Hallo everyone 🥰 thank you for watching and being here with me! I would love to hear about your experiences, have your dreams changed over the course of your life? Or maybe, as in my case, you've found your way back to a dream you had long ago that was right all along?
I used to want to be big shot with all that goes with it : promotions, bonuses, assets, lots and lots of friends, drinks after work, ... but it wasn't what really made me happy. Now Im retired, and my days might consist of, going to the local library, shopping for food and prepping healthy meals, urban hiking, going to church. I dont "people" so much now, preferring my own company. but it works.
Thank you so much for sharing your journey and thoughts 🙏 I really believe it's so helpful to learn from each other and listen to others experiences. It makes me happy that you seem to enjoy retirement ☺
The algorithm put your video in front of me so I’ll add a comment. One Danish philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard said that true contentment is not found in material wealth but in a state of inner satisfaction and peace. He suggests that even the smallest amount of contentment in a person who has little is worth more than all the riches amassed through greed. One of the apostles, Paul, said “godliness with contentment is great gain”. Both of these individuals seem to back up what you are saying, namely that mindful living doing the things important to each one of us adds more value to life than chasing after great riches! Thank you for your message.
Thank you for taking your time to share! I really appreciate it 🙏 I believe that if we don't complicate our lives too much, and focus on what we have, we are happier.
@@JacquelineWester You’re welcome, Jacqueline. Thanks for covering such an important topic! Here are a couple more things that can improve happiness: 1. Enjoying the moment 2. Feeling contentment or satisfied 3. Growth mindset 4. Social connections 5. Being an agent of one’s happiness, do not make it dependent on another person 6. Having a dream or purpose 7. Health and well-being 9. Inner enrichment over material satisfaction 10. Positive outlook
During my 40+ years of my adult life, I learned that life is full of many different phases. And each phase has its expected "speed" as well. For example: During college years, I lived down town, took subways, ran wide open. During my first years of work, its was "go-go-go" speed. This is normal speed being age 25 and working towards a better future life. Today, I'm retired, live in a country bush and am defending the same trees I tried to "pave over" when I worked (many years ago). Long mumblings short... We all go through different phases, different environments and different speeds in life. This is normal life....
The biggest thing that i hate about life is how competitive everyone is and is encouraged to be since birth. Everything revolves around standing out as an individual and developing talents that you can then sell in the "market place". What if you derive the most joy out of cooperating with people you enjoy being around, instead of wasting your entire life in a job that you hate? I don't really want success, i just want to be able to do whatever i want without worrying about money. The constant worry cripples me and makes it so i don't want to do anything when i do have free time. The world just seems like an utterly cold inhuman place. It wasn't made for a person like me, but for somebody else. Somebody i fundamentally can't relate to.
I can relate to what you're saying and when people ask me what I want to do I always say "whatever I want". I feel like a stubborn 3-year-old, but it's how I feel 😂 It's not easy but I think we will be better off trying to shift our mindset to focusing more on what we have instead of what we don't have, and I feel like when I put my energy towards implementing how I want my life to be I feel better and even if it doesn't change the world, it changes things in my proximity at least.
@@JacquelineWester It means you are an Empath. An empath is a person who has an enormous capacity for empathy towards the rest of humanity. It is of course a wonderful personality trait in and of itself. But it can devastate you if you do not control it. Your capacity for empathy towards humanity means that you absorb everyone else's pain, and naturally this can be exhausting and can overwhelm you. You sometimes find yourself urgently needing to leave a crowd situation and to go somewhere immediately (usually your own home) where you can re-connect with your own energy/soul again. Being an Empath means you are so tuned into other people's energy that you can easily get a good or bad vibe (short for energy vibration) from another person. You sense that you can read a person very well after only a few minutes - sometimes only a few seconds. You can also tell in advance how people will react, and even what they will say, within specific situations. You keep a lot of this to yourself because you feel others will think you're crazy if you share this information. The journey of an empath can be a lonely journey if you measure it in society's terms. But it is also the least lonely life journey because you are more closely linked to the universe than the vast majority of people who have ever lived. This is because empaths have the rarest type of personality on Earth. It's all about energy, and here's what Tesla famously said about energy: "If you want to understand the Universe, think energy, frequency and vibration." 🌷🌷💚🌷🌷
I figured out what true happiness is at a very young age. With 15, I believed that living a simple life connected to nature, going on adventures once in a while is what is perfect for the quiet sensitive artistic soul that I am. But it also lead to the feeling of missing out. Everyone my age was out with big friendgroups, partying, having fun while I felt like an outcast. I thought that I have to stop my dreams and try to fit in by buying useless stylish clothes and so on, ignoring the fact that I actually yearn for something else. Now that I finished school years ago and distanced from my generation, I realise that my beliefs and thoughts were right all along and that there was nothing wrong with my way of thinking, that I should have never doubted my mindset just because everyone else seemed to have other experiences. Because everyone else seemed to have different dreams. Thank you for sharing this video, you earned another follower! I hope one day I will live a simpler life as well ♥
I think the part of our brains that react so primitively to the risk of not fitting in is hard to ignore, especially when you're young. The herding effect is so strong and primal. I think it's really something we have to actively practice, to dare moving down the path that is right for us. And most of the time we find others who have done the same. We're rarely as unique as we may think, which is a good thing! 😍 there's others to join, one "just" have to find them.
I'm glad you doubted your mindset. Because life is a journey of growth and inner discovery, and your doubts led you to branch out on that journey so that you could have experiences outside of your comfort zone. You grew a lot during those years of trying to fit in with your peers. Your life would not be so rich now, and your capacity for empathy would probably not be so strong now, if you had not experienced the events of those difficult years. I sense you are north European (I am in Ireland). Many (maybe even most) north Europeans are naturally drawn to nature and an inner mystical life journey. In Sweden the majority of households are now one-person households. And in Germany it is approaching 50%. This is good because it means more people are starting to live authentic lives, true to themselves and their true needs, and not just conforming to society's conventions because it is considered "normal" to do so. Hopefully society will soon catch up with these new patterns of living and start treating simple solo-living as an equally valid preference. But in the meantime it is great that people are becoming less afraid to live the life that fits their personalities and their path to growth. Sending you much love and best wishes from across the waves in Ireland. 👍☘💚
@@helenaville5939 That sounds interesting, I didn't know so many are living by them selves up here (I live in the north of Sweden). But I can absolutely relate to the longing of the forest and being drawn to the mystical parts of ones inner life 🥰
Working full time, driving to work, and going to the office every day wears me out. By the end of each day after work I feel so exhausted. Then doing household chores and my spouse and child take the rest of energy that I have left. I'm only in my 40's and I want to slow down. I'm ready to work from home to eliminate some of the exhaustion I feel after work. I just want to live my life calm and slow.
Yes I can really relate to what you're describing. It's how life looks for many, it's all just work-family-household, and then you're done. I do believe there are both big and small things one can do in order to shift how one spends energy and time. I hope you find your way to turn your life in a slower direction 💕
Have you ever met or seen someone so humble they are not even aware of it as they go about their business and you cannot help but break down in tears sobbing trying to hold it back so not to cause a scene but you are just so consumed by that person's meek humble of soul and that person catches a glimpse of you and reaches out to help not knowing what the problem is and you just scramble off to embarrassed to say anything?
They say humility is a superpower, and that person must have it in spades! Some souls one meets on this journey through life is just able to touch us in a special way 💕
I just bought my first piece of land where I can build my future home somewhere much quieter than the big city and honestly I find more things to do surrounded by nature than in the city where it’s just about consuming.
@@JacquelineWester I’m not so sure yet hopefully within 5 years I can have the house built and completed. Right now I’m just happy to have finally purchased a piece of land to make it happen. From raw land to a new house will be very fascinating to see become a reality!
Oh yes, I don't have any experience developing land but from what I understand it's really hard work. I do think you're off to a great start, only by giving yourself a reasonable time frame to do this project 😊
I'm at the point of life where I'm expected to choose a career. I know I'm very young and don't know much about life but honestly who does? I've seen older people being petty and unhappy and younger ones being wiser. I want to live life feeling every moment. Even if it's joy, content, sorrow, anger, I want to feel and experience it all deeply. I really want to live a simple and meaningful life reading books, petting dogs, sipping hot coffee. But the people around me (i love them with all my heart) want me to be more focused on my career. I really don't know what to do about it.
I can really empathize with how you feel 🫶 I believe there are few things wrong with the notion of career and performance many have today. First of all the idea that you chose ONE career and that’s what you’re going to do for the rest of your work life is absurd. How are you supposed to know what you want to work with for that long? It’s impossible and puts unnecessary pressure on that decision. You are allowed to change your mind ❤️ Secondly the focus on career as the main thing you pursue in life, as if it will define you. For some that’s accurate and they feel great meaning in having a heavy career focus. And for some it’s not as important and they’re happy working with what ever to pay the bills and then fill their time with other things. Going against the grain can be difficult. But often worth it 🥰 finding a community that values and strive for the same things is also very helpful!
"Even if no one else in the world notices it" - Hey that sounds like my RU-vid channel haha! There's so much to do in this life, and a strong desire to live to the fullest with no regrets. But I agree that doesn't mean you have to do *everything*. Blessings
Haha I feel you, if getting one's work seen is a goal it can be really frustrating to put in the effort for that to happen and yet nothing happens. I've been helped quite a bit watching VidIq www.youtube.com/@vidIQ (I know my channel isn't big either, but anyway 😂 )
I grew up in a big city, Brooklyn, NY but I’ve had life experiences in many places, including living surrounded by lakes and countryside. There is a vibrancy and energy in larger cities that still excites me. We now choose to live our lives close to our grandchildren, in two very different localities. Big cities offer experiences that the quiet countryside just doesn’t. I love to see art, culture, food, and shows. Walking in a large city is invigorating and energizing amongst the millions of people. This year I spent time in Bangkok and KL, last year it was India, between discovering the food and culture, I can appreciate more people on this amazing planet.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences 😍 It sounds wonderful to live close to your grandchildren, it must be so rewarding to see them grow up 🙏
hello Jacqueline Wester, your shoot is awesome, your explanation is too crisp. I am from India and we are thousands of miles away but, with the help of your videos, we toured your native place . I can't express the happiness of virtual tour , Its like a we are on the planet where calmness, peace, heppiness, joy, nature, and all other things of joy and happiness are available with your caps.😊😊 Simply, I also invite you to tour my nation, Here all the predominant season like Winter, Summer, Rainy seasons are available at my native place.....Thanks for eminent works.....🎉 will keep continue....😊
I wanted that as a kid growing up for my adult life, slow forward, nearly 70 y/o finally got it. Left out all the drama and stress that my ex in-laws brought in.
Hey Jacqueline, nice little video there and you sound/remind me of a female 'Einzelganger'! (look him up on here if you've not heard of him). You also sound like you're most likely a HSP (Highly Sensitive Person). I'm one too, around 20% of the population are in fact 🙂
Thank you wow, I checked him out and I can't see it as anything else than a huge compliment, som thank you! 🙏 and oh yes I definitely consider myself a HSP 😊
@@JacquelineWester I just rechecked his channel. I watched his current release, shortly after yours, yeterday. It was titled ' walking away' . The precious release was a similar theme. His channel says regulated under Dutch authority, but he did mention moving to Germany in last show. The likeness is eerie. He has over 2million subscribers, so keep doing what you are doing ✌😁. I am Aussie, so all a bit blended up there to me, but I do think the German accent is much stronger than His and Yours. Willing to be wrong. Take care and wishing you the BEST!
There is a difference between what you actually need to be happy and your susceptibility to a sense of happiness - even for "ordinary" things. The less the latter is developed, the more you're likely to always want more. And then there's hedonistic adaptation: the "dull with excess" problem. I wouldnt diss setting goals and aspring to achieve but not to an extent of becoming neurotic.
Thank you that’s so interesting! 😍 yes I agree, setting clear intentions and goals for one’s life journey and the endeavors one embarks upon sure is useful
@@JacquelineWester I am very happy for you to have discovered what simply works best for you. There are plenty of ppl out there who only discover their "true purposes" well beyond their 40's. And still, there are those who actually _do_ feel perfectly happy in a more materialistic lifestyle. Find yourself and what suits you, if it works, it works. Wish you all the best.
@@JacquelineWester I take one step after one step... It always works for me..... I am trying to renovate what I own and then sell and see what happens.... Fortunately there are beautiful places around athens... Your Chanel helps a lot
Yep totally. Been there, done that. Totally soooo overrated! Moved out to the ends of the earth into the calm, peace and quiet with just the right amount of basic fascilities to more than full fill my basic needs and slow existence in 100% presence! for the first time in my life i am present for myself for my life.
@@JacquelineWester Hahaha the opposite of you. You live close to the Arctic, I live close, and I mean the final expedition flight hop to the Antarctic ;) We are alike in that way. Thanks for asking and your response. Much appreciated.
Oh thank you so much, that makes me so happy to hear! 😍 That's exactly what I want to create, room for thoughts and listening in. Everything can't come nicely wrapped with a bow on top, which isn't as nice to hear as "5 quick fixes for [insert problem]". A way forward will present it self in one way or another and maybe we even have to leave some things behind "unsolved".