covers some interesting topics, though his obsession with Henry Ford being the most powerfull human on Earth and the USA being the greatest country in the world (not objecting, it just gets repetitive). 

It also promotes self-talk and self-suggestion, which is a really powerful tool that we usually use wrongly. Instead of telling ourselves every morning that we are the best, that we are beautiful, that we can achieve our goals, we downgrade ourselves, and our self-esteem plummets to Hades. Employers talk a lot about powerful communication being a perk, they forget that it is not only important to be able to communicate with others, but also to have a discussion with yourself.

Do activities, embrace your fears, face them, travel, talk to strangers. I started volunteer work, helped animal shelters, started learning Russian, travelling etc.

I will get back to that later sometime, let's some things up:

• Get a Definite Chief Aim.
• Brainstorm plans to achieve your goal and work towards them.
• Engage in different activities.
• Talk yourself up (in your head, write it down etc)
• Self suggestion. Powerful tool, seriously use it.
• Leave your smartphones somewhere. Seriously.
• Have fun.

That's it for now, will post in a few days time, not sure if it will be about Sweden but i am doing a post (in the works) titled "A Fool with a Plan can Outsmart a Genious with No Plan"

Cheers, have a great night and remember to smile!