Pocket of Zen

What is emotional hygiene?


A friend told me about a TED Talk on this topic. I found meaning in it and saw that this is something that I deal with every day. As I take care of my body by eating the right food, and my mind by thinking of good thoughts, I also have to keep my emotions in check.


1️⃣ Find meaning in the negative

Imagine that feeling when you reap the benefits of something you worked hard for. What about getting a good grade on an exam that you spent hours preparing for? For those getting their paycheck, nothing beats the feeling of buying something that you deserve.

Finding meaning in the negative doesn't mean that you have to feel good. However, those experiences play a role, and that's to help us value the positive experiences in the future.


2️⃣ Find your own emotional infirmary

As we spend time to recover from a physical illness, we also need to find a place that will serve as our emotional sanctuary.

This can be a physical place, but more importantly, it can also be a state of mind. There, you do not fear to embrace what you really feel, heal your emotional wounds faster, and find comfort in your own emotions, whether good or bad.

It can be your own room, while taking a shower, or in the company of friends and family.


3️⃣ Prune off unhealthy twigs in your lifestyle

As a plant matures, it grows new leaves, and loses some. In some cases, dried twigs and leaves can fall on their own, but some would need careful pruning.

The good thing is -- you are not a plant! You can see the parts of you that you need to prune, and most importantly, you have to power to do it yourself.

Unhealthy can be a relationship, a past experience, or a habit. It can feel overwhelming if you shake them off all at once. Do it carefully, one at a time. See yourself as you mature and become a better and healthier version of you.

Can a scent trigger memories?

Have you ever come across a scent that brought back vivid memories of the past?

🧴 Perhaps, you have smelled a perfume, frequently worn by your mother, or a previous lover
🌺 Perhaps, you have smelled an orchid, that your dad used to take care of back in your home town
👨‍🏫 Perhaps, you smell the distinct odor of the blackboard chalk, that you are instantly taken back to your days in school

Smell is highly linked to memories and emotions (Willander and Larson, 2007, Doop et. al., 2006). That's also probably the reason why perfumes are closely linked to an emotion, such as bliss, desire, that carefree feeling.

Even in the case when the same scent is applied to different individuals, what you smell is actually different. Fascinating, right?

Take a time off.

🍲 Go out and smell the food that's being cooked in the kitchen. Does it make you hungry?
💐 Pass by a flower shop and identify the scent that stands out, the scent that lingers, and the scent that's still unsure of itself.
✔️❌ Tell yourself that you like this scent. Tell yourself that you dislike that scent, just because you can.

Be happy, mindful, and grateful for each experience.





📷: brinweins-26657 (Pixabay)

Willander, J., & Larsson, M. (2007). Olfaction and emotion: The case of autobiographical memory. Memory & cognition, 35(7), 1659-1663.

Doop, M. L., Mohr, C., Folley, B., Brewer, W., & Park, S. (2006). Olfaction and memory. Olfaction and the brain, 65-82.

7 Fascinating Uses for Aromatherapy

1️⃣ Patchouli for meditation
2️⃣ Eucalyptus to soothe muscles
3️⃣ Ylang-Ylang as an aphrodisiac
4️⃣ Lavender for a good night’s sleep
5️⃣ Rose for anxiety and a mood boost
6️⃣ Bergamot to help combat skin eczema
7️⃣ Tea Tree Oil to boost the immune system

I started my appreciation with scents around 2012. I chanced upon a ceramic diffuser in a shop without an idea of how to use it. That afternoon, I went home bringing with a bottle of Lavender Essential Oil, a tall Ceramic Diffuser, and a set of 12 tealight candles. It only costed me 300 PHP (less than $6).

It was touch of heaven, I tell you. My mom would go inside my room and remark how calming the air is, and I would feel calm, relaxed, and feel ready from a good 9 hours of sleep. We never worry about the house catching fire with a proper tealight candle setup.

I always wondered how the tealight candle would evaporate with little to no residue.

Years later, and I have grown my collection of oils to include Lemongrass, Bergamot, Patchouli, and Eucalyptus, to name a few of my personal favorites. I have a stash of locally available essential oils, and the possibilities are endless. I've personally made bath bombs, bath salts, shower steamers, and the community in social media even makes it easier for me to get daily dose of inspiration.

The next time you try out an essential oil,

👁️ Close your eyes for a few seconds
🌬️ Slow down your breathing
🧘 Let your mind wander

As we travel through the vast ocean of life, keep in mind these three universal truths:

🏁 Everyone will always have a starting point.
🌊 Everyone is subject to the challenging waves, and these is beyond everyone's control.
🐢 All of us are equipped with our own shells, a unique personality, that we will use to propel ourselves towards our own goals.

Wherever the current may take you,
Whether you choose to go with the flow, or go against it,
Your shell stays with you.
You, and all of you,
You are your own center.





📷: free-photos-242387 (Pixabay)

7 Activities for an Amazing Weekend

1️⃣ Have a Passion Project
2️⃣ Replenish Your Soul
3️⃣ Reflect and Plan
4️⃣ Disconnect
5️⃣ Volunteer!
6️⃣ Exercise
7️⃣ Tidy Up

Have a Passion Project

Running Pocket of Zen is my current passion project, and I'm enjoying the ride. Work can be fun, but having something that aligns with your vision, with your passion, is a totally different thing. Having a passion project will widen your horizon, and remove the boundaries to bring out the best in you. I still have a few more on my list, but all in good time.

Reflect

To reflect means to be strong enough to see what has transpired in the past. You will be reminded of your wins, but it's challenging to remind yourself of the mistakes. Be in a safe space, both mentally and emotionally. Remember that reflecting is not meant to make your feel bad, but to remind you that things can become better.

Volunteer

Everyone has something to give, be it time, financial support, or words of wisdom. Karma has its own way of sending back the good things that you have freely given. If you find it in you to make time for volunteering events, you can get in touch with iVolunteer Philippines and see the wonders of giving without asking for anything in return.

This year's campaign theme for the International Women's Day is

At a very young age, I already know how strong a woman is — in the face of my mother 👩. She raised us single-handedly, with irregular financial support from my dad. Currently, things are going well for my parents, but I grew up strong-willed, and never to back down in the most difficult of times. I saw how a woman can be just as independent and creative for the people that she loves.

My mom's turning 55 this year, and I wish her all the best. 💕

To all the women out there, continue to hope that the world is beginning to be a better place for women and men alike. Celebrate by telling yourself that you are as capable as any person out there.



📷: Barbara A Lane Studio

7 Tips to Do More at Work:

1️⃣ Multitasking slows you down.

Multitasking does not make someone great. Mindfulness is key.

2️⃣ Turn off smartphone notifications

This will help you to stay away from all forms of distraction.

3️⃣ Do not open all emails as they come

Tag email subjects with "Urgent" and add a special email filter for it. I read emails at:
(1) start of the day
(2) after lunch time
(3) end of the day

4️⃣ Label tasks with priority and urgency

When receiving a new task, assess the urgency and prioritize as needed. If you are swamped with work, ask for a more realistic deadline. Saying no is an important skill at work, and you can learn it.

5️⃣ Notice patterns in work and automate

Have an eye for seeing patterns at work. Do you reply to several emails with a templated email? Set-up an autoresponder. Not all work can be automated, but a lot of them can be.

6️⃣ Play classical music or with foreign lyrics

I figured that my focus is at its peak when listening to K-Pop (Korean Music) and Celtic Music (hello, Adrian Von Ziegler). I also tried a playlist of my favorite songs, and I ended up singing along in my head.

7️⃣ Spend 10% of work time for professional growth

No matter how busy the day is, allot a small fraction of your time to learn more about your career. Read news about the industry that you're in. Learn new skills that you can apply at the workplace. You may not find an immediate use for it, but you will have a holistic growth, and people will eventually notice it.

Way back 2015, I fell minto the trap of equating stability and job security with quality of life.

I'd comfort myself with the fact that, even though I work for longer hours (50-70 hours per week!), it's all going to be worth it. I can buy the things that I want, afford going to places I've always wanted to be in. I should be satisfied right?

But then it hit me. I get easily stressed, and I started to blame people for my frustrations. I asked myself -- "Is this the life I wanted to live 5 years down the road? The answer was crystal clear.

Four years have passed, and it is a continuing journey of finding myself and looking after things that truly makes me happy.

I hope for the best in you, too.



📷: https://www.facebook.com/braxmeier

7 Things You Can Do After Work

1. Go for a night stroll.
2. Thank yourself for finishing today’s work.
3. Tell someone that you’re grateful for the friendship.
4. Plan for your next travel this year. Look at travel blogs.
5. Pass by a restaurant with good reviews and take food to go.
6. Unsubscribe to newsletters that you never really opened.
7. Spray perfume on your sheets, lie down, and breathe deeply.

I firmly believe that everyone has dreams -- regardless of age, race, gender, or privilege. Never lose sight of your dreams. They are yours, and are yours to achieve.

Be gentle and firm on yourself.

Pat your back for the small wins.

Go to a quiet space, and be reminded that all of us are in our own race, with different tracks, different starting points, and different lengths to take.

Tell yourself that YOUR OWN RACE is not yet over until it's done.



📷: holdosi (Pixabay)

📷: .stockmar.7