MINDFULNESS TIPS

Results and benefits of mindfulness have been scientifically proved. And even if we still need more researches into this field, it's interesting to know what changes it can bring into our body and our brain.

To name a few: 

- improves memory

- improves concentration

- reduces agressive behaviors

- reduces anxiety

- reduces chronic depression symptoms

...

Summer 2015, Provence, France

To facilitate our mindulness practice, we can get "helped" by a clock on our watch, our computer or whatever to remind us we have to take a break to meditate and recenter on the here and now. It can be during lunch time, or a break during the day, or when we're back home after work.
It helps us get more concentrated and relaxed.

We can also usefully get helped by our smartphone installing an app that offers exercices of mindfulness and meditation, and that shows us our evolution.

I recently bought the app Zenfie and it's a really good one. You take your time, every day, to meditate and be more mindful. They guide you step by step and it makes everything easier. Even if the session only lasts 10 or 12 minutes, you really feel peaceful afterward. And that's what really counts. You can try longer sessions when you feel you need it. 

Only 20 minutes meditation a day have been proved to be very efficient on our brain, so you can take it easy.

Because we'd probably like to be more mindful all day long, we can try mindful eating on each or one of the daily meals.
Take the time to smell, to look at our food, to chew it and really taste it. We can analyze all the flavors of our food, think about how it feels in our stomach, and take time before the next bite.

We can also share this experience with someone, parents, siblings, boy/girlfriend, friends... 

If they are not practising too, we can only tell them what we experience, the changes we noticed, how we feel. Maybe they'll try it too and telling them will not be our only motivation but sharing will too !

And if we feel like we can't handle this daily exercise alone, maybe we can join a meditation group or meditation-based yoga activity.

Remember: it doesn't matter if we miss 1, 2 or 5 days. The most important thing is to keep it in mind and not to be afraid to start over again.

MINDFUL WHAT ?

Today I'm going to introduce you the concept of mindfulness.

I knew it, or at least I know what it was about because some of my mom's personal development books gave me hints.

But I really started getting it when I read The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle (2001), at a time in my life I needed to simply live presently and enjoy.

Mindfulness is - in its simpler way - moment to moment awareness.

Jon Kabat-Zinn* says “It’s not really about sitting in the full lotus, like pretending you’re a statue in a British museum”.

He defines mindfulness as something that "is cultivated by purposefully paying attention to things we ordinarily never give a moment’s thought to. It is a systematic approach to developing new kinds of control and wisdom in our lives.” 

But why would we be more mindful ? what can we do to be more mindful ?

Well, we probably need to be more mindful because our past experiences have marked our life, our interactions with people and the events we are experiencing - even the simplest of them -  are marking our everyday life. And our future, because of its uncertainty - can scare us or stress us out.
Our mind is caught up by all those things.
We do not always know how to deal with these feelings, and to feel good anyway. Because we are stuck into the past (whether it's far away or pretty close) or anticipating the future. Caught up with our emotions and feelings.
It's like we had a bunch of keys to open a door but we have no idea which one is the right one.
Well we can say Mindfulness is one of them.

January 2015, Sri Lanka

So we can start taking a very deep breath, and then to focus on something.
The aim is to concentrate on the here and now, when our body and mind are here together.

To do so, we can focus on our breath. Be mindful that our breathing in is an in-breath and that our breathing out is an out-breath. It might seem silly, but let's try it.
We'll realize our mental discourse will just stop while we are doing those things. Of course, some thoughts come to our mind, we don't have to chase them or get interested, we just have to let them pass and go, and feel that we're here and now.
That's being mindful.
Plus, breathing is very good for relaxing tensions (in our body and mind) and to think clearly and keep calm in lousy/overwhelming/stressful situations.

I hope you'll give it a try because it's a very easy and funny exercice, and the result is just feeling good so that's pretty cool !
I'll give other tips and practices within the next days/weeks.

Have fun !

DARE TO DREAM

"Be the change you wish to see in the world" -- Gandhi

Yesterday night I attended a conference (lead by Carlos Hue Garcia) on Emotional Intelligence.

I thought it'd be interesting to share it with you.

There are a lot of things to say about emotional intelligence, personal development, but let's make a long story short.

Life is shitty. It's tough. But if we can get the emotional skills to get a better understanding of our emotions, our thoughts, our dreams, if we're capable of empathy and learn to get the best out of people we're related to, life can be a wonderful journey.

Here's a video we wtached during the conference:

Copyright Inknowation -- Youtube

However, to know who we truly are, what we truly want, we have to challenge ourselves and go out of our comfort zone (as shown in the video).

It's essential to think positive for ourselves and for others. We need to constantly remind that whatever happens we are worth 10, our sister is worth 10, our neighbor is worth 10, our doctor's worth 10, everybody is worth 10. Even a serial-killer or a thief. The person is worth 10. Not his behaviour. It's important to distinguish both.

It's easy to compare with others and to say "Look, how lucky he/she is ! Great things happen to him/her !". Well you don't know how hard they've been working for it and/or the path they've taken and the difficulties they've been through.

Instead of this, we should be happy for them but also get kicked to move forward. Nobody's going to do the work for us. If you want something, work for it. If you want to be happy, start smiling. Remember that "if you squeeze lemon, you'll get lemonade." 

Self-knowledge, self-esteem, motivation (innovate, invent, investigate), knowledge of others, empathy, valorization of others and entrepreneur leadership are the key concepts to achieve goals and feel good and happy in life.

If we want to see changes in this world, we have to change ourselves, then we'll obviously change the world.

PERFECT DRESSING ROOM

After a few days in Paris, I wanted to talk to you about this exhibition called "Le Dressing de rêve des Parisiens".

It takes place at the Hôtel de Ville in the very heart of Paris so we can hardly miss it, plus it's free entrance ! (It's better not to go there during weekend to see fewer people and get time).

This exhibition was born from the idea of Régis Pennel (founder of the concept store L'Exception) and Philippe Zorzetto (founder of the eponymous shoes brand) presents 50 young fashion brands and designers from Paris. They went all over Paris, from "Le Marais" to "Saint Germain des Prés" passing by South Pigalle to discover and carefully select those designers and their boutiques.

Copyright Eple & Melk

This small-scale representation of the fashion market offers different styles, identities and inspirations through ready-to-wear, jewellery, shoes and accessories.
It's a real decoding of parisian trends and a great opportunity to know a bit more about those people who work really hard to keep Paris in motion and enrich our inspirations and wardrobes.

Among the designers you can find:
- Melindagloss
- Andrea Crews
- Eple & Melk
- No Youth Control
- Misericordia
...

Copyright No Youth Control

Copyright Valentine Gauthier

Workshops are organized every saturday for those who'd like to create their own accessories.

8th of september - 31st of october 2015

Monday to Saturday

10am - 7pm

Subway station: Hotel de Ville

Free entrance

COLORFUL BREAK

Take a break and meditate...

This is one of my favorite activity to meditate: color mandalas. I guess I had the "mandala fever" when I was a kid, at school. I loved it because it was a way to calm down everyone after recess, all the children were whispering about the one they'd choose and what color they'd start with, getting very concentrated and inspired. 

It may seem like basic coloring but (to me) it is so not ! 

The meaning of Mandala comes from Sanskrit meaning "circle". Mandalas come from India, and are part of Buddhism and Hinduism. Their design absorbs your mind with its balancing visual elements, it symbolizes unity and harmony. 

Coloring mandalas helps being and feeling present. It develops creativity while focusing and opening our mind. It really helps to relax and feel better because while you're coloring you don't think about anything else, and it feels really good. Your thoughts don't remain, they don't set, they're just flying by and you don't even get touched by them. This sensation is very powerful.

Coloring mandalas is a suspended time for fun and harmony.

Carl Jung was the first man to discover the therapeutic virtues finding a link between the midpoint of mandalas and the human psyche. Lots of people suffering depression said they were feeling better after this kind of activities. So I guess it's better and cheaper than pills on a daily basis... !

Plus, meditation is very powerful on our brain (but not only), if you want to know more about it works, click here. I'll post some very interesting facts and studies about this subject at the end of the month ! 

You can easily buy or print some mandalas in bookstores and on the Internet.

Try it and see how you feel !

DRINKS & DESIGN

Place to be in Zaragoza, Spain

My boyfriend made me discover this place. Even though I have to admit I had already noticed its front window that allows us to see an original and trendy decoration with modern light bulbs and flowers.

Now I've been there several times, I can tell you they definitely make the best mojitos ever (with a little preference for the raspberry one) !! Fresh and perfectly dosed.

They also serve wines, beers, other cocktails and softs, and some really tasty "tapas" for those who would feel peckish, and "granizados" during warm days of summer.

The bar has a dual exposure on two streets and its terrace is located on the most peaceful and quiet one of them, with some other bars' terraces a bit further.
You easily feel like home once you're in. The decoration mixes retro with do-it-yourself designs and objects like straw-hats as lampshades, ancient books and old furniture. It's tastefully original and cozy.
Great if you want to enjoy a drink while reading a book when it's quiet during the afternoon,
Perfect if you want a lively typical spanish night around good drinks.

BONUS: boss and waiters are extremely cool !!

Marianela Zgz

Calle de la Manifestacion, 23

50 003 Zaragoza
And also: there

VEGGIE TORTILLAS

In the mood for Tex-Mex Food

Today I'll give you a quick and easy recipe of vegan-vegetarian Tortillas !


Ingredients:
- Wholewheat tortillas
- Corn
- (Button) Mushrooms
- Cherry tomatoes
- Avocado
- Hot salsa sauce
- Seasoning mix "Tex Mex"
- Lemon

Directions:

Cut mushrooms in slices

Put them in a frying pan and add the seasoning mix to spice them up

Meanwhile, put corn in a bowl

Cut cherry tomatoes in squares and avocado in squares and slivers

Moisten avocado with lemon juice

Heat hot salsa sauce in a frying pan and some squares of tomatoes in it

To make different versions of this recipe - in anyway it'll be yummy - you can add/choose:
Red beans and peppers with hot salsa sauce
Tacos for a crispier version
Gluten-free tortillas

Enjoy !!