COME HOME TO NATURE

What a delight it is to go for a stroll in nature and immerse in the sights, sounds, and smells of the green lungs. Well, that is Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) for you. In Japan, it is a cornerstone for prevention as well as healing. When you immerse in nature and savour it, the stress levels decline, and the immune system gets a push soothing the frayed nerves on the way. 

“The best way to deal with stress at work is to go for a forest bath. I go for shinrin-yoku every lunchtime. You don’t need a forest; any small green space will do. Leave your cup of coffee and your phone behind and just walk slowly. You don’t need to exercise, you just need to open your senses to nature. It will improve your mood, reduce tension and anxiety, and help you focus and concentrate for the rest of the day.” Dr. Qing Li, a pioneer and a president of the Japanese Science of Forest Medicine who has studied forest bathing for thirty years.

Our modern work and home environment stress us, and a walk amongst the pure air of the trees clear our heads from the information overload. The release of phytoncides, a plant antibiotic, from the trees lowers blood pressure, and the cortisol levels come down too. You return rejuvenated, the creative juices ready to be tapped. The greens radiate our chi and strengthen our nervous system.  Patients in hospitals exposed to greener views recover faster with fewer painkillers. 

Just take some time off to go for a walk, watch the penetrating sunlight playing hide and seek with the leaves, hear the bird song, feel the soft grass under your feet. Leave behind your camera or phone, wander and immerse in the experience. Do stop from time to observe the wonders of nature and observe how their behaviour change with your presence. 

If we introduce young children to nature, the bond is everlasting. They learn to care, protect and understand it better.

Meditating amongst the trees is nirvana. The experience lowers the stress and anxiety levels, washing off the fatigue of the busy life. In the depths of greenery, the heightened sensory awareness is the beginning of self-discovery. Walking mindfully around a park full of trees gives me a profound sense of peace, and I feel at home among the trees. 

In Japan, forest bathing is successful preventive health care that started way back in the 1980s has caught with the rest of the world though at a nascent stage in India. Years of research in Japan have found a reduction in stress, improvement in sleep leading to a healthy lifestyle. The effects are similar to meditation. 

Shortage of time in the daytime should not scare you to venture out in the dark. During an after-dinner walk in a nearby park where the air is full of earthy scent, the rustle of the leaves, and the wind caressing your face as you discover a new world at your doorstep. 

Pandemic has already shaken up our routines and has affected mental health. Just take a deep breath, drop your shoulders and enjoy the feeling of being outdoors to hear the whispers of our soul. Just sitting under the trees open the energy channels and makes you feel safe and peaceful, soothing the frayed nerves. The simple yet powerful experience has no goal but to see, hear, breathe and feel the wonders of nature. You will experience the ever-changing magic of the green if you have patience, curiosity, and a sense of wonder.

 

             AWAKEN THE SUBCONSCIOUS  

Have you ever wondered at the innate power of our inner realms? The rational conscious mind is remarkable. It has sensations, feelings, perceptions, the awareness of the self and the world around us. Well, this mind has a ‘Mind’ of its own, the Subconscious. Subconscious is full of magical mysteries and innovative brainpower. You require to awaken the innate power to derive its limitless potential.

Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, used the metaphor of the iceberg for human personality. The conscious mind is the ‘tip of the iceberg,’ the decision-maker. The bulk of the iceberg beneath the water represents the subconscious, the primary source of human behaviour. It is a storehouse of emotions, experiences, and memories. It is your internal programming that informs everything we do.

The subconscious mind processes, stores, and monitors the information around us. You can reprogram your thoughts with repetitive affirmations to your advantage. Whatever you plant and nourish in the inner realms becomes your reality. The flashes of insight fuel creativity that arises from the reservoirs of the innermost, a lot of writing comes from this source. One can train one’s subconscious mind to create what one seeks. One can improve our habits and get rid of our phobias. 

You need to observe your thoughts, focus upon empowering beliefs, show gratitude, and visualise positive outcomes. When you help others and surround yourself with positive people, you are giving power to the unconscious.

Thomas Edison, “Never go to sleep without a request to your subconscious.” When you sleep with requests to the inner realms, it works on them during the night to give you answers in the morning. The creative brain is most attuned in the morning. Do not be disheartened if you do not get your answer at one time; repeated requests will do wonders. Anyone doing creative work has experienced these visions. I get clear ideas about my creative writing during those moments. The problem-solving power of this mind is remarkable.  When you write in a journal in the morning, it solves many a puzzle of our life.

Mindful meditation has the potential to probe the inner realms, clarify your thoughts, and bring your focus to the desired goal. Many successful people have credited meditation as their technique for transformative ideas. Some even follow advanced meditative techniques before taking on a new project to tap their potential fully.

The source of creativity, inspiration, intuition, and spiritual awakening, directs one by being in sync with the conscious mind. When you think clearly, and your plans are constructive and harmonious, the charm of the unconscious responds in a similar agreeable way. It will help the subconscious mind to implement a positive pattern and change our conditioning. The conscious mind commands, and the underlying obeys. 

Conscious and subconscious work in tandem to produce the required outcome. It comes to your aid when you want to learn and relearn. Be cautious about what you manifest in the inner realms. Manifest healthy, meaningful existence to unleash the power of the subconscious mind.

                              

IMAGES: Pinterest and Google

           CHANGING PORTRAYAL OF WOMEN IN COMMERCIALS

A young lady is posing in a red dress beside a black luxury car. Is it an advertisement for the clothes, or the car? One wonders. Why a girl in a scanty dress? This kind of misogynist approach is visible in many commercials. 

The portrayal of women in the commercials is a reflection of society. The misconception is that fair and thin women are only beautiful, and commercials emphasise the same. The continual portrayal of the fair as beautiful diminishes self-esteem and influences how men perceive them. 

Men are depicted as brand ambassadors, while women are brand commodities. Regressive trends of showing women shopping or taking care of homes enforce the stereotype of gender bias. When the ads depict photoshopped barbie doll images, they give rise to insecurity and depression amongst young impressionable minds. Advertising affects our daily life, ad makers should be responsible as their content shape the minds of young people. The commercials are selling ideas, dreams, aspirations along with the products and services. 

Owing to the growing backlash, commercials objectifying women have reduced. Education and awareness have developed confidence and empowerment among women, which has affected the kind and quality of advertisements. People are coming out to believe that the thin and fair image of women is not ideal. So now we do have adverts that depict reality, a substantial step in the right direction. 

While in the 80s, it contained stereotypical women looking after the house and family. It has undeniably shifted from unrealistic body images, family roles to reality-based images reflecting society. Brands have now started positioning women empowerment rather than promoting sexism. In 2004, Dove decided to challenge the concepts of beauty with an ad, ‘Real beauty’ that featured realistic representations of women. Serena Williams, the ace international tennis player, featured in a Nike ad in 2019, Dream Crazier, which encourages women to continue to break barriers.

Share The Load ad by Ariel breaks stereotypes and challenges age-old traditions. Why is the Laundry only a mother’s job? This campaign encourages men to share the load and help out at home. Such ads bring hope for an egalitarian society.

The shift in the portrayal is evident in the latest Cadbury dairy milk chocolate commercial. They recreated a dairy milk chocolate ad of yesteryears where a woman is seen cheering her partner when he is playing cricket, and he hits six by introducing a small change, now it’s the man cheering his partner while she plays cricket. 

The idea of a perfect woman has been crystallised, polished by marketers, and presented to society. Misrepresentation, marginalisation, and misogynistic stereotypes have to change. Gender bias in condescending ads exists, and very few are breaking the dogmas. Much needs to be done, instead of focussing on the exterior beauty, the ads should focus on their internal growth. Communication creators should discard archaic thoughts, recognise the worth of women, and celebrate their life. She is a CEO of a firm, Mary Kom, an Air Force officer, a first Lieutenant General(Medical Core) in the Army, successfully balancing personal and professional life.

IMAGES FROM GOOGLE

 BREEZY AUTUMN 

Summer is long gone, the monsoon is retreating, and we embrace the exhilarating autumn with open arms. The warmth of summer and the nurturing dampness of the monsoon signals the transition to pleasant autumn dancing in the breeze. The clear blue sky, the lush green foliage give us hope of the return of normalcy in the pandemic times.  It is soulful to arise and revel in the autumn mist while the dewdrops on the grass soothe the soles of your feet. Keats called autumn, "Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness."

The days are short, with crisp nights full of dazzling stars. With the dreamy days and mellow evenings, there is a craving to sit back and enjoy the comfort of the blissful weather. “Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking successive autumns.” Rightly expressed George Eliot. 

Awaken the senses with the heavy scent of autumn and drink the colourful landscape of nature. On a crisp September morning, it is blissful to relax in a cozy nook of the garden with a cup of tea and watch the rain-soaked trees dancing to the whistling wind. The cool and fragrant air emanating from the earth encompasses the whole being with renewed vigour. The calming weather is a time for introspection and reflection while we take in the serene moments. 

The spectacular burst of autumn colours gleaming in sunshine render some solace in pandemic times. The creamy white, yellow-tinged Champa, the showy Periwinkle with a burst of pink, the stunning open cup Portulaca with succulent leaves, delicate Cosmos in feathery foliage, a symbol of happiness and joy-the rain lilies, flushes of Balsam and white jasmine are the divine palette of autumn; the precious nectar for the swarming bees. Epiphany at the sight of a white carpet of fallen Harsingar flowers one September morning will stay with me forever.

One can lose oneself in the golden Harud (autumn) in Kashmir with the air scented with the iridescent leaves of the Chinar trees. In the quaint hues of autumn, taking a walk amidst the rustle of the fallen leaves is an experience beyond compare. Farmers return to their farmlands for the annual harvest of the precious saffron and pick the luscious apples from the orchards across the valley. They enjoy a hot cup of Kahwa after a long day of harvesting in the cool evenings. The air along the marshy wetlands is heavy with the sounds of Cicada insects in the willow trees. 

The ethereal beauty of vast green fields lined with the regimented Eucalyptus trees, the leisurely foggy morning is soothing in the plains. Farmers in Punjab have harvested the corn and are getting the land ready for planting winter greens to relish Sarson ka Sag in the chilly winter weather.

The green jungles, coffee plantations, breezy beaches, the backwaters, and the ambient weather in autumn in South India is a time to visit in better times.

The  whimsical show of nature, changing rhythms, the fragrances, the aromas, the festivities cheer us to marvel at the magnificence of nature. The rippling cheerfulness of autumn is a bright spot in otherwise bleak times.The joyful spirit is in the air, with Onam, Teej, Eid, Janamashtmi, and Diwali on the way. It is time to rejoice in the vibrant festivals with friends and families.

                          SOUND UNINTERRUPTED SLEEP

You arise disoriented, exhausted in the morning. The erratic sleep has depleted your energies, and you hasten for a mug of tea. Sleep is nature’s panacea, mightier than any medicine to repair and recharge the body. During sleep, the housekeeping duties come into action; the repair of cells, tissues, muscles, and removal of toxic waste. Lack of it weakens the immune system, the onset of lifestyle diseases, poor memory, and deficit focus. This deprivation not only jeopardises our performance but makes us poor judge our faculties. We crave junk food, our blood sugar levels rise, affecting hormone levels.

While REM sleep reconfigures emotional circuits in the brain and creativity, NREM enriches learning, memorising, and motoring abilities. Too much REM sleep full of dreams is not good if not followed by deep NREM sleep.

Our alertness wanes during midday, twenty to thirty minutes of a catnap in the afternoon refreshing us for the rest of the day. Longer naps can disturb our sleep at night.

Tidy place, relaxing bath, gratitude prayer before bed, aromatherapy sets the mind in a relaxed state. Tested and tried yoga asanas do help, and so does deep abdominal breathing. It relaxes the tense muscles and reduces anxiety, and you sleep like a baby. A structured day with rest and a work routine will make you less sleep-deprived. A grumbling stomach can be distracting enough to keep you awake, but so can an overly full stomach. Caffeine stimulates the nervous system, refreshes in the daytime, can have the opposite effect in the late evening.

Eating bananas, cherries, eggs, milk, fish, nuts, magnesium-rich food, and comfortably digestible protein is a lullaby for sweet dreams. Being hale and hearty prevents us from being insomniacs. The requirement for medicine then is a distinct possibility. An occasional sleepless night is acceptable, but too many of these require a visit to the doctor. The natural alternates do not compensate for medication when it is needed. 

Getting enough natural light in the daytime is favourable for our circadian rhythm, however, white light during the late evening can trick your brain into thinking it is still daytime, so it is best avoided at least two hours before sleep. Dim lights signal the brain to make melatonin which aids sleep.

The spotless, pristine, and stress-free bedroom is our sleep oasis. Soothing music helps to create the right environment. We surrender our body and mind to sleep to wake up refreshed in the morning. As children, we had bedtime rituals of taking a bath, read stories that lulled us to sleep. These rituals send signals to the brain to wind down for the day.

We need to be protective of our sleep space and make it non-negotiable for the growth hormones to work well for our well-being. So literally get up on the right side of the bed after counting enough sheep with a proper nighttime routine to be healthy, wealthy, and wise. 

Images from Google and Pinterest 

                                   POWER OF FRIENDSHIP

11 pm April 2020. 

My phone rang, and I was not startled. Well, this was a call from my school gang. We were excited to be teenagers again, letting our hair down and creating a commotion in the middle of the night. At times we get a sense of missing something but are not able to pinpoint it. Things fall in place when you have a long conversation like this to make your day. 

Friends are our chosen tribe, our shields from the harsh adversaries of the world. They are our go-to sounding boards, giving impartial advice. They share our distress and treat our wounds with a tender hand. “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom,” expresses Marcel Prust, a French novelist.

In our youth, affiliations extended beyond catching up; it was hours of emotional commitment. When work and family commitments took precedence, connections with friends took a backseat for us. The development in technology ensured easier and expedient connectedness. Face-to-face conversations gave way to calls, emails, and text messages. Pandemic shifted it further away as social isolation is the norm now. Ironically this forced denial has made us appreciate the importance of physical interactions. We realised the gravity of human contact, the company of friends, joyful conversations, and a warm hug over material things. Socialising online during the pandemic is a lifesaver as it is difficult to imagine a life without the technology in such a crisis. 

To rekindle relationships, tenderly re-enter and step cautiously by being an energy enhancer in a conversation. Sometimes friendships stall and do not blossom as we fear no one will want to hear from us. We need to quieten our inner critic as friends look forward to interactions. What strengthens the bond is to invest our time, regularly checking on their welfare, remembering their birthdays and anniversaries. The intimacy, equality, and emotional bond are unique amongst friends, a lifelong endeavour to nurture regularly. Sometimes, we want a friend to be there, not to fix anything, but as an antidote to the emotional burdens of life.

We can forge camaraderie at any stage and cycle through several longstanding bonds. The nature of friendship may change, but real friends will support you forever no matter the circumstance, ignoring your flaws and celebrating your achievements. We share a deeper connection and similar core values. Friends boost our self-esteem and are often less demanding, a necessity in covid times.

Science has proven that friends are the antidote for stress and illnesses, at times better medicine. We all value a walk with a friend that keeps us healthy and happy. Strong bonds boost the immune system and increase longevity. The people living in Japan, part of the Blue Zone, have a high life expectancy. They have a social network called a Moai. A moai is a group of five friends who offer social, emotional, and financial support for a lifetime. Friends make us stronger. They are forever, no matter what.

We have spent so much time in isolation, numbed our senses, and we have forgotten being around people. Previously stable people have stormed outside WhatsApp groups, not able to tolerate minor squabbles. We will have to learn to walk again on the path of good old days to cherish the richness of meeting our friends in person. We do hope human connections will return, limping from the pandemic.

“Don’t walk in front of me… I may not follow

Don’t walk behind me… I may not lead

Walk beside me… just be my friend” expressed Albert Camus, the French novelist. 

Images: Google, Pinterest

                    DECLUTTER YOUR LIFE…..INSIDE OUT

"Life is simple, but we insist on making it complicated," pointed out Confucius. These words ring a bell in the materialistic times of endless spending and buying. Over a period, this creates exhausting chaos. The nuisance of not finding a place to keep the items is overwhelming. We dread to give away for fear of losing memories attached to our belongings. Amassing things for future use and procrastination add to the clutter. Clutter can confuse you and weigh you down. Decluttering has a calming effect. The moment we clear it, peace descends.

In the drawn-out pandemic times, an arranged home makes us feel in control of our life. The insurmountable task of tackling the disorder seems impossible. One can commence with a single errand and focus on it with enthusiasm. The straightforward approach is to start small, clearing one drawer at a time, and gradually do the extensive stuff.  Recycle, donate and trash approach works based on our requirements. Including the family in arranging the house makes time for bonding. Children gain a sense of responsibility and feel productive. Just-in-case items can go to charity, as life is good with essentials. We need to keep in mind nostalgia and sentimentality for certain things before discarding or giving away articles. Books presented by your father or a sweater knitted by your mom are treasures. 

House in order, overhauled wardrobe act as rewards, and it is delightful to be in a sparkling spruced-up home. The organised home gives a sense of control which makes adaptation easier in any situation. Diminished stress and a sense of accomplishment are the by-products of decluttering. Our mind is crystal clear about the things which matter.

Decluttering the mind is equally important. We process and deal with our emotions through our thoughts. Ruminating, holding on to negative emotions reduce energy and clutter our minds. It creates confusion and reduces focus and productivity. Taking a walk or some other physical exercise clears and refreshes our beings. 

Mindful breathing and clarity go hand in hand. Practicing intentional mindfulness and breathing techniques unravels the unhealthy thinking patterns and clears the stuck energy. Recently commissioned Lieutenant Nitika Kaul, wife of a martyred Pulwama hero, is an example of a clear mind. She gave a befitting tribute to her husband and secured her future by joining the forces.

Information overload itself is also cluttering our minds. We need to set limits instead of it taking over our lives. Reducing this will automatically calm the mind and certainly declutters it. While we must spend time with people who care, getting rid of toxic relationships that drain our energy is decluttering. 

Successful decluttering is not a once and for all thing; it is a continuous process. Clutter will keep creeping back, so regular weeding is necessary. For example, for those who move house due to contingency of the jobs, the packing and unpacking time is the most stressful. Peace descends the moment the house is in order.

There is a sense of freedom after decluttering the physical environment as well as the mental space. Thick Nhat Hanh rightly said, “Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness.” 

 

Images from Google and Pinterest 

 RADIATE HOPE AND HEALING......THIS TOO SHALL PASS

Waiting to hug my staying-alone mom, not just smile from two meters appears distant yet precious. Remaining quarantined is the norm these days and emerging out improbable. The persistent distress and doubt are keeping us on alert 24/7. We are all into this and have to endure till the planet heals completely. Caution now, comfort later.

Our frontline health warriors are endangering their lives for our safety. It is exhausting living in claustrophobic PPE suits for extended hours with the sword of the virus hanging on their heads. They are enduring dehydration and fatigue in their fight against the virus. By staying away from their families, they are keeping ours safe. Showing integrity in obeying coronavirus protocol, we are contributing towards the fight against the virus war.

The long-term impact of the pandemic is transforming our lives, and it is here to stay for a lengthier period. Our way of living, learning,  work,  relationships, and old norms are changed. Constant distress and fear are depleting our rationality, and people are engaging in vexatious banter on social media. We can support the suffering people in whatever ways probable instead of engaging in mudslinging.

The ambiguity about the disease, exasperation, disconnection from the loved ones is leading to self-loathing. When we see suffering all around, it is not easy to negotiate emotions of guilt and grief in these unprecedented times. The slowdown of the economy, loss of jobs, a setback in the education system are causes of disturbance. Children are anxious and feel alienated by the restrictions on social interactions. In such moments, we need to be thankful that we can breathe the fresh air, see the sunrise. Our resilience for survival, solidarity, humanitarian activities  sail us through. However long the night, the dawn will break to wade us through the pandemic waters.

Oxygen cyclinders  carrying truck gets applause from the passerby on the road for helping people in need. Sikh philanthropists are organising ‘Oxygen Langars’ to lessen the distress of the people. Through the spirit of togetherness, we can contribute by sending food to covid affected families or just enquiring about the well-being and be their healers. Alternative healing methods like reiki are the need of the hour.

Time never stands; the way you spend matters. Consciously being in nature diminishes anxiety and enhances the creative flow. Artistic expression and meaningful reflection are vital in times of overwhelming suffering. Even during the last pandemic, art came to the rescue of people. Maintaining a journal in difficult times helps as your true soul will become your guiding force. Meditation and mindfulness diminish fear and anxiety and bring in tranquillity.

We cannot perceive the light at the end of the tunnel, but we will emerge fighting fit. In these times of fear and anxiety, there is always hope that this too shall pass. Thich Nhat Hang rightly says, ‘Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.’ 

Images from Google