I recently came across a thought-provoking LinkedIn post discussing the “enemies of creativity.” It got me thinking about my creative journey and the times I’ve felt stifled or blocked. The post highlighted some common creativity killers: fear of failure, self-doubt, and a lack of inspiration. These resonated with me, as they do with many other people too. Fear can be paralyzing, preventing us from taking … Continue reading The Enemies of Creativity
With just over a week to go until Christmas and Hanukkah, you may be starting to feel your stress level rise. Do yourself a favour! Pause, take a deep breath, and make a conscious choice to prioritize your wellbeing this holiday season. Setting aside time for you is an investment that will pay great dividends by reducing your stress and helping you be more present. … Continue reading Prioritize Your Wellbeing This Holiday Season
There’s something comforting about the warmth of a cup of tea cradled in the palms of your hands. As you bring it closer, the smell rises to your nostrils, filling you with a sense of familiarity. The simple act of breathing, air flowing in and out of your lungs, is a rhythm we often overlook. These sensations, subtle yet powerful, are the foundation of our … Continue reading Reconnection with Yourself: The Power of Sensations
I recently read an article about the 4 Indian Laws of Spirituality. In our busy days, we’re constantly running toward deadlines, goals, and achievements, but there are moments when we feel an inner tug, something deeper calling us to pause, reflect, and understand the essence of our existence. The 4 Indian Laws of Spirituality offer timeless wisdom for anyone seeking balance, peace, and a greater … Continue reading The 4 Indian Laws of Spirituality: A Journey Toward Understanding and Inner Peace
…Thus the question we continue to try to answer is: How to prevent negative or unwholesome, i.e. unskillful, states from arising in the first place?
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, in Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness, answers thus: “By maintaining unremitting mindfulness. Just that.”
One’s ability to do this, however, is limited by how developed one’s faculty of mindfulness is, and by how habituated to its exercise the mind is…. Continue reading Mindfulness as Method for the First Great Effort, Part 3: Gunaratana’s Guidance, Part A
Nowadays, it’s easy to find ourselves running away from the present moment. We often resist what is happening right now, yearning for a different reality, that aligns more closely with our desires and expectations. This aversion to the present and the constant resistance to our current circumstances can lead to immense suffering. But what if the key to a more peaceful and fulfilling life lies … Continue reading Embrace the Present to Alleviate Suffering
Exposure to violent social media, whether through work or private life, can have significant impacts on mental health. This type of content includes images or videos from terror incidents, war, and disturbing material found on pornographic sites. Here’s an exploration of the risks, impacts, and strategies to mitigate the negative effects on mental health. Risks and Impact on Mental Health Strategies for Mitigating Impact Before … Continue reading Managing the Impact of Violent Media on Mental Health
Using the breath as an anchor is a classic example. However, the breath can be too subtle a sensation for many of us. One tactic I’ve tried is to set a repeating, silent vibrate alarm on a Fitbit device, which has not been especially successful. Another tactic I’ve heard of (but haven’t tried) is to wear a non-medicated “intra-nasal” menthol inhaler. The idea is that … Continue reading Question of the Day: What’s one “hack” for maintaining continual mindful awareness in daily life?
Happy Earth Day! How will you celebrate our wonderful planet today? One of the best things you can do is take some time to reconnect with the Earth. Read on for five ways to do just that. It won’t take a lot of time, but it will do you, and the planet, good. It’s no secret that our Earth is in crisis. Extreme weather events … Continue reading 5 Ways to Reconnect with the Earth
Welcome to the first post of the short series exploring the captivating concepts of serenity and well-being from Scandinavian countries. In this series of two, we delve into two distinct yet equally intriguing concepts: hygge from Denmark and Norway, and fika from Sweden. Each concept embodies the essence of mindfulness, relaxation, and connection in its unique way. Last week I delved into the Dutch concept … Continue reading Exploring Scandinavian Serenity: Hygge, and Fika
In a world that glorifies productivity and constant busyness, the Dutch have a refreshing perspective: niksen, the art of doing nothing. Niksen advocates for moments of purposeful idleness, where individuals allow their minds to wander freely and be in the present moment. Let’s explore this fascinating concept and its potential benefits in today’s fast-paced world. Understanding Niksen Niksen, derived from the Dutch word “niks,” meaning … Continue reading Niksen: The Dutch Art of Doing Nothing
In our busy modern life, self-care often takes a backseat as we juggle work, relationships, and personal responsibilities. Yet, nurturing our well-being is paramount for leading fulfilling and balanced lives. Enter the concept of “finding your flow” – a journey towards mastering the art of self-care and achieving inner harmony. Understanding the Essence of Self-Care Self-care encompasses a spectrum of practices aimed at nurturing our … Continue reading Finding Your Flow: Mastering the Art of Self-Care for a Balanced Life
The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of joy, togetherness, and celebration. However, for many individuals, this time of year can amplify feelings of loneliness and isolation. In this blog post, I’ll explore strategies for healing loneliness, adjusting to solitude, and reconnecting with others, especially during a festive period. 1. Healing Loneliness Understanding the Roots: Loneliness is a complex emotion, and understanding its … Continue reading Loneliness, Solitude, and Connection During the Holiday Season
Are You Frequently Battling Stress Throughout Your Day? In our fast-paced lives, it’s no surprise that stress creeps into our daily routines due to numerous commitments, looming deadlines, and little time for self-care. Stress, in all its forms, shares a common denominator – it induces malaise, fatigue, and irritability, making us susceptible to illness and less tolerant of others and everyday challenges. Remarkably, stress is … Continue reading Unleashing Inner Strength: Defeating Workplace Stress for a Happier You
What on Earth Am I Feeling? “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” – Blaise Pascal Disconnecting the autopilot is the practise of noticing when you’re distracted and then actively bringing your attention back to the present. But there’s a problem. It’s called turbulence. (Namely, your emotions.) This is what happens when a pilot takes the autopilot … Continue reading The Three Areas of Self-Awareness: What on Earth Am I Feeling?
The Three Areas of Self-Awareness According to Tasah Eurich – author of Insight: The Surprising Truth about How Others See Us, How We See Ourselves, and Why the Answers Matter More Than We Think – there are 3 major blindspots to self-awareness. Those are: Behaviour blindness is being oblivious to your own actions. Not noticing when you are getting distracted or why. Emotional blindness is … Continue reading The Three Areas of Self-Awareness: What on Earth Am I Doing?
To better manage stress, the regular practice of mindfulness, sophrology or self-hypnosis can be of great help. These disciplines can also be useful in addition to medical follow-up in case of burn-out or depression. Mindfulness – focusing on the present moment Mindfulness can be defined as the gym of the mind that consists of intentionally paying attention to what you are experiencing / doing in … Continue reading Three Ways to Better Manage Stress Daily – Mindfulness, Sophrology, Self-hypnosis
If there’s one aviation disaster that darkens my knickers more than most, it’s AirFrance 447 – the scheduled passenger flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, which crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on June 1st, 2009. In a very simplified nutshell, this is what happened. Approximately 2 hours after takeoff, AirFrance 447 entered a storm system that caused the instrumentation that measures the aircraft’s airspeed … Continue reading The Automation Paradox
A couple of years ago, there was a spectacular sunrise worth noticing. Anyone who has seen my Instagram feed knows that sunrise posts are one of my staples. But this particular sunrise is memorable because I scooped up my kids who were aged 5 and 1 at the time and took them to the deck upstairs to see it. As soon as took a picture … Continue reading The Power of Awe
A new goal of mine is to leave earlier than on-time. It’s about doing just a little less, in order to have a lot less distress, and it’s the result of a quite specific quality-of-life insight. If you’re like me, you’re often a bit of a scrambler… Continue reading Leaving Earlier: Why It’s Better Than On Time
