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Author: MushroomDana

Parenting /

Find Your Inner Zen: Meditation and Motherhood

a mother with a child in hands

As a mother, I know firsthand how overwhelming and stressful life can be. Between the demands of work, family, and personal responsibilities, it can feel like there’s never enough time in the day. However, I’ve found that practicing meditation has been a game-changer for me in terms of managing stress, finding inner peace, and reconnecting with myself. In this blog post, I’ll explore the benefits of meditation, the scientific evidence behind it, and how it can specifically benefit mothers.

Introduction to Meditation

Meditation is a practice that involves training your mind to focus and achieve a state of calmness and relaxation. It has been used for thousands of years in various spiritual and religious traditions but has also gained popularity as a secular practice in recent years. Meditation can take many forms, including mindfulness meditation, guided meditation, and visualization meditation.

Benefits of Meditation – Mindfulness, Peace of Mind, and Self-Love

One of the most significant benefits of meditation is its ability to cultivate mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged in the current moment, without judgment or distraction. When we are mindful, we can be more aware of our thoughts and emotions, which can help us manage them more effectively.

Another benefit of meditation is peace of mind. When we are stressed or anxious, our minds can feel cluttered and overwhelmed. Meditation can help quiet the mind and create a sense of inner calm. This can be especially beneficial for us mothers, who often have a lot on our plates and may struggle to find time for ourselves.

Finally, meditation can help cultivate self-love and compassion. Many of us are our own harshest critics, and we may struggle with negative self-talk or feelings of self-doubt. Through meditation, we can learn to observe our thoughts and emotions without judgment and cultivate a sense of kindness and compassion towards ourselves. Motherhood is challenging, and I believe we really need tools to make it a bit easier.

Scientific Evidence of the Benefits of Meditation

While meditation has been used for thousands of years, it’s also been the subject of numerous scientific studies in recent years. These studies have found that meditation can have a wide range of benefits, including:

  • Decreased stress and anxiety
  • Improved sleep
  • Increased sense of well-being
  • Reduced symptoms of depression
  • Lowered blood pressure
  • Strengthened immune system

One study  found that meditation can even lead to changes in the brain’s structure and function, including increased gray matter in areas associated with learning, memory, and emotional regulation.

Meditation and Motherhood

So, how can meditation specifically benefit mothers? For starters, it can help us find a sense of calm and peace amidst the chaos of daily life. When we are constantly juggling work, family, and personal responsibilities, it can be hard to take a step back and find a moment of stillness. Meditation can help us ground ourselves and reconnect with our inner selves.

I have squeezed meditation capsules wherever I could in my day, whether peeing, rocking the baby to sleep, breastfeeding, taking a shower, before sleep, or when the baby is sleeping. Yes, I know it may seem impossible to find time alone, especially when the baby is sleeping, and there are so many tasks to complete. Ladies, let’s be real here; meditation may not look the same as before having children. While meditation used to involve lighting candles, creating a circle of stones, and burning incense, it has evolved into simply closing your eyes, breathing deeply, and imagining the tension melting away from your shoulders. One minute of deep breathing is more beneficial than one minute of self-doubt and self-judgment.

As I write these words, I also remind myself that I am doing everything in my power to raise healthy, empowered, and compassionate humans while also learning to be one. And this is tough.

Additionally, meditation can help cultivate a sense of empowerment and resilience. Motherhood can be challenging, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or like we’re not doing enough. Through meditation, we can learn to cultivate inner strength and self-confidence, which can help us face the challenges of motherhood with greater ease.

Meditation and Motherhood – Finding Time for Yourself

Of course, one of the biggest challenges of meditation (and motherhood!) is finding time for yourself. It can be hard to carve out even 10 minutes of quiet time in the midst of a busy day. However, with a little creativity and intentionality, it’s possible to find moments of stillness and solitude even in the midst of a hectic schedule.

One approach is to incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine. For example, you might try practicing mindful breathing while washing dishes or taking a shower. Another option is to wake up a few minutes early each day to meditate before the rest of the household is up.

You might also consider seeking out community support. Many groups and organizations offer meditation classes specifically for mothers, which can be a great way to connect with other like-minded women while also taking care of yourself.

Conclusion – Take Your First Steps on the Path to Inner Peace

In conclusion, meditation can be an incredibly powerful tool for mothers who are looking to cultivate a greater sense of mindfulness, peace of mind, and self-love. While it can be challenging to find time for yourself amidst the demands of daily life, with a little creativity and intentionality, it’s possible to incorporate meditation into your routine in a way that works for you.

If you’re new to meditation, I encourage you to start small and be patient with yourself. Even just a few minutes of quiet reflection each day can make a big difference in your overall sense of well-being. Whether you find solace in nature, birds, sky, fly, joy, or another life, meditation can help you to connect with your inner peace and start each day feeling grounded and centered.

So take a deep breath, start small, and enjoy the journey towards greater mindfulness and inner peace.

Remember to love yourself,

Mushroom Dana signature
Self-Love /

Powerful Mantras for Peace of Mind and Inner Joy

Photo by cottonbro: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-in-red-long-sleeve-shirt-holding-white-paper-5415777/

I grew up in an Orthodox family, and religion has interested me since I was little. I don’t know why, but it seemed like an intriguing subject to me. Also, I liked asking many questions and contesting the things I was hearing or reading about. 

After I got in contact with other religions, I began to see some patterns that started to confirm some ideas I had begun to form in connection with God, life, self and religion. 

Now, after many years of internal and external research, I can’t identify myself with a specific religion and with all of them at the same time. A paradox, yes. In essence, they all speak about the same thing; a supreme loving reality from which we all came, that is in all of us and with whom we will all reconnect at some point. 

So I decided to accept all religions and take everything I could that would bring me closer to understanding myself and this indescribable entity that some of us call God.  

 

 

How I started with mantras

I first heard about mantras many years ago and tried to practice it in a few meditations. But without a clear understanding of it, it left my memory as quickly as it came. 

After listening to Eknath Easwaran’s book, The Mantram Handbook, I was able to understand what a mantra really means, how simple it is to practice, and how powerful it can be. 

For me, Rama, Rama, Rama resonated the most. It seemed effortless to memorize it and to say it in my mind. Especially in the moments I feel angry, upset, or overwhelmed. 

During my pregnancy with Tara, I had some really intense moments in which I felt so sad and cried from the deepest of my being. In those moments, Rama, Rama, and deep breaths were my only comfort. And they worked. I managed to shift my state of mind and regain calm and peace of mind.

 

So, what is a mantra?

The word mantra is derived from two Sanskrit words—manas (mind) and tra (tool). So mantra literally means “a tool for the mind” and was designed to help practitioners access their higher power and their true nature. 

“Mantra is a sound vibration through which we mindfully focus our thoughts, our feelings, and our highest intention” says music artist Girish, author of Music and Mantras: The Yoga of Mindful Singing for Health, Happiness, Peace & Prosperity. 

Sally Kempton, a meditation teacher and author of Meditation for the Love of It: Enjoying Your Own Deepest Experience said, “Over time, that vibration sinks deeper and deeper into your consciousness, helping you to eventually feel its presence as shakti—a powerful, if subtle, force working inside each of us that carries us into a deeper state of awareness.”

For me, a mantra is a way of bringing myself into presence—a method of calming my mind that gives me time to think about other possible reactions or no reactions to different situations I find myself. 

I often see myself when Arun is challenging my patience, how I get annoyed and how a few moments later, after I say the mantra in my mind, I regain my senses. It’s pretty annoying in a way because your anger wants to come out to the surface sometimes, but then you discover you have the power to transform it because you saw it. So it creates a feeling of restraint that sometimes feels like you are applying the handbrake as you go at high speed.

But, in the end, it is such a powerful feeling to be able to stop yourself from having different reactions or saying words that you usually regret the moment they came out of your mouth.

 

Mantra benefits 

In a study published recently in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, researchers from Linköping University in Sweden measured activity in a region of the brain called the default mode network. This is the area active during self-reflection and mind wandering. 

They were looking to determine how practising mantra meditation affects the brain. An overreactive default mode network can mean that the brain is constantly distracted, restless, or not centred as it should be. 

Rozalyn Simon, Ph.D., who authored the study, communicated that “the study indicates that mantra training can more effectively reduce default mode network–related distractions than something like tapping along to the beat.”

Here are some benefits of saying the mantra regularly:

  • reduces stress, eliminates the risks of getting Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases,
  • slows down the heart rate, and decreases blood pressure levels.
  • relaxes the mind, which leads to lower consumption of oxygen.
  • clears the clutter of the mind and calms down the nervous system.
  • regenerates the body through deep sleep.
  • strengthens the will.                                       

 

 

Mantras – God has many names

Even though the studies suggest that we will get the results we want, as long as we repeat something with focused attention, I tend to resonate more with what Eknath Easwaran says.        

“It is important to take into account your own background, your response to the meaning, and the practical significance of the words. Choose a mantra from one of the established traditions and recommended by a spiritual teacher with personal experience of its power.”

In other words, mantras that were used for many centuries and by great spiritual teachers like Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi, or Saint Francis of Assisi are more profound and powerful.

I believe Univers, Allah, Atman, Consciousness, Shiva, Brahman, Divine Feminine, Divine Mother, and so on are all the same God addressed by a different name in different lands and different ages.

Below is a list of simple and powerful mantras and their meanings from which you can choose. Take your time in doing so. 

 

OM – ॐ

Universal sound, the actual vibration representing birth, death and the process of rebirth. According to the ancient sages, it is the so-called cosmic sound, the creative word from which the entire universe of stars and seas, plants and animals and human beings evolved.   

 

om mantra

 

Jesus                                                 

The name Jesus is derived from the Hebrew name Yeshua/Y’shua which is based on the Semitic root y-š-ʕ (Hebrew: ישע), meaning “to deliver; to rescue.” This mantra can help us become more like Jesus Christos– full of wisdom, mercy, and love.

 

Hail Mary                                                       

A very powerful mantra that is coded in the infinite love of Mother Mary. This mantra can help us obtain great grace.

 

Om mani padme hum 

This mantra refers to the “jewel in the lotus of the heart.” This jewel is the permanent treasure of joy and security hidden deep within us, waiting to be discovered. 

 

Rama                                                             

This mantra is one of the simplest, most powerful, and most famous mantras. The name comes from the Sanskrit root “ram,” which means “to rejoice.” Rama means “he who fills us with abiding joy.” By repeating this mantram, we are reminding ourselves of the source of abiding joy that lives deep within us.

 

Krishna

The meaning of the name is “he who draws us to himself.” In the traditional Hindu language, the Godhead has three functions: creation, preservation, and destruction. Krishna is the complete form of God as the preserver or saviour of the universe. 

 

Barukh attah Adonai 

The meaning of the mantra is “Blessed art thou, O Lord.” where The Lord is the source of all strength, all courage, all joy, and all love. 

 

Ribono shel olam 

The meaning of the mantra is “Lord of the Universe.” The whole of creation is his; our lives rest in his hands.

 

Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim                    

The mantram means “In the name of Allah, the merciful, the compassionate.” Once we set our hearts on becoming united with him, the burden of our past mistakes will disappear.                  

 

Allah or Allahu akbar

“God is great” are also powerful mantras that remind us about the unity of life. It gives us the assurance that we will find our joy in contributing to the joy of those around us.

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama,
Rama Rama Hare Hare,
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna,
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare.                                                           

This mantra combines three names of the Lord: Rama, Krishna and Hare. Where Hare means “he who steals our hearts.”

 

How to practice these mantras

There are many ways to say the mantra – you can sing it, write it, recite it loudly. Also you can listen to it if it’s sung by someone else. Or you can record yourself and listen to the record when you can. 

Yet, the mantra is most effective when we say it silently, in the mind, with as much concentration as possible. Repeat your mantra silently whenever you get the chance. I say the mantra while taking a walk, waiting for the bus , when I get angry or doing mechanical chores. Very importantly is to say the mantra, when I you fall asleep. 

 

 

Final words

I know we are all different and that we resonate with different things and practices. Still, I ask that you do not say, “It’s not for me,” until you try working with a mantra. 

I believe the most transformational practices are the simplest ones and only need our presence and attention.

I hope you will find a mantra that will bring peace of mind, abundance and many blessings in your life. The same as Rama, Rama has brought blessings in my life and in the lives of many. 

 

Remember to love yourself,

Mushroom Dana signature

 

 

Food /

Raspberry Leaf Tea Recipes You’ll Actually Want to Drink

Raspberry Leaf Tea Recipes - pexels-photo-10664871

I first read about raspberry leaf tea and its benefits in the last trimester of my pregnancy with Arun. Then I bought it and used it for the first time. Arun was born two weeks earlier than the due date, and the birth was faster than both Christian and I was able to realize.

Even though it is said to be a magical elixir that helps make natural childbirth easier, I can’t say that my easy birth experience happened due to the red raspberry leaf tea. But I do believe that, to a certain degree, it contributed to how my body reacted before, during, and after the labor, along with birth affirmations, research and other things I had done. 

If you are not pregnant or don’t plan to have kids, don’t worry, this tea has plenty of benefits that you can benefit from too. I will list them below, so bear with me.

For my second pregnancy, I made sure to drink this tea regularly and also add a few ingredients to make it more enjoyable. It doesn’t taste bad, but it doesn’t have the most delicious taste either.

At the end of this blog post, you will find five recipes you can try.

 

 

Researchers – what are they saying? 

Many studies have proven that red raspberry leaf tea can make labor faster and reduce complications.

  • This study on a group of mamas indicates that raspberry leaf tea can help shorten labor and result in fewer medical interventions.
  • Red raspberry leaf in capsule form helped shorten the second stage of labor and reduced the need for forceps delivery to some extent, as shown in this study.
  • D. Jill Mallory MD, in Integrative Medicine (Fourth Edition), says, “Although this botanical is often mistakenly recommended to induce labor, its actual role is to increase blood flow to the uterus and aid the uterine muscle fibers in more organized contractions.”

 

Benefits

Best known as “the woman’s herb,” red raspberry leaf tea has all sorts of benefits, especially in vulnerable and possibly challenging moments such as periods or pregnancy. 

For thousands of years, red raspberry leaves were used for menstrual support and during pregnancy to help prepare the womb for childbirth in Europe. The ancient Greeks, Romans, Chinese, and Ayurvedic physicians also used it widely as a treatment for wounds and diarrhea. 

Red raspberry leaf is known to:

  • ease menstrual discomfort
  • improve reproductive health
  • help improve the immune system
  • balance hormones to increase fertility
  • strengthen the uterus and the pelvic area
  • prepare the body for labor and childbirth
  • improve the strength of the amniotic sac
  • improve the effectiveness of contractions
  • improve chances of implantation
  • help balance postpartum hormones
  • reduce pain during labor and after birth
  • help produce breast milk due to the high mineral count 
  • prevent miscarriage by strengthening and toning the uterine wall

Red raspberry leaf contains vitamins and minerals such as vitamins C, E, and A, a variety of B vitamins, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. It also contains essential trace minerals such as zinc, iron, chromium, and manganese.

 

When is the right time to drink it?  

The answer to this question is not an easy one. So it is best to talk to your healthcare provider about when to start drinking red raspberry leaf tea.

Many birth professionals (midwives in general) recommend waiting until the 2nd trimester. This is because raspberry leaf tea is a powerful uterine tonic that stimulates the pelvic floor muscles. This may increase uterine contractions and potentially threaten early labor, although there are no studies to verify this.

The most important thing is to watch how YOUR body responds and make changes accordingly.

 

How much red raspberry leaf tea should you drink?

Again it depends on how your body reacts. It is best to talk with your doctor or midwife and after receiving their approval, start with the recommended dosage on the package—one cup per day in the second trimester. 

Please bear in mind that every mama is different and some of you may have irritable uteruses, which means that it is best for you and your baby to drink red raspberry leaf tea once you reach your due date because of uterine cramping.

 

 

The best red raspberry leaf tea

Go to your local health food store and ask for this tea. There is every chance you will find it there. Aim for the organic certified bulk bag of red raspberry leaves. 

You can also find the tea online. In the USA, you can look for FRONTIER CO-OP; in Europe, you can buy online from Plukt.

Avoid raspberry-flavored herbal teas because they may have ingredients like hibiscus, rose hips, apples, elderberries, or artificial raspberry flavors. These teas are very likely not to contain raspberry leaves and thus do not offer any of the potential benefits of red raspberry leaves. 

 

Ceramic mug

 

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea recipes

1. Warm Coconut RRLT

This creamy drink will fill your body with a feeling of coziness and peace that both you and your baby will enjoy. 

  • In a pan, mix the following:
    • 2 cups of water
    • 2 spoons of RRLT
    • 1 cinnamon stick
    • 1 teaspoon of black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon of cloves
    • 1 teaspoon of cardamom
    • half a cup of light coconut milk
  • After mixing,
    • boil the ingredients for 5 minutes
    • get them off the fire and let them sit for another 5 minutes
    • pour the tea into a cup
    • put 1 teaspoon of honey to taste and stir
  • Sip slowly and enjoy!

 

2. Hot recipe –  RRLT, Lemon, Ginger, and Honey

This elixir will not only strengthen your immune system and your baby’s immune system but will also help both of you have a more pleasant third trimester, labor and delivery.

  • For this tea, I used a regular tea cup. 
  • In a tea bag, I mixed 
    • one and a half spoons of RRLT
    • 1 spoon of freshly grated ginger
  • After mixing,
    • insert the bag into the cup 
    • put the juice of half a lemon
    • put 1-2 spoons of raw honey, preferably manuka, for added immunity 
    • pour boiled water and cover the cup
    • let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Enjoy!

 

3. Cold recipe – RRLT, Camomile, and Rose Petals

This delicious recipe is a must for summertime. Besides needing extra fluids and minerals in hot weather, this tea will satisfy your thirst and taste buds. I’m so happy that my second pregnancy had the final months in summer because I was able to discover and enjoy this tea. 

  • For this tea, I used a 1,6 L of a tea-making cup
  • How to:
    •  fill the tea container with equal parts of red raspberry leaves, camomile, and rose petals.
    • pour filtered room temperature water
    • let it sit for a couple of hours in the refrigerator

It lasts me about two days if Christian is not drinking from it, which happens all the time because he also likes it very much. 

Raspberry Leaf Tea Recipes

 

4. Hot or cold recipe – RRLT and Mint

Mint is refreshing and makes the RRLT so smooth and enjoyable to drink, both hot and cold. In Denmark, you can have almost all the seasons in one day, so this tea fits perfectly. 

  • For this recipe, I used a regular tea cup. 
  • In a tea bag, I mixed 
    • one and a half spoons of RRLT
    • 10 fresh mint leaves
  • How to prepare the tea:
    • insert the bag into the cup 
    • pour boiled water and cover the cup
    • let it sit for 10 minutes
    • drink it hot or let it in the refrigerator for a few hours
  • Enjoy!

 

5. After Pregnancy Tea Blend

During the postpartum period, it is best to continue drinking tea blends that can help with nutrition, recovery, and milk supply. This tea combination is excellent for boosting vitamin K, iron, and magnesium levels. 

  • In a tea mug, mix the following
    • 2 spoons of RRLT
    • 1 spoon nettle leaf
    • 3 spoons camomile
    • 1 teaspoon of fennel
  • After mixing,
    • pour filtered, boiled water into the tea mug container
    • let it sit for 10 minutes
    • you can add some honey as a sweetener if you feel like it.
  • Enjoy!

 

 

I hope these recipes will delight your senses and will make your pregnancy more enjoyable and healthy. If you have other recipes that you discovered, please feel free to share them with us. 

Mama, I’m wishing you an easy and flawless birth. May you and your new bubble of light be healthy, joyful and thriving. 

 

Remember to love yourself.

Mushroom Dana signature

 

 

Home /

13 Eco-Friendly Bamboo Products We Use Daily

Bamboo products

I have always liked bamboo plants and the products made from them. I think it’s such a beautiful and unique plant. After I started researching how we can live a more sustainable life, I discovered that bamboo has so many properties which I did not know before. Now I’m just in love with it.

The journey to a more sustainable and eco-friendly life is a process that takes time and is made with little but consistent steps. Nowadays, it’s easier to have a cosy home and also care for the environment. We just need to see where we can make a few changes.

So If you’ve wondered how to start, the answer is very simple – start with stuff you use every day. For example, you can replace your plastic toothbrush with a biodegradable bamboo toothbrush.

 

 

More about Bamboo

There are many products made of bamboo, ranging from household items, clothing, cosmetics or jewellery and ending with buildings. There is even bamboo honey – the possibilities are endless.

​​As a material, bamboo is much more efficient than wood – it grows more quickly, requires little water, and doesn’t require any pesticides.

Bamboo is one of the most eco-friendly plants. It is a super sustainable alternative due to its naturally renewing properties:

  • anti-fungal
  • hardwearing
  • anti-bacterial
  • earth-friendly
  • odour resistant
  • 100% biodegradable
  • helps rebuild eroded soil
  • regrows to its adult plant size in 3 to 5 years
  • produces 35% more oxygen than similar plants
  • requires far less water than similar plants (e.g. cotton)

Due to the fact that the production is more cost-effective than other similar materials, the items made from bamboo are much cheaper.

Also, bamboo forests are extremely valuable to the environment. They lower carbon levels, produce oxygen, control soil erosion, provide organic material, and conserve biodiversity. Isn’t it easy to fall in love with it?

So, if you need a little inspiration, here are some examples of bamboo products that we use every day for a more minimal and low waste home.

 

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1. Bamboo (electric) Toothbrush

I think the first bamboo product I bought was a bamboo toothbrush. Recently, we discovered an electric bamboo toothbrush that totally changed everything. Christian and I are super excited about them. 

They are made with compostable bamboo heads and plant-based bristles and are a true revolution for those who want more powerful teeth clean.

toothbrush-bamboo

 

2. Breakfast Board made of Bamboo

We changed the plastic mats with these beautiful personalised bamboo boards that make our meals more joyful and lovely.

Breakfast-board

 

3. Exfoliating Body Brush

Dry brushing clears pores in the exfoliation process. It also helps to detoxify the skin by increasing blood circulation and promoting lymph drainage. 

In the beginning, dry brushing your skin can feel a bit rough, but after a few brushes, your body starts to relax and to enjoy this healthy and beneficial pre-bath habit. My body loves it every time. 

body-brush

 

 

4. Bamboo Wooden Laptop Stand 

I spend a lot of time on the computer due to the nature of my work. Last year, I had some shoulder problems due to an incorrect position in front of the computer, so I started investing more in things that could help me be more comfortable when working.  

One of these things is this bamboo laptop stand that gives me a more ergonomic viewing height. I chose this model because it has a beautiful design, is ultra-lightweight, easy to use and easy to carry with me when I’m working remotely.

 

5. Japanese Bamboo Wind Chime 

I like to use different objects that can help me go deeper and have a more profound experience in my meditation practice. For example, I started using the sounds of chimes a year ago and each time I hear them, a feeling of peace and gratitude runs through my whole body.

These chakra healing wind chimes are specially created with sound healing frequencies to heal a specific chakra and are also made from bamboo.

Bamboo-Chakra-Sound-Healing

 

6. Montessori Wooden Toddler Knife and Cutting Board

An important aspect of kids’ development is teaching them to be independent. We noticed Arun’s interest in helping us in the kitchen, so we bought him this Montessori wooden knife for his birthday. Since then, he always cuts his fruits by himself and enjoys the process every time. 

It is very important when you encourage independence in our kids but take into account the child’s age so they don’t handle tasks above their age. Each age has its freedoms and limitations.

Safe-knife-Kids

 

 

7. Bamboo Side Lamp

I have had this lamp for six years now, I brought it with me from Romania when I moved to Denmark, and I still enjoy it every single time I use it.  Each time I turn on the light in the bedroom, a sense of peace and cosiness surrounds me. The light it emits is perfect for relaxation and peace of mind. I adore it.

bamboo-lamp

 

8. Reusable Cotton Rounds with a Bamboo Jar  

I use make-up occasionally, but I still clean my face at the end of each day. It’s incredible how much dust can stick to our faces daily. These reusable cotton rounds are so soft to touch and the jar looks lovely in my bathroom. 

bamboo-pads-+-jar

 

9. Dynamic Copper-Nail

Meditating on dynamic nail boards can improve emotional and physical strength, focus and overall wellness. According to Chinese and Indian Ayurveda medicines, feet and hands have hundreds of acupressure points responsible for energy flow, relaxation, and the entire body’s health. 

BAMBOO-Dynamic-Copper-Nail-Boards

 

10. Wall hanging Baskets

I use these baskets in our bedroom as support for flowers, on the balcony for lights to make the balcony cozier, in the bathroom to store my brushes and hair ties and in the kitchen for towels. The colour and beautiful design make them fit everywhere with style. 

basket

 

 

11. Organic Bamboo Bed Sheet set 

Sleep is an essential part of our well-being. It’s the time we regenerate the most. 

I discovered the organic bamboo bed sheets recently and we are so pleased with them. They are made from 100% premium and organic bamboo fibre and are insatiably soft, cooling and moisturizing. Me and Christian love to tuck into them for a sweet and quality sleep. 

The fabrics are Oeko-Tex certified for chemical safety and tested in an SGS lab for antibacterial properties.

bamboo-sheets

 

12. Natural Bamboo Drinking Cup 

Our daily smoothies look lovely and taste so good in these bamboo drinking cups. Arun is the biggest fan of them because they are easy to use and feel so fine to touch. 

bamboo-cup

 

13. Bamboo Suction Plate + Bamboo Suction Bowl + Spoon + Bib 

We couldn’t opt for a more suitable dining set for Arun. They are made from beautiful bamboo, kinder to the planet and nicer for little hands to touch, easy to wash and resistant to shocks. We all know how children love to experiment and that can be professional quality controllers.

Bamboo-suction-plate

 

Final Words

Now more than ever, it’s easier to find products that are affordable and made from sustainable materials that are good for our health and also have respect for this wonderful planet we live on. We can all make a difference and create a greener world today by switching to sustainable bamboo products and we can always start with little steps.

 

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How are you contributing to a healthier ecosystem? Share your thoughts with this community. We are more than willing to find out new ways in which we can improve the quality of our lives. 

 

Remember to love yourself,

Mushroom Dana signature

 

 

Parenting /

22 Birth Affirmations for Labor and Delivery

pregnancy affirmations delibvery

Pregnancy and labor are two experiences that come with many challenges and blessings at the same time. For my first pregnancy, I planned and organised everything months in advance.

Now, with my second pregnancy, I’m more relaxed and more focused on the things I noticed that really helped me in the moment of labor, during my first pregnancy. Things like conscious breathing, Kegel exercises, yoga, birth ball and birth affirmation. 

So, I have decided to share with you my favorite labor affirmations. Whisper them, scream them, sing them, repeat them over and over in your head and they will help you be more conscious during the whole process of birth — before and after.  

Download these birth affirmations, share them, and print your favorites to take to the hospital as a reminder that you can handle everything that comes your way. You are a strong and beautiful woman. You are a goddess who will soon give birth to a beautiful and healthy baby. Be proud of yourself and let this moment empower you in every possible way. 

 

 

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I’m sending you blessings, positive thoughts and vibrations if you are giving birth soon! Do you plan to use these birth affirmations? What are your favorites? Please comment below.

 

PS: Check out these beautiful quotes about compassion, self-love & empowerment.

 

Remember to love yourself,

Mushroom Dana signature

 

 

Conscious Lifestyle /

9 Productivity Tips for Working From Home

Working From Home (pexels-cottonbro-4065876)

I have always admired people who worked from home. From my perception, they worked less and had more free time to do also other things like pursuing a passion, going for a walk in the park in the middle of the day or resolving certain administrative issues. Overall, I believed they were more relaxed and happier in their lives. 

Now that I have experienced working from home, I can say that I don’t necessarily have more free time, but surely I accomplish more in my personal and professional life. I am happier, more relaxed and my creativity doesn’t feel choked. 

In the beginning, it was extremely challenging to shift my perspective from a fixed working schedule, 09:00 – 19:00 to a self-designed schedule. I had plenty of times when I felt like I was shadowing the earth in vain. So deep were certain beliefs rooted. 

Fortunately, I managed with time to change my perception, be more organized with my time and start feeling productive in all aspects of my life.

So, if you just started working from home and you are searching for some productivity and creativity ideas, you have come to the right place. In this post, I will be sharing 9 productivity tips for working from home.

 

 

1. Create a schedule

I have made so many schedules and routines in the past two years that I lost track of them. After many trials and errors, some things stuck with me and I noticed that they helped me be more focused and accomplish more in a day. 

One of these things is planning. Organising the things I have to do before I start working on them is an ideal way to save valuable time. Often, it seemed like a waste of time to take 2-3 hours to make a plan. However, every time I did this, I felt more relaxed, my mind was sharper, and the things I accomplished were many and better done.

It is not for nothing that it is said that things planned are half accomplished. It is like you are detaching from the situation and creating a clear picture of it. Suddenly, the weight of the unknown dissolves, leaving behind enthusiasm and a desire to stick to your schedule.

Keep in mind that different people have different working styles, and it might take some trial and error to figure out your own way. It is best to experiment with different approaches until you finally determine what kind of planning works for you.

 

2. Designate a workspace

Having your space well divided can help you much more than you can imagine. When I first started working from home a few years ago, I did most of the work on the couch. I was very driven to do something on my own and didn’t pay too much attention to how or where I was working. 

After one year, I started having acute pain in my shoulder blades, so much that at one point, I couldn’t even work. I had to go to the chiropractor a few times to put my shoulders back in the correct position. 

With time, I began to create and recreate my working space. It started small, with just a little desk and a chair, which eventually expanded into a whole room. 

I had so much fun decorating my office, and now I enjoy every single moment I spend there. Also, I am more productive and I feel there is a healthy delimitation between work and family. 

Having a cosy home and a working space where you are comfortable and productive is key to living a balanced and fulfilling life. 

TIP #1: Don’t stress about having to buy new furniture. Check your Facebook marketplace to see if you can find something you like there. In this way, you will not need to invest a large amount of money and you will help the environment too. I got most of my furniture from there.

TIP #2: Make your workspace personal. Add some plants, motivational quotes, crystals, a morning routine checklist, pictures or anything that will feed your eyes and fill you with higher energy. 

 

Productivity Tips for Working From Home

 

3. Dress for success

Yes, get dressed. Don’t be careless about yourself and your appearance even if you work from home. In fact, when you arrange yourself to go to work, you don’t do it so that other people will see you, correct? You take care of yourself because it makes you feel good. It gives you confidence and power in yourself. 

It is the same when you have your office at home. Since I started my freelance journey, I have had days in which I worked in my pyjamas, but surely they weren’t my best and most productive days.

It felt ok at the beginning, but after a few hours, it seemed like I was somehow lost in time. My mind couldn’t figure out if it was leisure or work, morning or afternoon and besides these, I didn’t feel good about myself.

 

4. Opt for healthy food and snacks

I believe you already know that what you eat throughout the day affects the way you think and act, your productivity and your concentration level.  

This is just a reminder for you to opt for healthy foods and snacks that can fuel you and not drain you. Also, always have a water bottle on your desk and within your reach. I guarantee you won’t even realize when you will finish it and in this way, you will stay hydrated too. 

TIP #1: If you need inspiration on what you can eat during the day or what kind of snacks can fuel your body, check out Pick up Limes. I often make the recipes she recommends, and they always turn out to be delicious. 

 

5. Plan your breaks

It can be very easy to lose yourself in work and forget to even get up from the chair and walk a few steps. This has certainly happened to me many times. Luckily, I now have a watch that reminds me to get up every 30 minutes. You can also set a timer on your phone or laptop to notify you every 30 minutes or one hour to take a break. 

Research has shown that breaks can help us reduce stress when we work. We all know that the less stress we experience, the easier it is to be more productive and creative.

TIP #1: Go for a walk and ground yourself. Put your hands on a tree or stick your feet in the ground to discharge the static energy and charge yourself with negative ions. You can find out more about grounding by reading this article.

 

 

6. Avoid distractions and time-wasters

Observe the things that distract you throughout the day and do your best to avoid them at any cost. Types of distraction; phone notifications, emails, phone calls, your husband asking what to pick up from the market or your kid who wants to play with you. Basically, anything that interrupts your flow when you feel you are fully immersed in what you are doing.

There’s a reason that distractions threaten our work output: According to a University of California Irvine study, “it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back to the task.” Pretty much for a simple interruption, don’t you think?

TIP #1: What can we do instead to refresh our minds and be more creative? A good thing to do is gaze on a window. Looking out of a window can give us a quick cognitive boost. It provides a micro-break for our brains, a micro-rest that can be very helpful for our attention. 

 

7. Develop routines

Habits can help us be more driven, focused and productive in all aspects of our lives. But it is important to cultivate uplifting routines like morning routines or evening routines that will prepare us for success. 

TIP #1: Declutter and ventilate your working space before starting to work. 

TIP #2: Check your to-do list and write down your priority tasks for the next day, after finishing work. In this way, you will know exactly where to start the following day.

At one point, these actions will become familiar, part of your daily life, and you will not even see them as to do things but rather, natural things that you do effortlessly.  

morning routine challengeFree download

 

8. Communicate your boundaries

If you are not living alone and your only concern is stopping your cat from parading in front of your laptop, then you need to communicate very clearly your boundaries. 

No matter how much you intend to stick to your plan and be productive, at one point, you will be distracted. Especially if you have kids. I think many of us have experienced at least once the frustration of being completely absorbed in getting something done and being interrupted by your kid. 

So having some clear boundaries can help prevent moments of frustration and feelings of guilt that often accompany such moments.

Yes, if the kids are little, we can’t expect them to understand and respect those boundaries fully. In this case, the discussion should be with the other adult that is taking care of the child.

TIP #1: I can say that many times when I told my son that I needed 5-10 minutes to finish something, he understood and gave me a few minutes to finish what I was doing. For this to work, you always, ALWAYS have to keep to your word. After those 5-10 minutes, you go and give him/her your full attention. In this way, you will create a healthy communication between you two. 

 

9. Go easy on yourself

We have the power to be our worst judge and enemy or our best supporter and source of motivation. The choice is always at a change of perception distance. 

Often, we think that we could have accomplished more in a day than we actually did. When we begin to rebuke ourselves over the things we haven’t done, instead of congratulating ourselves for the things we did do, we settle ourselves for frustration and low self-esteem, among others. 

Speak kindly with yourself, using positive, encouraging and uplifting words that will settle your mind for expansion and greatness. 

TIP #1: Use words wisely, especially those you use to speak with yourself in your mind. Read more about the power of words and how words shape our reality. 

 

How to Get Your Life Back into Balance. Every Time!

 

Final words

Working from home can be both challenging and extremely rewarding. I believe a lot has to do with how we manage to organize ourselves and find the flow that works best for each of us. There is no right plan to follow.

Still, certain things can make our workflow feel more creative, productive and fulfilling. Those things can be schedules, routines, healthy fuels for the body, communicating boundaries, gazing through a window or having a beautiful place where you enjoy working. It is up to you to find what fills your heart with joy and your mind with creativity.

If you put into practice some of the ideas presented above, please share your experience with us. It will be wonderful to know how they improved your productivity.  

 

Remember to love yourself,

Mushroom Dana signature horizontal Working From Home

Working From Home Working From Home

 

Self-Love /

How to Invite Gratitude into Your Daily Life

how to invite gratitude into your life

Gratitude is a virtue that can change our lives but that is slightly used and far too little understood. When we think about gratitude we need to have in mind the three components that make it so powerful. The first one is feeling grateful for the things you have in your life. The second one is expressing your gratitude to the people, situations, places, animals who have made your life better. The third and final element is adopting new behaviours that enrich your life due to interacting with those who have taught you.

Brain scans of people assigned a task that stimulates the expression of gratitude show lasting changes in the prefrontal cortex that enhance sensitivity to future experiences of gratitude.

We all encounter gratitude at least once in our lives. So it is not a strange concept that needs to be understood. Instead, it is something to be remembered and practised daily. Gratitude is a state of awareness that can be cultivated. 

 

Before I started practising gratitude

I grew up in a contradictory environment in many aspects where gratitude and feeling sorry for myself was one of them. So even though I knew that I had things to be grateful for, I also felt a lack inside me. A constant feeling of not being enough and not having enough.

Our parents always taught my sister and me to be grateful for what we have. But on the other hand, all our childhood, we heard our father complain about everything: money, government, society, etc. So I grew up thinking and feeling that life is unfair and cruel to those who are not wealthy and that you have to work hard all your life to “make it”. To have a secure job, to be obedient and be like the rest of the world. 

For the major part of my life, I felt sorry for myself for not having enough money, not being smart enough, or living in the wrong country. These thoughts and ideas made me restless, insecure of myself and upset at how unfair the world is. Even though all my life, I enjoyed the little things like riding a bike under the moonlight or the gentleness of a ladybug, I never saw them as blessings or reasons to be grateful for.

 

 

Why did I start practising gratitude?

I started practising gratitude because I could no longer bear to feel like a victim in my own life. I was tired of waiting for something to happen — to be understood, to be saved, to meet someone who would see me as the beautiful, intelligent and unique human that I am. 

As we all know, everyone has their bottoms. When you feel like you hit one, you can only start rebuilding yourself. One of the tools I used to reconstruct myself was through practising gratitude, which wasn’t as easy as I imagined. 

For example, I had many moments in which I was telling myself that I was grateful for the bed I slept in but didn’t really feel any gratitude. I felt like a liar, and I thought I was fake. There was usually a conflict inside me between what I was thinking and what I was feeling. Consciously, I knew gratitude would free me, but my emotions were not on the same page.

 

How and when I introduced gratitude into my daily life

The changes we want to see in the world starts with the changes we do in our perceptions. Many studies have shown that if you train your mind to look for the good in humans and in the world, you will be more inclined to act with kindness. Even when a difficult situation occurs. 

I know that life is not full of rainbows and honey bees but let’s think logically. When we have a mindset of luck and misfortune, we live in fear. In such stages of awareness, it is too unlikely for humans to help and care for each other. We incline to focus more on our misfortune. 

I have also been leaning toward this mindset but since I started practising gratitude on a daily basis I see everything through another spectrum. Below are three situations in which I worked with gratitude and managed to make it a lens through that I now view life.

 
Complaining 

Whenever I noticed myself complaining about something, I stopped and searched for something to be grateful for. Let’s take an example. All my life I was concerned about money and not having enough until the end of the month. My head was full of drops and additions but mainly drops. “So if I buy this thing, I will remain with that amount, minus the bills, extra costs, minus food etc.” 

So I changed the drops and additions with being grateful that I had enough money to buy some food, to pay a decent rent, to buy clothes to wear, money to charge my phone, pay for the subway ticket and even afford to buy myself a coffee from time to time, and so on. 

Little by little, I started to lose grip of the old pattern and it became easier to shift my mind from a mindset of lack to a perspective of abundance and gratitude.

 

 

Challenging situations

Whenever I was facing challenging situations, I began focusing more on the good things that could result from it. I focused on accepting the situation and gave more time to thoughts like – ‘what did I have to learn from the situation?’ rather than ‘why did this happen to me?’. 

In 91% of the cases, I got to the point of being so grateful for what had happened, even though it seemed like it was the end of the world at the beginning. The other 9% are situations I have forgotten or I need more time to understand them. 

For example, many years ago, I was fired from a job where I constantly felt pressured and judged for my actions. But, throughout this job, I never had a clear direction from my superiors on the tasks I had to do. The feeling of being fired can be devastating for some. You feel like you failed. You feel unworthy, like you have a mark of NOT GOOD ENOUGH on your forehead. It’s horrible.

Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Peery wrote a book explaining how what happened to us in childhood contributes to the distorted perception we have about ourselves and life and how this affects us.

Still, it was after this event, that I started meditating and working more consciously with myself. Finally, after three and a half months of mental and emotional struggle, I found a wonderful workplace. I met beautiful people, which helped me grow in so many ways I can’t possibly explain. Now I can only feel gratitude for being fired because I would not have dared to resign.

 

When you disagree, break up or fight with someone.

These are the moments when your patterns can be changed or reinforced if they serve you. 

I believe we all have had moments where we wished we had more control over our words, reactions and emotions. Only recently I have learned that things like this take time to be understood and by many repetitions. If you didn’t grow up in an environment where these values were taught and also practised.

I’m still learning not to be hard on myself whenever I don’t manage to keep cool and stay calm. I exercise to change the judging part with being grateful for the situation because it shows me where I need to focus my attention. All it needs it’s a bit of awareness. 

After each tense situation, I spend my time visualising myself being calmer next time and expressing myself more clearly. Finally, I end up feeling grateful for the opportunity of expanding my wisdom and self-understanding.

If you break up with someone, be grateful that life has forced you to take the next step. Unfortunately, most of us keep trying to resurrect long-dead relationships that only drain us of self-love. I have done this in almost all my past relationships until I understood that I was much better off without them.

When I look back on all of these situations and moments in life, waves of gratitude run through my whole body. I couldn’t be more grateful to life and to the people who contributed to these events because they all helped me become the person I am today.

 

Other ways you can practice gratitude

  1. Take a photo/video daily of something you are grateful for and post it on your social media platform – Instagram, Facebook, TikTok. You can add #365project as a caption/hashtag.

  2. Write a letter, send a message, or an audio message to someone you appreciate. Tell them what you learned from them and that you are grateful for the lessons and teachings you received from them.

  3. Write on a piece of paper the basic things you are grateful for. Things like eyes, ears, hands, hair, feet, the clothes you have on you. Write that you are grateful for the water you drink, the food you ate, the plate in which you had your food. Keep writing and expanding until you run out of things to be grateful for, or field out two pages. Then, look at the pages and draw your own conclusions.

  4. Insert gratitude into your daily rituals. Link it to something you’re doing every day, like brushing your teeth for example. Next time you brush your teeth, say this. I am grateful for my teeth, toothbrush, toothpaste, the water I use to brush my teeth, for the sink, for your bathroom etc.

  5. Play a game with your partner or yourself before sleep. Both of you should say three things you are grateful for. Learn how to play this game.  

  6. Start a gratitude diary. Each day, write three things you are grateful for in your journal; one thing that made you smile and one thing you like or appreciate about yourself.

gratitude
 

Benefits of daily gratitude

Practising gratitude has been shown to create structural and functional changes in the brain, benefiting physical and mental health. Among the benefits are – grounding in the present moment, strengthening the connection to others, increasing feelings of self-worth, blocking negative emotions and improving sleep quality. A study made by a team of experts explains how gratitude can also be seen in the brain’s activity. 

“Our findings show that greater gratitude expression generally correlated more with activity in the parietal and lateral prefrontal cortex rather than activity in the limbic regions. We found activity correlating with gratitude specifically extending across the intraparietal sulcus and inferior frontal gyrus, both of which have previously been implicated in mental arithmetic.”

An earlier study also showed that “individuals who identify gratitude in a social narrative more often showed greater hypothalamic activity while reading sentences that describe a social interaction. This may reflect significant physiological effects of recognising gratitude.” In other words, when we practise gratitude, we incline to see the social events more compassionately. 

Personally, what I feel has changed the most in my life since I started practising gratitude daily is the pressure and judgment I put on myself and others. I feel more relaxed and have a clearer picture of things when unexpected events occur. This practice created a space where I can see my thoughts and actions before doing them. Not always, but significantly more often than in the past.

 

 

Final words

Gratitude has more power to make our lives happier and healthier than we have ever imagined. Now that we have so much research backing up this information, we have no excuse not to practice gratitude daily. We can all change the old patterns that no longer serve us and start living more consciously and healthily. 

Feeling and expressing gratitude changed my life. I have more confidence in myself and I see people and situations in my life more compassionately. I have more peace of mind than ever before and I’m more certain that I can design the life I want for myself.

As I said before, I believe God (or how you choose to name this force that it is sustaining everything) lies in paradoxes. The paradox here is that most of us live in fear and lack while we also have instant access to gratitude. It is free, always at a thought distance and with long-term benefits on every aspect of our lives and still, we don’t use it. 

Isn’t that what we’re all looking for with such zeal when we are searching for something to help us live fulfilling lives? Free, now and have the capacity to transform our lives forever for the better?

gratitude

 

Remember to love yourself,

Mushroom Dana signature

 

 

Parenting /

The Benefits of Alone Time. For Mums

Benefits of alone time for moms

I am both an introvert and an extrovert. In simpler terms, I am an ambivert. I love to play with Arun, engage in conversations and be surrounded by as many people as much as I love being alone with my cat, thoughts and plants.

Since I had Arun, the only time I had alone was a few hours a day which was great, but a feeling of constant rush always shaded them. You never know what to do first, where to start and which activity is more important; rest, work, yoga, clean, etc. Until now, it was impossible to have a clean house, do my workout, meditate, write a whole article, eat a proper meal, and rest all on the same day. Sometimes I was able to do some and on other days, I was able to do the others.

First time alone at home after 3 years 

Alone at home for four consecutive days, a rare luxury after three years, felt like the first summer vacation of my life. Maybe this seems inconceivable to some of you, and I can understand that. Something shifts and can never be unsifted again when you become a mother. There is a feeling that you will have inside you all your life, day in and day out, no matter how many days you will be alone.

Yet, the sheer notion of unhurried time was incredibly liberating. Unbeknownst to me, my thoughts had been weaving complexities into my daily life, and this newfound solitude brought unparalleled clarity.

It is fascinating to see from outside how our thoughts and perceptions influence the way we think, feel and react. However, when we have the opportunity to see ourselves through these lenses, everything becomes clearer and lighter.

4 Days, 4 Discoveries

In these four days of being alone, I discovered many things that were hidden from me or that I was thinking of but wasn’t quite sure about. I will share only four with you and let you discover the rest of them when you have your days alone.

1. Clarified perspectives, plans and purposes

Things well planned are halfway done. Not once have I found myself testing this saying, just to discover if it is true. When I take the time to organise, I feel more relaxed. I have a clearer picture of everything, and I do more of what I intend to do.

When Arun and Christian were on their mini-holiday in Italy, I had the time and the peace to think about what I want, to plan my next moves and to create a flow between all the aspects of my life so I could feel fulfilled on each one of them.

Benefits of alone time for moms

2. It helped me reconnect with myself.

Psychiatrist and parenting expert Dr Carole Lieberman says, “Moms need time to nurture the other parts of themselves — besides nurturing their children. They need time alone to do this. A mom can only be as good a nurturer to her kids as she takes alone time to nurture herself. She needs to replenish herself so that she has more to give her children.”

When you have a child, putting yourself first is challenging, even if you know it is the best thing for everyone. Creating a balance between the time you give yourself and the time you give to your child, your partner, your job, your hobbies, your home is a personal thing and a work in progress. Everyone knows the best balance in their life and may vary from day-to-day or to time-to-time.

But on these few days in which I was alone, I had the time to focus only on myself. I remembered what I enjoyed doing before I had Arun. I had the time to blend the old me (soft, restless, confused) with the new me (more mature, powerful, tired, fearless). Also, I rested, offered myself a coffee at the local coffee shop, walked in nature, wrote two articles and much more. All this helped me have a clear picture of myself and of the present I live in.

3. I had the time to reconsider my words and reactions.

A kid pushes all sorts of buttons and shows you how much you have to work with yourself each and every single day to stay aware and bring yourself into balance. Sometimes you manage to observe yourself in time, have the best answers and stay calm in the most stressful situations. Still, there are also days when Medusa comes out, and you say things you regret the second they come out of your mouth.

One thing that helped me change my behaviour and reactions in the past years was to rethink my reactions in advance. How I wished to react and how I would like others to react if I was in that situation are two questions that made me more conscious about the situations I was confronted with. Of course, it doesn’t always work and sometimes it takes many trials and failures until you can master your reactions, but it always helps both you and your baby because it helps you be more aware of yourself.

Benefits of alone time for moms

4. I am a better partner.

After ourselves, our romantic relationship is the second that is undergoing drastic transformations. It is easy to lose yourself in this parenting journey, especially in the first years. So it takes conscious actions to prioritise and nourish our romantic relationships. At least from time to time.

During those days I was alone, I had the time to think more about Christian, about his struggles and transformation. About the beautiful man and father, he became. I had the time to plan little surprises, to remember our journey and settle new perspectives for ourselves.

I could see what was missing and how we could make our relationship even stronger. How much I miss him when he is not around and how blessed I am to walk beside him in this life journey we have chosen to experience.

Conclusion

Mothers need time alone to care for themselves to be better moms, women, and wives. We give so much and we are the core of everything. We are goddesses that give birth to the alchemists of the future. Everything revolves around us, so we need our lonely moments to create a healthy foundation for their kingdom.

Having the time to plan relieves us of half of the mental pressure we put on ourselves. It gives us new perspectives and more time to enjoy ourselves, our little alchemists and our partners. Nurturing goes both ways, each and every time. We can’t offer someone what we don’t have. Yes, we can do it mechanically, but it will never be truly fulfilling on either side.

When we are alone, we prepare ourselves to have better anger management in the future by simply visualising ourselves having the reactions that are best for us and those around us.

Self-love implies loving others truly and not the other way around.

I would love to know how it was for you when you had this experience for the first time. What did you discover? How did it translate in your relationships? Write your thoughts below.

Remember to love yourself,

Mushroom Dana signature

Romantic Love /

Night Habit for a Healthy Relationship. With Yourself or Your Partner.

night habit healthy relationship

One of the most important aspects of a relationship, whether we are talking about a romantic relationship or our relationship with ourselves, are the habits we embrace. Habits are part of our daily lives, even if we want them or not. 

Life is a constant process of learning and unlearning things, so it is better to design new habits that can help us thrive and unlearn the old ones that no longer serve our current purpose and views. 

night habit healthy relationship 

Creating new habits

First, I want to propose a new perception about creating new habits. Most of us have been taught to believe that adopting a new habit is something that is very hard. Well, I challenge you to contest this affirmation. If creating new habits were so difficult, then smoking, unhealthy eating, alcohol drinking and so on would not be so widespread. 

It is our perceptions that make any new habit difficult or easy to install. So, the next time you choose to create a new practice, think about the process as challenging rather than hard. Challenge gives you the motivation to go on and experiment while hard; it just stops you before you even start. night habit healthy relationship

 

 

Healthy habit before bed night habit healthy relationship

Almost a year ago, I proposed to Christian to make a few changes in our night routine in order to offer ourselves some time together. When you have a kid that demands a lot of your attention besides the things you do daily, spending meaningful time with your partner can be a bit tricky. 

Christian and I decided to, as often as possible, go to sleep at the same time and ask each other five questions before we sleep.

This habit can work just as well in a relationship with a partner as in a relationship with yourself. If you don’t have a partner or you can’t do it with your partner that’s ok, you can be your own partner and ask yourself these questions before you sleep.

Why before sleep? So you can end your day in a positive way, and show yourself some love and appreciation. Also, to wake up in the morning feeling more grateful and happy for the new day. 

 

Questions we ask before we fall asleep

1. What made you feel good or smile today?

Unfortunately, most of us have been conditioned to think and complain about the things that are not going well in our lives. Rather than seeing and appreciating the events that made us feel good in a day. Especially if they are small events like someone giving you priority in traffic or noticing a flower and enjoying its beauty for a couple of seconds. 

I think we are too caught up in our lives and waiting for big events to happen, which makes us miss the little moments that are, in fact, the basis of life. 

For me, the answer I gave to these questions on many occasions showed me how blessed I am for having Arun. He is almost always my answer on the most challenging and depressing days and even on the good days. Even though he stretches my nerves many times throughout the day, somehow, he still makes me smile every day.

It was fascinating to discover that even if it felt like I was finishing the worst day of my life, I still had that moment of joy that I had completely forgotten about.

night-habit-healthy-relationship

 
2. What would you do differently?

Rather than blame ourselves for the things that didn’t work as wished for during the day, it’s better if we think of them in a constructive manner. Let’s be clear, what is done can’t be undone. But what we learn in the process can be life-changing. It can help us not repeat the same patterns and create new approaches that are more in line with our current selves. We can learn how to bring balance into our lives. 

So, ask yourself or your partner, what would you have done differently so that things would have had a different trajectory? For you and the rest of the entities involved.

We want to give ourselves time to reflect on our actions in a conscious way. Don’t you agree? 

 

3. What did you like about yourself today?

Too often, we judge and blame ourselves for the things that we haven’t done or that we would have wanted to do differently. 

We often get lost in the thoughts and judgments that only create a distorted impression about ourselves. In order to have an accurate perception of ourselves, we have to be honest with ourselves. For example, we have to acknowledge and give ourselves credit for what we have done well in our lives. 

So what better time to look and appreciate those things, if not before we go to bed? This way, we will remain with a conscious perception about ourselves that will translate into better sleep and a positive start for the next day.

night habit healthy relationship

night habit healthy relationship

4. What are you grateful for?

Sometimes this question may seem like it has no response, especially if we had a hard day, week, month, year. Still, even in the most difficult times of our lives, we can find something to be grateful for. If you are not used to practising gratitude, it can feel strange and even fake. 

In the beginning, when I started practising gratitude, it felt so unnatural. It was as if I was lying to myself. It took me months before I started saying and feeling at the same time that I was grateful for a glass of water, for example. 

On those nights, when you feel you have nothing to be grateful for, start small. Say that you are thankful for the bed you are lying in, for the pillow you have under your head. The little toe of your right foot that helps you keep your balance. For breathing and having the opportunity to shift everything as you did many times before. Once you start, you will find endless reasons to be grateful for. The start is the challenging part.

In his book, The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time, researcher Alex Korb writes, “One powerful effect of gratitude is that it can boost serotonin.” 

Serotonin is a chemical produced by our bodies that contributes to feelings of well-being. It stabilises our mood and helps us feel more relaxed. It is often called the Happiness Chemical.

 

 

5. What are your intentions for tomorrow?

This question is meant to give us a direction for the next day. It helps us focus on what matters and not let ourselves get caught up in the uncertainty of a new day. 

It doesn’t work every time. We still have days when we remember our intentions when we go to bed and ask the question the next day. 

Still, even this is okay because it makes us more conscious about our unconsciousness. Moreover, it gives us plenty of opportunities to practice being more aware of our words and intentions. 

 

How has this habit translated into our relationship?

These questions had a significant impact on our relationship on many levels, some of which I am aware of now, as I wrote this post. Since we started this practise, we went through all sorts of feelings, reactions and understandings.

We had moments when we were so tired or disappointed that we forced ourselves to find something that made us feel good that day. We had to really look deep into the day to discover a moment of happiness. There were also times when we just had to accept that we didn’t notice any single moment of joy.  

We have also had moments where we had so much fun with these questions laughing to tears while also trying not to wake up Arun. But, most of the time, I can describe our habits as a conscious part of our days. That moment in which we release the pressure we have accumulated over the day, learn from our mistakes and lift one another. 

I cherish these moments tremendously because we learned so much about one another and individually. We give ourselves new perspectives and reasons to wake up with joy and hunger for life. 

When I look at us now, I see two people who are more peaceful, have learned to admit when they are wrong and are keener to see the good in bad. We are more conscious parents and more willing to learn new things. 

In life, there are things that happen by themselves and there are things that we have to create the context for them to expand. It is necessary to nourish our relationships in conscious ways in order for them to thrive and blossom. 

healthy relationship

night habit healthy relationship

Final words

The questions I have chosen for these habits are what worked for us. You can create your own questions depending on your intentions and needs. There is no fixed thing to apply.

Still, if you feel they resonate with you and speak directly to your soul, I invite you to try applying them to your life. Write to me if they had any impact on you. It will bring me so much joy to know if what I shared with you was helpful. 

Habits have the power to break us or transform our lives. 

night habit healthy relationship new habit

Remember to love yourself,

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ealthy relationship

 

Self-Love /

How to Get Your Life Back into Balance. Every Time!

Get Your Life Back Into Balance

One of the things we struggle with nowadays is establishing the balance between all the facets of our lives. Family, kids, romantic relationships, inner life, work, hobbies, school, social life, healthy habits, fun, personal growth, and the list continues. 

A few years ago, I discovered that we all experience feelings in the same manner. It doesn’t matter how big or small the event that triggered the emotion was. So, for example, your feeling of fear that you could lose your job because of staff reductions is the same as the fear I experienced every time I was walking in my neighbourhood.

Most of the physical symptoms we experience when it comes to fear come from the changes in our cardiovascular system. Heart rate increases and blood vessels constrict. Our respiratory rate increases and adrenaline picks up. You know what I’m talking about, no?

 

 

Feeling Overwhelmed

Well, the same happens when it comes to feeling overwhelmed. Now, with having a baby, two businesses, a relationship, investing time in myself, paying my bills, learning a new language, learning new skills, a home to keep in balance, social life, I feel as overwhelmed as I did ten years ago when I only had a few bills to pay, some parties to attend, some books to read and a relationship.

Our perception is what creates and amplifies the emotions we experience. What’s happening to us might not be that much, but how we view and react to what is happening is what makes us feel the way we do. This is explained by Mohan Matthen, the University of Toronto, in his book The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Perception.

“The traditional view of perception focused on sensory receptors; it has become clear, however, that perceptual systems radically transform the output of these receptors, yielding content concerning objects and events in the external world. Adequate understanding of this process requires thinking of perception in new ways — how it operates, the differences among the modalities, and the integration of content provided by the individual senses.”

I believe that if we work on our perceptions about the situations we experience and support them with actions (even if it feels uncomfortable, unnatural or weird), we will manage to learn how we can get our lives back into balance when needed without getting drained in the process. 

So follow these simple steps, apply them to your life and learn how to master them. In this way, you will always have the necessary skills to collect yourself before feeling completely burned out. 

 

1. Break the loop 

When we enter situations that shake our balance, it can be challenging, if not impossible, to have a clear picture of our struggles. When we are stressed, our brain doesn’t function properly. We have racing thoughts. We tend to seize up or think less positively about situations. All this creates a distorted perception that will eventually alter our decisions and lead to unwanted consequences.

Get Your Life Back Into Balance

So, when I feel overwhelmed about my thoughts (send those emails, change the diaper, wash Arun, do yoga, read, cook, exam, play, write and so on), I usually go for a walk. Then, I focus on other things, such as plants, animals or the sky. If I cannot take a walk on that day, I will go the next day. I put on my headphones and go wherever my feet are taking me.

I know it’s hard, especially if you are a single mom. But I also know it is the most effective thing. When we do this, we change everything — the rhythm in which we breathe that will give time and space to the brain to change our perceptions, which with time will lead to a change in the pattern.

If it is impossible to go for a walk, take a shower and imagine letting go of everything that weighs you. Do a breathing exercise for 5 minutes, inhale for 4 seconds and exhale for 6. Do something that takes you completely out of the mental carousel.

bulbRead also How To Create Daily Rituals That Stick

 

2. Be observant

Now, with this space created between us, our thoughts and perceptions, be observant. Describe the situations in your life as if you are looking at them from the outside, the way you will describe everything to a friend. 

At this point, I bring arguments for and against the situations in which I find myself. I am both the defence attorney and the prosecutor. 

 

 

3. Analyze

Take every aspect that is pressuring you and analyze it as objectively as possible. 

What works very well for me is to write down my thoughts. I write every subject and its details on different pages. This way, I can see them clearly and prioritize them. Because let’s be honest, even if I can cook delicious meals and listen to a book at the same time, most of the things that are pressuring us can’t be done at the same time. I can’t play with Arun and write my blog post. So organization and prioritization are key in having a balanced day. 

When I do this, I ask myself questions like how I feel? What makes me feel this way? What can I do? How can I see the situation from a different perspective? What can I learn from these emotions? When was the last time I felt this way? What trauma lies behind? Is everything I say true? Am I exaggerating? Am I being honest and fair with myself? What are the things I am doing well?

Also, say NO to things that are not that important or urgent (answering an email, a message, washing a plate, scrolling the internet, you know better) without feeling guilty. Say YES to things that bring you to a state of calm — breathing, walking, meditation, gazing, grounding.

 

How to Get Your Life Back into Balance. Every Time!

 

4. Accept the situation

Acknowledge and accept that you cannot do everything all the time. There are times when everything goes smoothly, and you are in the flow. And there will be times when things will take unwanted paths, even with your best intention and involvement.

Even though I begin by pushing and forcing things to happen, at one point, I start speaking compassionately to myself. This helps me accept that I am only human and that sometimes I am stressed and overwhelmed, and that’s ok. This is a sign that I created an imbalance in my life and need to focus more on myself. Those moments always pass faster if I just let go, accept my limitations and give more attention to myself.

 

5. Detach 

From your thoughts and focus on your surroundings. If you are on that walk, search for something that can bring you joy — a flower, a cloud, a bird, a tree, a smile.

Take deep breaths, imagine exhaling all your worries. Massage your shoulders. Do some tapping exercises. Let go of everything you have concluded and leave room for everything to settle.

 

 

6. Put some love 

Talk to yourself in a compassionate manner.

If we are not willing to take our hand and help ourselves to get up, how can we expect others to do this for us? Following the steps described above, we can bring ourselves to a point where we can realize that we are dual beings, perfect in our imperfections. We are both good and bad, lazy and energetic, indifferent and compassionate, focused and distracted, and so on.

When we go through this whole process of knowledge, understanding and acceptance, it is almost impossible not to get to the point where we start to feel compassion and love for ourselves. 

When we reach this mental and emotional understanding, we only have love in our eyes for our struggles and the struggles of others.

Get Your Life Back Into Balance

 

7. Time alone

Spend time alone and visualize yourself having conscious reactions to your struggles. 

I know it can be scary for some, but this is one of the most important aspects of living a healthy and meaningful life. We grow through relationships and interactions with other souls. But this growth is incomplete if we do not give ourselves time and space to expand our relationship with ourselves. So we can see our thoughts, feelings, reactions and needs.

When we give ourselves time to process things, we grow. We establish new neurological paths in our brains that help us expand our understanding of ourselves and life.

 

 

Wrap it up

We all have moments when we feel unbalanced, but these moments do not need to be constantly present in our lives or to last for a long time. We have the power and the tools to bring ourselves into balance and transform along the way.

When we break a pattern, we create a space where we can be an observant and analyze everything with a constructive perception. This often leads to a better overview and acceptance of our current state. We no longer identify ourselves with our problems in this state and as a result, our hearts soften. We start to view everything through the lens of compassion and love.

Yet, we will have moments when we will feel overwhelmed again. But if you give yourself space and time to understand and integrate these steps, those moments will become shorter and less demanding with time.

Sending you lots of blessings, you can do it! Have faith in yourself. You are not alone.

 

Remember to love yourself,

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