Tag: Self-Care

Cultivate Positivity with Mindful Practices

  1. Go for a walk

A walk refreshes not only your mind and body but also your perspectives on anything. Sitting down too long and working on something can, at times, cause a block or murky feelings. Just taking a small break and walking will totally refresh everything. If you have never tried it, why not do it next time?

  1. Stay hydrated

Keeping yourself hydrated with water throughout the day makes you function better than usual. Staying in a tropical country such as Singapore, it is essential to keep yourself hydrated. Lack of water gets your energy levels depleted and tired. If drinking plain water is boring, try new ways to keep yourself hydrated. An example would be adding lemons to your drinking water or consuming fruits. When adding new items to your diet it is always best to do it slowly so that your body is given time to get used to it.

  1. Focus on Positivity

We always have a choice on what we can focus on. You would have heard many times that whatever we focus on, that will grow. Whenever you feel anxious and get pushed to think or have negative thoughts, turn it back to positive thoughts. One way is to take consistent conscious breaths to clear your mind and thoughts. At times, when negative thoughts hit you, stop whatever you are doing and take a short walk. It will help you clear your mind, and thoughts and will refresh you (point number 1).

Our mental health is our responsibility. Do not blame anyone for the condition of our mental health. Take ownership and be responsible for our health. Slowly introduce new things to your life to move away from negativity. It can be a small effort – but it matters.

Photo by Madison Inouye on Pexels.com

Is Being Alone Healthier than Feeling Lonely?

Many people feel alone or lonely at times. But what is the difference between the two? Which one is healthier?

Being alone and feeling lonely are different experiences.

Being alone means spending time by yourself, and it can be a choice. This time alone can be positive. It provides you time to think, be creative, and discover more about yourself. It can bring you peace and fulfillment.

Feeling lonely is different. It happens when you feel isolated or disconnected from others. Loneliness often brings negative feelings like sadness and a desire for connection, even when you are around people.

In summary, being alone can enrich your life, while loneliness can create emotional distress.

It is normal to move back and forth between these feelings. We should make time for ourselves and enjoy our own company.

When you are alone, you can engage in activities like scrap booking or writing in a journal. You can also read a book or think about what you have read. You can also explore creative activities like arts and crafts, needlework, pottery, and more.

So, take the time to be alone and appreciate your own company.

Photo by Meruyert Gonullu on Pexels.com

Zen Fridays – 2022 Diary / Journal

Another year will be over soon. We will be welcoming another new year soon. Anything new offers us an opportunity to look at things from a new perspective. I write journals or reflections daily. For the coming new year, 2022, I have purchased a planner and a Pursebook from Mori. Mori is a women-run business, giving opportunities for women to earn a living while supporting their families.

You can read more on their initiative here:

Mori Initiative
https://moriofficial.com/pages/about-us

Mori Pursebook Collections
https://moriofficial.com/collections/pursebook

Mori Planners
https://moriofficial.com/products/2022-planner-diary-weekly-monthly

I have decorated my 2022 planner with stickers. The below pictures shows my 2022 Mori Diary.

So, if you are a regular journal keeper, what will yours be for the coming year? 🙂

Zen Fridays – Wisdom Gem 2

Photo by Zukiman Mohamad on Pexels.com

(This is a re-post. Will be continuing the “Wisdom Gem series” for every Friday. This was part of series of “wisdom” handouts that was created in the past for my retail customers and my students.)

“Flow with whatever may happen, and let your mind be free:
Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing.
This is the ultimate”.
~ Zhuangzi

Reflection by Esther
Go with the flow!
That will be the best advice that one needs to have in any given situation. Resistance is going to make things worse for an individual and the people surrounding him. Rather than going against, “flow” into any circumstance and be at ease. It is better to “flow” and accept the moments. Once we have learnt how to live our lives in that way, nothing can dampen our spirits and the life we live.

Zen Fridays – Wisdom Gem 1

Photo by Jack Hawley on Pexels.com

(This is a re-post. Will be continuing the “Wisdom Gem series” for every Friday. This was part of series of “wisdom” handouts that was created in the past for my retail customers and my students.)

“When you look at a field of dandelions,
You can either see
a hundred weeds
or a hundred wishes”.
~ Unknown ~

Reflection by Esther
How we view life or a particular situation is entirely up to us. No one can change the way we think of something unless we ourselves allow it to happen. Rather than looking at something, someone or a situation as negative and a hindrance, why don’t we step aside and look at ways on how we can learn or benefit from it. We all have to remember that anything negative that is taking place in our life is not permanent. Everything will pass at ease if we allow our thoughts to change accordingly. We must always see every situation in our life an opportunity to advance further. We must never let a bad situation drive us to darkness, depression and negativity.

Yoga Hyde: Clothing & Blog Posts on Yoga

I get my yoga pants from Yoga Hyde and not only their clothing is great, their blog posts on yoga too.

Below are the blog posts which might be of interest to you. Most importantly, it is easy to understand and suitable for quick reading…

yogi’s guide to public health: aparigraha
https://yogahyde.com/aparigraha-and-public-health/

yogi’s guide to public health: brahmacharya
https://yogahyde.com/yogis-guide-to-public-health-brahmacharya/

yogi’s guide to public health: asteya (non-stealing)
https://yogahyde.com/asteya-and-public-health/

yogi’s guide to public health: satya (truth-telling)
https://yogahyde.com/satya-and-public-health/

yogi’s guide to public health: ahimsa (non-harming or non-violence)
https://yogahyde.com/ahimsa-and-public-health/

By the way, my all-time favourite pants will be divine drawstring (purchased since the year 2016) and colleen pant (purchased since the year 2018).

For divine drawstring pants,
https://yogahyde.com/product/divine-drawstring-pant/

For colleen pants,
https://yogahyde.com/product/colleen-pant/
Enjoy reading…and browsing too… 🙂
Best Wishes,
Esther

silhouette of man at daytime
Photo by Prasanth Inturi on Pexels.com

Quote for Today

07Apr2020

“And once the storm is over
You won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive.
You won’t even be sure, in fact, that the storm is over.
But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm,
You won’t be the same person who walked in.
That’s what this storm is all about.”
~ Haruki Murakami ~
(from his novel “Kafka on the Shore”)

Quote for Today

18Mar2020

“We are like children building a sand castle. We embellish it with beautiful shells, bits of driftwood, and pieces of colored glass. The castle is ours, off limits to others. We’re willing to attack if others threaten to hurt it. Yet despite all our attachment, we know that the tide will inevitably come in and sweep the sand castle away. The trick is to enjoy it fully but without clinging, and when the time comes, let it dissolve back into the sea.”
~ Pema Chödrön, When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times ~

Quote for Today

09 Mar 2020

“Remember, happiness doesn’t depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely upon what you think. So start each day by thinking of all the things you have to be thankful for. Your future will depend very largely on the thoughts you think today. So think thoughts of hope and confidence and love and success.”
~Dale Carnegie~