Dream Journey #2

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." - Harriet Tubman

In my last post I promised to give you some simple practical tips how to go on with Your Dream Journey. First off, do not give up on your dreams - that picture of the future you want to live in one day! 

Dreams carry hope&life and that´s why they are so powerful. Though, we all know people that have given up on their dreams for one reason or another. They most likely try to talk you out of them(especially if you are crazy dreamer and believe in the impossible), but don´t listen to them. Some people just haven´t had the guts to step into the unknown, they´ve become too bitter because of their own failures(though if you let, failures can also be used for good). And the fact is, not everybody is going to like it, especially if you start something completely new and risky. But without risks, you never know what could have happened. What if you succeed? What if what you dreamed of changes the world for the better and inspires others? What is the worst thing that could happen if you failed - At least you tried and left your mark in this world! It´s time to think outside of manmade boxes and dream.

In the Dream Journey, we need to take the steps to get where we want to be. Easy steps are: dream - write them down - do an action plan - execute. Of course there may be dreams that require supernatural intervention and that is where God comes in the picture(it is a lot easier, if you start dreaming with Him already from the beginning :)). It may not look the same for you as for me, since it depends on what your dreams are. If one of my dreams is to keep Dream Workshops, there´s a lot of preparing, organizing and advertising to do. I need to know what I´m talking about as well. And don´t wait for other people to do it for you, unless if it´s something you can´t carry on at all on your own. It´s also important to change the course of your life, if it´s not taking you where you want to be(I´m talking to myself too, haha). Many people don´t want to step out from their comfort zones - of their "secure" lives, because it require changes. Change is evitable, because progress in anything is impossible without change. Like Norman Vincent Peale said, "Change your thoughts and you change the world", it all starts from the inside. Cultivate positive and encouraging thoughts - it will take you far in your Dream Journey!

In case if it´s challenging for you to get hold of your dreams, here are some ideas to get you thinking(from Dream Culture by Andy and Janine Mason):

Creative dreams: Write songs/do music, inspire people through art
Big dreams: Become a president, end global poverty, find cures for deathly diseases
Fun dreams: Ride in a hot air balloon, skydiving
Things to be: A source of wisdom to those around me, physically fit
Things to have: My own business, my own home
Things to do: Graduate from college, climb a mountain
Financial dreams: Become debt free, grow many sources of income
Emotional dreams: Overcome fear, restore a broken relationship
Family dreams: Get married, be the best mother/father you can be
Spiritual dreams: See creative miracles, live from love
Places to visit: See the seven wonders of the world
The thing you want to be remembered for: Love, empowering others
The gifts you want to give: Start an orphanage in Africa, give a million dollars at one time

If you would be interested in attending a Dream Workshop with me, contact me. Teaching and activating in the Dream Workshops would obviously be more profound(everything will flow from a spiritual aspect btw). What I´ve been sharing here just scratch the surface. There´s so much more to Dreaming than what I can summarize here! Why I want to keep these Dream Workshops, is because one of my crazy dreams is to see everyone to walk out their dreams(and I mean the kind of dreams that bring forth life&hope), for every person to thrive and live in their full potential. :)

About my outfit! The dress is from Marimekko. I really like Marimekko´s clothes, because the fabrics are high quality(like this dress is 70% silk) and because of the graphics. Shoes are from Diesel.

I hope this post inspired you to dream! :)

Intricately yours,

Marjo














Photos by Tim Kiukas

Dream Journey #1 

"Dreams are seeds of possibility planted in your soul, calling you to pursue a unique path to the realization of your purpose." -John Maxwell

A couple of years ago while I was studying in California, one of our assignments was to write down at least 50 dreams. I thought the assignment was completely crazy then. Nobody had challenged or encouraged me to dream before that. I remember I had some dreams in the back of my mind since I was a young kid, but I never dared to dream big. Why I am telling you the following story, is because I believe we all have had dreams inside of us already when we were small. What were you dreaming of when you were little? What were the things you enjoyed doing in your childhood? Maybe they point out to your dreams.

When I was a little girl, my mom took me to a Conservatory to play instruments. For some weird reason I ended up playing drums and I didn´t really like it, but I wanted to please my mom(fear of man..! Read my last post and you´ll know what I mean by that). It seemed so important for her, so I continued. I didn´t want to let her down. One time I hand´t practiced at all and wouldn´t it be, my teacher smelled like he had been drinking vodka for many days in a row... you can only imagine how a little girl felt by his stinking breath and drunken behavior. After that lesson I wanted to quit, but didn´t have the guts to tell my mom about it. I don´t remember what happened to the teacher not long after the incidence. But I got a new teacher, who was really cool. I got inspired by him and because of his enthusiasm I kept going there. Sadly, that teacher died in cancer. After that, I got offered to change my instrument to piano, which I actually had always wanted to play. So I started to take piano lessons. During those years of classical training, I also started to play the piano spontaneously and compose my own songs. That was what I loved to do. I loved to flow and I still do. And even with the negative experiences, without them, I wouldn´t be the same. They also shaped me to be who I am today.

Later on growing up I started to write my own songs and my dream was to make music one day. I actually applied to pop&jazz conservatory to study music, but didn´t get in. They only took one there and I knew the person that got in, she was a better fit. I didn´t have pop&jazz theory down at all and I wouldn´t have been ready either. Even though I didn´t get in, the evaluators at the school told me to apply again and continue singing, they told me I had a gift. I never applied there again. Nowadays I don´t even believe you necessarily have to go to a school to learn the things you want to(and don´t get me wrong, for some professions you of course have to get a degree in order to do what you want to). Finland is a very degree-oriented country, but to be excellent in the field of arts, you don´t necessarily need a diploma. It all depends on you, what you want to achieve. Schools can give you opportunities and connections, but if you really want to achieve something especially in the field of arts, a lot does depend on what you are going to do about it yourself. It requires effort. I haven´t recently been actively pursuing this dream of mine, making music, but I´m getting there little by little again. A couple of years ago I released an album and that was one of my dreams coming true! But man...it took a lot of energy, planning, time, money etc. What I´m trying to say, is that everything costs you something and most of the times when pursuing our dreams, there will also be obstacles on the way. Many people turn their backs on their dreams because it may seem too hard to get there. But they don´t realize that every obstacle can also be a wonderful opportunity and I believe we can learn from everything. I guess the better we understand the journey to our dreams and what God is doing in our lives in the midst of it, more unlikely we give up on our dreams.

The people you surround yourself with is a major key to getting where you want to be too. It is vital to find like-minded people/community that you can run with. I want to be an inspiration to the people around me. I believe that every person we encounter, can have a radical impact on our lives(as well as we can radically impact others) and I hope you find those people that inspire you and challenge you to be the best version you can be. Remember, this world needs what you carry inside of you - your dreams to become reality! In the next post I will continue with the Dream Journey and share some practical steps. So stay tuned!

About my outfit! I found this dreamy fur hat from a thrift store and I love it! The dress is from the Other Stories and don´t you agree it goes so well with the hat?! My coat is not real fur, just so you know. ;)

Wishing you a dreamy week!

Intricately yours,

Marjo

Photos by Tim Kiukas

Overcoming fears

In this post I really want to share my heart and dig a little deeper.

We all have been there - different fears whispering to our ears; fear of failure, fear of man, fear of rejection.. just a few to mention and the list goes on and on. But why are we afraid of what people even think of us? What does it matter if I fail? What then if everybody doesn´t like what I do? Many times we don´t start or do things, because we are afraid and let fears dictate our lives. But when you imagine a kid trusting her loving Daddy, she isn´t hesitant of trying out new things or afraid of failure. She knows she is Loved and accepted even if she would fail. That should be our way of thinking as well. There´s nothing we should be afraid of, if we trust we are being cared and loved for.

I´m still in the process of getting rid of even the last bit of fears in my own life and this is also one of the reasons why I started blogging again. Not only that I want to inspire you through fashion and all things beautiful, my desire is to bring hope and freedom to you as well. Most of you, my dear readers, hear this from me here for the very first time. I´ve been battling with different fears for many years and just recently got freedom from a lot of them. I haven´t been talking about this to too many people and I guess there has been a fear of what people think of me considering this subject as well.

Since my inner processes started, a lot has shifted and I really don´t want to let any fears dictate my life anymore. Many times we are not aware and even realize what we are been led by. Most people don´t realize they´ve been "bound" by a fear until they are free from it and that happened to me. I wasn´t aware I listened to f.ex fear of man(always wanting to please people, everyone to like me etc.) since I was so used to it. It robbed me from living to the fullest and others around me as well. If something becomes "familiar" to you, it´s easy to listen to it. But that isn´s how it should go. All of us should be completely free to be who we are and enjoy life, without fears limiting our lives, right? If there are any fears that affect your thinking, it´s not worth listening to them, since they only rob you. And I´m talking about the kind of irrational fears I mentioned. Fears are thoughts that try to affect our thinking and if we let them dictate our mind, our life can become only a small portion of that potential we could be. I bet you agree with me on this; It is so important to take every thought captive and only let life-giving thoughts to your mind. Have you ever heard of a battlefield of mind? Most battles happen in our mind but let´s not give in to the fears!

I´m a firm believer of great Love that came to bring freedom to us all and His name is Jesus. He has brought freedom to me and I can´t be silent! He has just been so so good to me. Even if we can attain a certain level of freedom in our minds with positive thinking etc, at least I need a greater power to empower me. He is the only one that can give a peace that passes all understanding and He is willing to give it to anyone who desires it. Connect with me, if you want to know more about my beliefs. I hope you got some nuggets from this and are inspired to live your life to the fullest without fears! Let´s find the ways so we can get back to the track of life together. We need a family - people that stand by us, support, believe in us and love us - even if we fail. I´m so grateful for my extended family all over the world that have believed in me and prayed for me. I wouldn´t be the same today without them! You know who you are. :)

After all this deep digging, It´s time to talk about my outfit! I love love love this very puffy H&M blue winter jacket. It´s something different than wearing black, which is the most convenient color everywhere. And these photos don´t really do justice to these pants. I really like the graphics on them. Other Stories woolly beanie is my favorite hat right now. Bring on the colors!

Wishing you all a lovely week!


Intricately yours,

Marjo













Photos by Tim Kiukas / Sonja Suonikko

 

It`s a New Season full of Wonders! 

Lovely ones, I´m back! It´s been a while since the last post, but it´s never too late to get back in the game, right? My life got wayyy too busy to keep up with the blog when I was living in California. There´s plenty of other reasons too why I didn´t continue. But it´s A New Season now and I´m really excited about this year and what it unfolds! I´m inspired like never before. Dreaming big, but starting small this time. :)

I´ve been processing pretty much everything that has taken place in my life and especially my transition back to Finland. It was really important to stop and do introspection in order to gain a new clear vision. During that time, I realized I had let some things in my heart, that were draining me and even affecting my hope for the future. Yet in the middle of the process, I got new insights with new hope - I started dreaming with God again. Since then, so much inside of me has changed. I feel like a new person, like a little childlike kiddo! I bet all of us struggle with something and if You have given up your dreams or hope even a bit, let´s fight together for a life worth living. Let´s find that childlike spirit again. Kids know how to play, they don´t care what other people think about themselves and they know how to laugh. They are full of life. Obviously finding your points of interests&what inspires you, are also one of the keys to a meaningful life. 

Your life matters. We need these reminders every now and then; there´s nobody else like you in this planet and nobody else can release what only you can. I believe there are treasures inside all of us, that need to be found. So whatever your talents/gifts/dreams are, they are valuable and this world needs them and your contribution. Just yesterday I was listening to some old cd:s and contemplating how these artists had a positive, life-changing effect on my life over the years. If they would have given up and decided they don´t have the time/energy/money/whatsoever, my life wouldn´t be the same. We never know how what we do now, can affect people´s lives even in the generations to come. I´m forever grateful for the pioneers, for the people that have paved the way for us to become who we are called to be. We can only play our part so that this world can be a better place. Nobody said it would be easy, but it´s definitely worth it! I believe this is a year of new beginnings, it´s like we have stepped into a whole new time with wonders. Let´s get rid of small thinking and start dreaming big!

What are some dreams you have? I highly recommend to get yourself a dream journal and start writing your dreams down, if you haven´t been doing it already. :)

The photos were taken while I lived in California. Me and Annette ventured out in this beautiful forest and the feeling in these photos is exactly how I feel right now, even if it´s been a while. A sense of Wonder. Not the most wintery ones haha, but I´ll guarantee there will be new more wintery style photos coming up soon!

I hope everything is well with ya´ll?!

Wishing you all a Year full of Wonders and Lots of Love! 

Intricately yours,

Marjo

Photos by Annette Biggers