Tag: mindful

Mindfulness and Mental Health

Mindfulness and Mental Health

Learning to Get Through Holiday Season Blues

A peculiar reality many of us experience at different periods in our life, this time of the year can make us feel paralysed and despondent. A feeling state that can arrive at its own accord or be occasioned by our complex life circumstances, it is one that requires more care and concern to traverse, than we may be able to foresee. We’re sharing with you here our thoughts on what we hope can soften the pervasive form of holiday blues and extend to you support through its experience. 

1.Listening to our mind and body

The experience of the holiday season can be different for all of us, such that we may or may not share comparable needs or emotions as someone else who may be going through it as well. When experiencing the difficulties that come with feeling low, we urge you to try to spend some time with yourself and ask two questions – ‘what’ am i feeling?, and ‘what’ do I feel I need or would like, in this moment? The former allows us to identify, understand and acknowledge our feelings, as well as to sit with ourselves in honesty about where we are at. We, at IKKIVI, like to engage in this process by journaling or writing in a notebook, as writing feels personalising and cathartic to us, and creates a semi visual lens to go back to. The latter is a step further in recognising what our feelings can tell, or are telling us about our needs, and thinking through and moving toward meeting them.

  • Do you feel that at this time, you need to slow down and rest?

  • Do you want to say no to doing certain things and yes to doing some others?

  • Do you feel called to move your body, or read about and explore a particular subject?

  • Do you feel you need to grieve, or that you are grieving?

  • Do you think you would like someone to help you understand and navigate through what you are experiencing?

  • Is there something you need to, or want to, express?

  • Do you feel you need to, or would like to, be alone or have someone be with you for some time?

We think that asking ourselves these questions can prompt us in taking steps in a way that regards our individual experience for what it is, and become a reflective and viable tool through such a period.

2.Letting Ourselves Be

We think it is as valuable to let ourselves take a breather, consciously let go of any perfectionistic ideals of performance we may hold, grieve, rest, go deeply into our pain, do nothing and let ourselves wholly feel as we are feeling, as it is to try to ‘do’ what we feel (or know) can bring us ease. And often in the midst of our experience, it is possible that we may be unable to identify or understand our feelings and needs with clarity, or even know what we want. Giving ourselves a break and leaving our experiences of pain undefined and unanalysed for some time can inspire us to slow down, let things fall apart (if they naturally are), positively surrender to the polarities of life, perceive the inexplicability and randomness of some events, be gentle with ourselves and watch life unfold in its own ways, without appending any mental meanings to them for the time.

3.Asking for help 

A lot of times we are met with a feeling of hesitance or embarrassment when it comes to asking for help. But as initially discomforting as it can be, we think it’s important to ask for help, if we need it or would like another’s support. While our pain or past experiences can mistake us into believing that we would be burdening others or be rejected by them upon sharing our feelings, most often, our loved ones and friends will wholeheartedly want to be there for us in whatever ways they can and provide us comfort. At the same time, prolonged feelings of loneliness or melancholy may be a sign of depression. Meeting with a mental health professional who is committed to our well being and experienced with the many manifestations of depression can offer us insights, constructive inputs and resources that can help us work through our difficult feelings in a safe way when we find ourselves feeling persistently low, anxious or troubled. Leaning on others and letting them take care of us in a time of pain can open our hearts to new ways of doing things and ask fresh questions about what may be right and healthy for us to take up, as well as to leave. Going for talk therapy and counselling may also be a good step for any of us when we may be trying to get a little bit of guidance in working through our lives. We are hoping for this to be normalised and something that anybody feels comfortable and safe to opt for.

4.Cultivating a lifestyle suited to our values

Advertising, media, cultural norms, social practices, and idealistic systems can instill in us a feeling that we need to live by particular and pre-decided merits to be seen as a worthy, prosperous and useful member of society. We invite you to reflect on the values that align with and feel authentic to who you are, genuinely re-think if the desires you hold are yours or someone else’s, mindfully consume and question media content, create new traditions and routines for yourself, work at a pace that is harmonious with your natural energy and build an environment that nurtures your unique talents and desires. In our podcast Daily Routines to Inspire an Intentional Lifestyle, with artist and creative director Rhea Gupte, we further reimagine with her what building our own identity can look like, and how we can let go of things that don’t feel fulfilling, if you would like to listen to it.

NOTE: You can find here some worldwide and Indian mental health helplines, if you or someone you know may need some support.

CREDITS

BLUE MARINE
CLOUD DRESS
BLUEBIRD CO-ORD SET
PACIFIC BLUE TOP
SUMMER LOVE SHIRT
ICEBERG PANTS

SLOW WORK

SLOW WORK

Connecting Deeply with our Practice(s) of Work

Working slowly and thoughtfully can accentuate the rewards inherent in our everyday work, and enhance our felt affinity with it in meaningful ways. Our work encapsulates a significant portion of our time each day, making it a partially defining factor in our experience of it. The many gifts that are endowed within our work – learning, empowerment, joy, novelty, capital, discovery, comradeship, and others – can sometimes become buried under the rush of the many objectives that we want to (or need to) meet and attain. We’re exploring here with you some ideas and practices that we think can support kindle these qualities, both at and beyond our workplace.

1. Contemplating what ‘slow work’ would mean and look like for you

The slow movement does not comprise any specific definitions, and this is true for ‘slow work’ too. Slowing down can have many meanings and categories, conceptually as well as practically. It can mean consciously decreasing the volume of work we are doing, or completing work in more time, thereby splitting it over different hours. Other practices can include slowing down emotionally and mentally, to take on only one thing (or a few) at a time and go into them thoroughly. Incorporating these approaches of being with our work can allow us to experience a certain timelessness, offering profundity with it. Analysing which forms – amongst these and many others – are most valuable to your own routines are ones we encourage you to experiment with.

2. Understanding the natural rhythm of our energy 

Our uniqueness extends in and to every aspect of our lives, even in the way we channel our energy and the way our environment directs it. Some of us are attuned to working consistently for long hours, while some of us are more responsive to work for immersive yet shorter periods with even (and perhaps lengthy) intervals throughout the day. A few of us find pleasure working under disciplined schedules and others with greater freedom. While for most of us it is a compounding of these different patterns that yields most contentment and growth, it is of salience to observe our natural rhythms to feel comfortable in our diurnal responsibilities. At the same time, our energy may be subject to variation each day, and molding our styles of working in congruence with that knowledge can welcome much calm and slowness into it. For instance, if as someone who typically likes to do more concentrated work in the mornings, you find yourself occasionally wanting to do something else (or rather unable to do much) in the early hours, go into the experience gently to see what you feel called toward doing in that moment – to take a calm walk, stay in bed for longer, write something, spend time with the family, look out the window, or be with yourself. These unanticipated disruptions to our routines can pleasantly refresh us, and direct us anew into our work.

3. Making rest a committed practice

Something that can escape our consciousness amidst the pull of work is the critical contribution of rest in polishing our capacity and connection with ourselves, and consequently with our work itself. Bringing movement to a pause, rest carries seeds of inspiration, breakthroughs, freshness and clarity that nurture and balance our being. Rest too can take many shapes – playing a game, watching television, sitting in silence, speaking with a loved one, drawing or painting, reading, meditating and certainly, sleeping. Principally, with the brisk pace of our lives, rest is a part of our lives we must commit to, one that can serve us in kind and beautiful ways when we uphold it.

4. Slowing our mind 

Our mind is an innately busy and inquisitive space, and tempering its pace or involvements can relieve our processes at work. Planning our work or making maps by the week and/ or month can create mental and psychological space. Interacting with phenomena short of our linguistic means too instinctively slows the momentum of our thoughts and gives our mind the room to moderate or quieten itself. Small grounding practices at work, such as sitting empty during a break, meditating on a blank page, watching an artist make a painting, counting backwards from 50 to 0, watching the leaves dance or simply being with ourselves are customs that can equipoise our minds. Concurrently, understanding  ourselves and moving from a space of authenticity and presence is a further key that can allow us – and our minds – to feel safe and composed working through the day.

5. Being where our values can be honored 

We all have some personal values that form the premise and foundation of our lifestyle and health – even with our work. From integrity, order, and simplicity, to growth, understanding, and excitement, we come with our individual needs that we need to honor and develop. Observing our feelings and thoughts at work, and identifying what is essential for us to change or receive can aid our mind into being at leisure. If this looks like moving jobs or cultivating specific practices – as leaving work at a particular time, taking mindful breaks, working with tables or maps to bring in greater order and understanding of our unique style of working, beginning the work day with the most interesting (or effortless) assignments – at our present position to work with repose, it may be instructive for us to chart out and execute how we want and need our conditions at work to be.

 

As most of us are accustomed to a fast(er) pace of living and doing, slowing down can take time and entail some trial and error. But, in our experience, once we start learning and adopting slow practices at work, we do begin to feel the many ways in which they bring us balance and health. We hope that the invitation of these slow and small rituals can seep into other aspects of your day, extending further comfort and ease to them as well.

CREDITS

Code Green

Code Green

To be the change and pass on the gift to others.

Code Green, explores sustainability and the environment in light of the UN’s recent moves to tackle problems in the fashion industry. The essay tackles the writer’s thoughts of what it means to be in this era of transformation, in an industry finally veering its focus towards responsibility, mindfulness and change.

I have often found myself thinking about sustainability in light of my choices, big and small. With constant dialogue on the planet’s impending doom and the stark realisation that we aren’t doing nearly enough to stop it, it is hard not to think about it.

The present perception of sustainability is along the lines of a groundbreaking lifestyle that opens us up to an alternative of the trend fuelled consumption that we are destined for. But practice in many parts has shown otherwise.

In fashion, there is a serial offender- the fast fashion lifestyle many of us are accustomed to, some way or another.  Cheaper takes on luxury items have a way of making us feel special. Vintage trends recreated for the market through polyester versions of tie-dye and destroyed denim. All accessible by an easy ‘Add to Basket’ option.

Some have been luckier, witnessing mindful living throughout their life. Preservation and purpose make part of their inheritance, passed down across generations. Many of the tools we need are right in front of us. All we need is to understand and appreciate their use, play a conscious role in using them and educate others to do better. 

Earlier this year, I got to witness the launch of the United Nations Alliance for Sustainable Fashion at the Fourth Session of UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya. The UN Environment Assembly is a programme that brings together stakeholders, government bodies and other organisations to address the critical environmental challenges facing the world today by setting priorities for global environmental policies and develop international environmental law.A timely launch, making concrete a plan of action for an industry that not only needs hope but strict direction moving forward.

Until recently, the fashion industry’s impact on Earth was not taken seriously. Many of the standards set, both environmental and labour were often ignored. But it is clear —  for the United Nations to specifically tackle sustainability issues in fashion, something must have gone terribly wrong.

On the positive, we are on the cusp of an industry shift. Serious attention is being paid to the impact of fashion. Representatives from well known and young brands like H&M, Gucci, Olistic The Label, discussed their position on issues like toxic chemicals, the use of sustainable materials and reduction of industrial waste. The audience was not shy about asking the right questions and labels were willing to answer, adapt and learn how to be better. Initiatives like Forests for Fashion and T3 explored ways in which to use nature’s resources respectfully and a new concept of recycling plastics in this industry.

The past couple of years has seen many taking on the feat of disrupting fashion’s negative practices. The launch of the UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion is a stepping stone for the future. We need bigger players to be part of the change. Countries need to set regulations, communities need to demand better and industries need to look beyond profits as just monetary value. Let us set out expectations for how we want our future to look like and work together to achieve them.

Learning about how many environmental and social problems exist as a result of this industry is a gift I don’t take for granted. I was able to be part of a conversation bigger than myself where the overwhelming sense of dejection was replaced with a sense of excitement on what’s to come.

Reflecting on this event gives me a sense of nostalgia. A welcome breath of fresh air, needed from the worry I bet we all feel when thinking about the issue of climate change. The comfort it brings is not different from the sense of security I had as a child in the arms of my mother. Knowing that with all the wrongs in the world, eventually, all will be well if we rally to work towards it.

My takeaway from this is a sense of hope reinforced. Going forward, I want to create that same sense of comfort for those that will come after me. To be the change and pass on this gift to others.

CREDITS

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On Slow Living

On Slow Living

conversations about the joys of mindful living

Often we feel paralysed by the state of the world. The weight of the damage can make one believe that their actions can never make a lasting impact. At such moments we turn to our friends to inspire us to keep going no matter how small a deed or how tiny a step. We spoke to five inspiring women who have made these acts a part of their lives in small and big ways.

Charlyne Weiss

I am Charlyne, I am from France. I have been living in India since 4 years, first in Kerala and now in Goa. Currently I manage Alliance Française Goa, an Indo-French  Institution. I am passionate about self development. I practice pilates and I try to meditate everyday.

I started to be more conscious few years ago, I was 25. I realised that some brands I used to love in France, were decreasing the quality of their products while the price was constantly increasing. The clothes were not produced in France anymore, not even in Europe. I decided to stop buying those brands even if I loved their design. When I moved to Budapest, I started to buy second hand garments, because there were a lot of very cool second hand shops and it is very common for people to shop second-hand. It is also in Budapest  that I started to be more conscious about all that I consumed in general. It was really easy to consume organic and local produce at a low cost over there.

I am certainly not the perfect example of “good consumption.” According to me, I am still consuming too much but slowly I am cultivating the habit of whenever I buy something I question myself about the origin of the product, the condition of production and if I really need it or not.

My style has been more or less the same since I was twenty. I know exactly what suits me and I am careful to buy something that I will still be able to wear in five or ten years.

I find it difficult to always buy the best products, especially when it comes to local and organic food. With my work, I don’t always find the time to go to the market and cook everyday. Sometimes, I choose the easy way and feel guilty about it.

I can see more and more people becoming conscious in France and in India. In France plastic bags are banned, I think it is a big progress.

Last year, I organised with Alliance Française the first “Conscious Fashion Festival” in Goa, a two day event with panels, discussions, popup stores and an alternative fashion show. I became even more conscious when I organised this event, meeting all these professionals and creatives from different backgrounds but all working towards the same direction. It inspired me to strengthen  my personal convictions.

With my work, I meet a lot of people taking small actions which eventually lead to a big impact. There is still a long road ahead for us but all actions, individual and collective, makes a difference. I am really optimistic, I believe in the future.

Gayle D’Souza

I am Gayle D’Souza, 26 years old and someone who has always found comfort in cooking. I’ve lived most of my life in Goa, moved to Spain and now to London, all due to my constant love for food by learning as much as I can on how to treat and respect what the Earth has painstakingly offered  us for free.

It all started when I was 24 years old, my sister, Jane had introduced me to Bea Johnson, who lives a zero waste lifestyle. Even prior, I have always tried to do my part in a few ways I knew, but after coming across the zero waste lifestyle I was inspired to do more. It is amazing how small adjustments in our lives can make so much of a difference to our state of mind as well as the planet.

I started out by not accepting plastic bags. Today, we turn all our food waste into compost, we have been mindful of the amount of plastic wrapped items we buy, stopped accepting anything we do not need hence decreasing drastically how much garbage we generate. I have this ultimate goal of saying no to everything in plastic (that will be a task, but again, it can be attainable)

Its as simple as, getting adjusted to a new phone  from the one you previously had. At first, you might make a number of blunders with the different placement of keys, options etc. But eventually with constant use, your brain gets wired to that way of working and  it becomes a part of your routine.

My advice to someone new would be to take baby steps. Start small. You don’t have to make changes all at once. Its all about decision making. Be mindful each time you make a decision and maybe ask yourself “Is this adding any value to my life?” or “Is there a way I can attain the same result by doing things that are kinder to the environment?” or “Am I spending my money at the right places on the right products?”

Jane D’Souza

I’m Jane, a photographer, born, brought up and based in Goa. I have a 14 month old son who is the centre of my life right now. I love my laid back village life and can’t imagine how I survived seven odd years in Mumbai. I love food. I like to read, to paint and of course, the great outdoors. I’m also a tad bit lazy, so these days it’s my son’s love for the outdoors that motivates me to get out.

We grew up being happy with what we had. Thanks to my parents, we learned early the value of money and were very particular about spending it. I don’t think I was ever a hoarder. Or a compulsive shopper. Did I buy things I wasn’t 100% sure I’d use? Yes. But I’ve always had few things. However, one year, when I was moving back to Goa from Mumbai, I wanted to save money. I was 25 years old and I used to just blow every bit of my tiny pay check, so this was a conscious effort to save. What I realised was that I spent a large amount of said pay check on food (still do) and fashion. I stopped shopping for over 8 months and all that money went into travel. So I think that set off something in my head. From there, the learning has extended to why I should shop not just less frequently but more consciously as well. I stumbled across Bea Johnson’s and Lauren Singer’s Ted Talk and was really moved by their amazing lifestyles. This was the real kick starter to taking things to the next level.

I saw this very achievable wardrobe project called Project 333 and decided to adopt that for 3 months and see how things go. In short it asks you to assemble a 33 piece wardrobe including footwear but not including lounge, workout, sleep and underwear which you will use for 3 months. You box up all your other stuff and keep it away. When the time is up, you bring back all the old stuff and again go through the closet for the next 3 months only buying what you really need and understanding what you haven’t really needed. As it is I’m a no frills dresser, so going down to just 33 pieces was so liberating. It took, I think, hours of combined time off the decision making process of dressing up.

Fashion wise I have also decided, when I go shop, to shop more consciously in terms of clothing. I also started to compost my wet kitchen waste which has also been very rewarding. And since I now have so much compost, I’m planning to finally start my own vegetable and fruit garden. I already have a bunch of vegetables and fruits I grow, but I want to be more active and expand even further. I already carry my own vessels and bags to buy fish, meat and groceries and I have started the arduous process of ridding my house of plastic, it’s going to take a while, but it’s begun.

Oh and I use cloth diapers for my son. 😀

I think it takes a conscious effort to change. At least for me, it’s very easy to fall back on old patterns. Convenience, in this respect, is a 4 letter word. It gets in the way of changing. Of going back a bit to the way our parents did things. Now its easy for me to go shopping with friends and not buy anything. It’s easy to go to a store and say no to plastic. I am still new at this. I want to start carrying my own steel containers everywhere I go so that when we eat at a restaurant, I can tell them to parcel the remainder in there instead of in foil or plastic.

I often wonder whether there is a point to it at all. But then I see the result of my efforts and it makes me happy and gives me fuel to go on. Like a shopkeeper applauding me for not taking a plastic bag, my rich beautiful compost pile which was once what people consider waste, a friend being more mindful about shopping because of me.

My advice is start small. I don’t think anyone expects you to go cold turkey. My cousin got rid of her microwave and that made it easier to get rid of plastic in her kitchen. You can start by greening up your house, invest in plants. Start by repurposing your income and time towards ‘experience’ based things rather than ‘tangible’ things, like travel, cooking, helping out a friend. Declutter and donate things you don’t use to those who need it or to an organisation. I keep a box in a corner of my house and I keep dropping things in there I don’t need or want. That way when someone needs something, I have it ready. Support your local grocers and meat/fish sellers. Carry cloth bags. Say no to plastic (especially straws).

I once had a very low moment where I was in fact wondering just this. It seemed futile. And I voiced this to a few friends. What they said really made me rethink my negativity and the ‘supposed’ futility of my efforts. They said that what you are doing might seem like close to nothing, but what if what you do makes just one more person change what they do. What if then that person changes others. The chain reaction could in fact lead anywhere. Even to global change. And that is all the reminder I need, to keep going.

Edlyn D’Souza

I am 30, currently going through a huge life-changing moment. I love creating, staying active and creating recipes for my family and my blog.

I have always been conscious. I don’t mean to sound boastful but the messages I got from my parents as a child were always along the lines of being good to others and shunning materialism. Over time, I have sought my own meaning to these ideals and I try to keep to the spirit in which they were taught to me.

I was only able to change my way of living once I moved out of my parents’ and into my own place (honestly I didn’t have much of a say in these changes as my move meant living in a new country). As I tried to feel at home again, I realised what would help me the most was not trying to fill the void with things but rather create new experiences. I started dirty hands therapy also known as gardening. I tried to spend more time outdoors in nature. These connections helped me build this new sense of self and it slowed me down a lot. I learnt to value the importance of tiny steps leading to big magic.

I am a lot less wasteful when it comes to every thing from cooking to shopping. With cooking, I consider how time consuming and labour intensive it is to grow vegetables and try to use every part of my food once it enters my kitchen. I only buy things I know I’ll use and everything else is either from my “buy nothing” group or a second use shop. I generally avoid buying clothes and if I do, I make sure I donate what I’m not using. Of course I’m not Miss Perfect-only-salvaging-the-reject-pile but when I do shop, I avoid things that only perform one function. I have a lot more borderline obsessive habits thanks to my anxiety but this life is for learning and I’m on that journey just like everybody else.

It helped me a lot to get rid of the clutter. Not just physical clutter but also clutter in the form of life hacks online. There is no one way to be and you don’t have to figure it all out instantly. It helps to write your thoughts down. It will make them seem more real. Just find what you’re passionate about and work from there.

Nobody has it all figured out. We are all students, as human and imperfect as can be. What binds us in our humanity is the desire for good. I would like to let my actions dictate this passion even if it might seem meaningless in the grand scheme of things.

Mallaika Kamat

When I was 18 I began following more social activism accounts on my social media, the bite sized pieces of a variety of different causes helped me understand “societal ills” from multiple perspectives. And made me question myself, beginning with my diet. I never really thought about why I ate chicken. I didn’t question it, it’s what my family did, I was always a sensitive child but the cognitive dissonance encouraged by our culture led me to think it was okay. I started questioning norms, such as the idea of teenage rebellion, typically advertised as sex, drugs and alcohol. But why? Those things just chain you in different shackles. Nothing liberating about it. I rebelled by going vegetarian (and now vegan), rejecting societal ideas of femininity (much to my mother’s disdain I didn’t shave or wax religiously like I used to because it dawned on me that I don’t owe looking “presentable” to anyone), and starting my own business with my Best friend Sara, so I could be financially independent. The idea that I can do what I want, for myself, by myself, I think that’s true rebellion.

I changed my diet, I stopped caring about my appearance, (wearing thrifted second hand clothes, whatever was comfortable) and then I began to make things. I was always interested in beads, I find the process almost meditative, passing each bead one by one. But I get bored easily, so then I wanted to work with more mediums. I didn’t want to work with conventional mediums I wanted to experiment so I started with polymer clay, then moved on to crystal resin, and now my medium of choice is copper electroforming. I think I’ve grown through my art and my art has grown through me. It is definitely overwhelming to realise that we don’t actually mean much in the grand scheme of things, and our actions mean even less. But the realisation that life is inherently meaningless can either scare you, or liberate you.

There’s this philosophy that there are three ways in which humans deal with their mortality— First was to make children, ie. continue your “lineage” live through them and their children. Second was believing in religion and heaven, deluding yourself with illusions of grandeur of life after death and better things to come. And the third is through art, to create something which is yours and live through it like Da Vinci lives on through the Mona Lisa. I have chosen the third route at the moment. I am aware at the apocalypse nothing will remain, till then somewhere, someone has a little piece of Mallaika in their jewellery drawer. Tucked in with it is a tiny memory of me. So that’s how I deal with feeling overwhelmed, if I die today, I know that even if everyone forgets I existed I have left tiny reminders of the life I lived.

I enjoy documentaries and reading non fiction, I think that had been a big effect on how I think and perceive the world. Learning more about the butterfly effect. And definitely to not stop trying. Progress isn’t always an upward trend, there are ups and downs, the point is to try. That’s enough I feel, if nothing else, just try.

— Photography & Styling by RHEA GUPTE —

Charlyne is the Director of Alliance Francaise Panjim, Goa
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Gayle is a pastry chef whose love for food has taken her across the world and transformed her from a student to a culinary creator. Follow her adventures here.
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Jane is a photographer, low impact lifestyle advocate, plant lover and proud mama to her baby boy and co-founder of SST Goa. Follow her journey here.
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Edlyn is a writer, photographer and proud aunty. She spends her time reading books by themes, making art, lol-ing at memes, looking inwards and tending to a small patch of urban land. Get to know her better here.
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Mallaika is a handmade jewellery and curiosity artisan with a flair for chemistry, crystals and flowers. Join her explorations here.
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IKKIVI Zine is a property of IKKIVI by Founder Nivi Murthy