Wellbeing Journal
WHAT DOES WELLNESS MEAN TO YOU?
What does wellness mean to you? Some think quitting sugar, others think yoga on the beach. So here’s a question: what does wellness mean to you?Wellness, the state of experiencing wellbeing. When people think wellness, they sometimes picture their ideal selves: a perfect zen balance of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. However, that image is usually marred by the reality of modern life – we’re often too busy, too stressed to make wellness a priority. To make ourselves, our health, our connection with nature and our happiness, a priority. And that’s something we all deserve to change.This month, we’re launching our national Wellbeing campaign, to inspire us all to wellbeing and lives we truly love – like reconnecting with nature, nurturing your body through nutrition and fitness, and practicing daily mindfulness.At Jurlique, we believe beauty comes from within, and it shows when we’re living in harmony with ourselves and the world around us. So we’ll be looking at how the power of nature can help promote radiant skin, no matter what your skin type or concern. And, with the help of some of Australia’s top nutrition, fitness and mindfulness experts, we’ll also be exploring: The whole foods story – what it is and why it matters, as well as recipes for delicious, nutritious meals How to set and manage fitness goals and energy levels with fun workouts you’ll enjoy The self-love and self-care benefits of being mindful in each moment – and how it can help minimise stress Wellness happens by making incremental changes that add up over time. Some of these changes can be small, like eating more vegetables, or swapping coffee for green tea. Others, however, may involve challenging preconceived notions about how we should think, feel, act or simply be – like letting go of negative self-talk, feeling guilty, saying ‘yes’ more often than saying ‘no’ and being the perfect parent / friend / partner / employee / person.This is one of the most important things to remember. Because what links the wellness pillars of skin care, nutrition, fitness and mindfulness isn’t what you’d normally expect. The truth is, what connects them all is you and your experience. You’re the key to realising your happiness and health, and living a life that fills you with joy and contentment, every single day.It’s not about a magic bullet, or having a perfect record. It’s okay to stumble every now and again on the path to wellbeing. What’s important are those gentle gains, and being open to what you might be able to do, right now, in order to start feeling happier and healthier. Because if you can end each day having done one more thing to add value to your life, then every day will be better than the last.And that’s our challenge to you over the coming month.Enjoy September.Team Jurlique x“Our vision was to formulate and manufacture the purest skin care products available based on the healing properties of nature and to inspire people to health and wellbeing.” – Ulrike Klein, Jurlique Co-founderThis month’s skin care, nutrition, fitness and mindfulness articles delivered straight to your inbox – sign up to the Jurlique newsletter.
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HOW STRESS AFFECTS YOUR SKIN (AND WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT!)
Nurturing happy, healthy skin begins with using the best products to cleanse, moisturise and rejuvenate – but it doesn’t stop there. The truth is, caring for your skin can be a battle, and stress can be a major factor.None of us are immune to stress. It can sneak up quietly. Other times it charges at us head-on. But how does stress affect your skin?In times of duress, our bodies produce a steroid hormone called cortisol which, aside from the sparking the ‘fight or flight’ mechanism, increases your skin’s natural oil production cycle. This can allow bacteria to breed, resulting in breakouts.When you’re under attack from stress, you need a strategy to help relieve it – the first step is to consult your healthcare practitioner.Next, here’s what else you can do. Listen to your body Stress triggers can be difficult to pin down, especially when you’re busy. If you’re feeling tired, having trouble sleeping, experiencing changes in appetite or finding it hard to focus, ensure you take time out to do the things that make you happy and promote relaxation. This might involve getting back to that book you never finished, catching up with friends or settling in for a well-timed Saturday nap. Maintain your skin care ritual Work stress often scrambles our priorities, so keeping up routines like your skin care ritual can help you feel more balanced. Proper cleansing is also a lovely way to slow down and spend some quality time pampering yourself after a long, hard day. Treat your daily cleansing ritual as an opportunity to indulge in some much deserved you-time, using a cleanser with natural ingredients that’s suited to your skin type and won’t cause irritation.Experience our Rosewater Balancing Mist for a mindful moment during the day. It also contains natural antioxidants ingredients which help keep your skin fresh, hydrated and revitalised. Relax, reflect, rejuvenate While an effective skin care ritual is key to keeping skin clear and healthy, addressing the causes of stress is even more important. Always consult your healthcare professional as a starting point.Identifying situations that make you feel anxious or overwhelmed, recognising but not engaging with present emotions, and gradually changing your response to them can help you better manage stress over time, in positive ways.Recognising the physical and emotional experience of stress when it arises, accepting its presence, and practicing deep, abdominal breathing also helps neutralise anxiety.Talking through issues with an attentive friend or trained professional can help liberate stress and make sense of the big picture. Otherwise, meditation and massage are also great ways to slow down and reconnect with what’s truly important – you and your wellbeing.Stress is a part of modern life, but it doesn’t need to rule yours. What are your tips and tricks for handling stress? We’d love to hear them.*The content displayed on this webpage is intended for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advice. Please discuss mental health issues with your healthcare professional.
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WHAT IS NATURAL SKIN CARE?
At Jurlique, nature has always been our inspiration for health, skin care and wellbeing. Whether it’s the food we eat or the botanical extracts we use in our products, we believe that nature is the answer. Just a touch of nature in your daily skin care ritual can help replenish and protect your natural beauty.Products labelled as ‘natural’ contain ingredients derived from plant sources like herbs, flowers, roots and essential oils. Natural skin care isn’t a new phenomenon (we’ve been doing it since the 1980s), and botanical treatments have played a vital role in enhancing beauty for years.As more and more people turn away from harsh, chemical products, nature’s role in offering pure, potent skin care solutions will only continue to increase.But first, let’s take a look at why natural skin care is so important.Beauty starts on the insideSkin is very absorbent, and up to 60% of substances applied to its surface can end up circulating in the body. While absorption rates differ from person to person, exposure to artificial materials can place an additional burden on the body’s detoxifying process.Your skin’s wellbeing often depends on the products you use – so gentle ingredients are really important when it comes to nurturing your skin.Here are some natural extracts you’ll find in our products to let your beauty shine from the inside out: Rose to hydrates and rebalances skin Calendula to soothe redness, and calm dryness, sensitivity or irritation Chamomile to balance dryness and calm irritation Lavender to calm and hydrates skin Jojoba, which is rich in antioxidants, and high in essential fatty acids and nutrients Shea butter, to moisturise and deeply soften skin Marshmallow root to attract and retain water for intense, lasting hydration and protection Nature protectsSkin is the body’s largest organ, tasked with protecting us 24/7. Natural skin care routines work in synergy with your skin to help it maintain optimal pH levels and remain hydrated, to stay strong yet supple.Exposure to artificial fragrances or irritating chemicals can trigger skin redness and irritation, even allergic reactions. Natural, organic and biodynamic products give peace of mind, with the knowledge your skin is far less likely to react.Natural skin care products can also protect by addressing skin concerns. For example, our Biosome-5 technology blends five natural extracts to target multiple signs of ageing (like deep lines, wrinkles, acute dehydration, and loss of firmness and elasticity). The result? An anti-ageing range that doesn’t compromise on luxury – or effectiveness.Caring for the environmentIn our busy modern lives of routines and schedules, natural skin care products help us reconnect with nature. This is especially the case for brands committed to minimising their environmental footprint. The products we choose can either fuel pollution or contribute to the health of our planet with environmentally-friendly, sustainable packaging and practices. For example, Jurlique: Saves 2,000kL of water a year Has reduced carbon emissions by 20% Has solar panels that generate 65KW of energy per year, and Eliminates 70% of wastage during production Nature has the ultimate power to create, nourish and soothe. And from seed to harvest, we nurture our plants, so they can nurture your skin. It’s the purity and potency of our ingredients, and the way they’re tailored to skin concerns, that show just how far Jurlique has come in the last 30+ years. Because when it comes to skin care, we defer to nature – and nature really does know best.Want more natural skin care? Download the Jurlique Skin Care Challenge for two weeks of skin care tips and tricks.Sign up to the Jurlique newsletter for more on how to care for your skin, naturally.
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UNDERSTANDING YOUR SKIN TYPE
We all want to look and feel our best, so when it comes to your complexion, tailoring your skin care ritual to your skin type is key. But how do you know which skin type is yours? The way your skin appears and behaves can tell a lot about what’s going on behind the scenes, particularly when it comes to your overall skin health and well-being.Read on to learn how to identify and understand your skin type, so you can achieve your skin care goals.Dry skinA rough, flaky complexion that feels tight after cleansing is typical for anyone with dry skin. Dry skin can occur with external conditions that disturb your skin’s capacity to retain moisture (like extreme cold or heat), resulting in a thin, patchy surface. However, dry skin can also be a matter of genetics. The biggest issue with dry skin is prolonged dehydration can actually increase your chances of sensitivity and premature ageing.For dry skin types, boosting hydration during your skin care ritual is essential. When cleansing or exfoliating, choose natural, hydrating formulas that won’t strip your skin’s oil, and opt for rich moisturising creams and serums that deeply hydrate to restore skin health.blog-4-supporting-img-623x313-v2Ageing skinAs time goes by, our skin’s appearance and texture changes, affecting firmness, elasticity and moisture. Drier or duller skin than usual, as well as sun damage and the beginning of fine lines, can indicate age-related skin concerns. That said, it’s never too late to slow the ageing process by gracefully combating dryness, dullness and visible signs of ageing. Vigilant sun care and deeply hydrating moisturisers with pure, potent natural ingredients can help protect skin – no matter what your age.Tip: avoid harsh cleansers or exfoliants as they dehydrate, compounding moisture loss and the potential for sensitivity. Deeply nourishing creams and oils can help rejuvenate moisture and target problem areas like lines and wrinkles, as well as skin tone and firmness.Sensitive skinSensitive skin is easily irritated by external stimulants, evident in the red, blotchy symptoms that follow. You may notice itchiness, visible rashes or hives, swelling, or a tingling, stinging or burning sensation during skin reactions. Sensitive skin is more common in paler tones, the skin surface thinner and more translucent, making sensitive skin extra susceptible to environmental conditions and effects (for example, sunburn and photo-ageing).As sensitive skin types are prone to drying and irritation, avoid products with ingredients like artificial colours and fragrances. Natural skin care products with botanical extracts such as Calendula can also help soothe red skin and rebalance sensitivity.Oily skinYour skin’s sebaceous glands are responsible for the production of skin oil, or sebum. This can be influenced by many things, but the most common factor is hormones (think back to your skin during adolescence). When too much sebum escapes through your pores, a shiny, oily complexion results, with the additional problem of facilitating blemishes. Large, open pores can be an indication of oil production, but visibly smaller pores can also generate oily skin conditions – in the latter case, the culprit is likely to be skin care product-related.So what can you do? While it’s tempting to look for products that eliminate sebum, harsh ingredients can dehydrate skin – which can actually increase oil production. With oily skin types, cleansing gently but thoroughly, and finishing with a light moisturising lotion to rebalance oiliness, can help keep your skin’s oil production in check.Normal skinNormal skin is actually quite unusual, as other skin types are much more prevalent. Normal skin is clear and even, with a well-balanced surface that retains moisture, and minimal breakouts.Normal skin indicates healthy circulation, although impurities can occur from time to time, depending on individual skin care rituals. The trick for normal skin types is maintenance, so gentle, natural skin care products that focus on balance are best.The subtle differences between each skin type are a reality for all of us, whether we’re dry, ageing, sensitive, oily or normal. Identifying and understanding your skin type, and what it needs to look and feel its best, is the key to unlocking your skin’s wellness.What skin type are you, and what tips and tricks have you learned on your journey to skin wellness? Let us know on Facebook.Want more natural skin tips and tricks? Download the Jurlique Skin Care ChallengeSign up to the Jurlique newsletter for more on how to care for your skin, naturally.
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DETOX YOUR SKIN, DETOX YOUR LIFE
Spring is the time of year that evokes thoughts of blooming and renewal, so it’s not surprising that it’s also a popular time for health kicks. Detoxing – which minimises the effects of harmful or undesirable influences on your wellbeing – is high on people’s to-do lists, particularly when it comes to diet, exercise and lifestyle.But detoxing is about more than just upping the juice cleanses and beach runs. There’s detoxing your skin, detoxing your home, detoxing your habits – detoxing your life – with a nurturing, holistic approach to wellness.Because it’s not about cutting out the good stuff. It’s about taking care of you, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, and making sure you have everything you need to live a happy, healthy life.Read on to learn about detoxing your skin, life, and everything in between.Detoxing your skinYour skin detox starts with understanding external aggressors. Pollution is a big one, whether you live in an urban or rural area. Links have been found between exposure to these particulate matter and skin health.On the other end of the spectrum, you have obvious external aggravators like make-up, which is longwearing and has direct access to skin. While cleansing and exfoliating can help remove impurities, a regular skin care ritual provides the solution you need to deeply cleanse and purify.Introducing Purity SpecialistDesigned for detoxingJurlique’s Purity Specialist range is a two-step system specifically formulated remove pollution and product build-up for a gorgeous, glowing complexion. It offers a soothing treatment ritual, giving you time to relax, reconnect and enhance wellbeing as you nurture your skin.Purity Specialist Compress ConcentrateThis potent botanical concentrate blends purifying extracts to help open pores, release impurities and prepare skin for further treatement. Rich antioxidants also help protect skin from pollutants and premature ageing. The concentrate includes:Soap Bark, to cleanse and purifyChamomile, which protects and restores radianceIndian Cress, to protect and toneUse weekly or as needed after your normal cleanser, and before your toning mist.blog-6-supporting-img-623x313-v3Purity Specialist Treatment MaskThis creamy clay mask has natural ingredients to deeply cleanse and absorb impurities for radiant, healthy skin. These include:Kaolin to absorb impuritiesRosemary, which cleanses and protectsApricot Seed, which exfoliates and smoothPeppermint to invigorate and sootheApply after Purity Specialist Compress Concentrate, as it opens pores, making impurities easier to remove. Follow with the rest of your Jurlique skin care ritual.blog-6-supporting-img-623x313-v1Detoxing your lifeWhile waiting for your treatment mask, think about which areas of your life are most in need of detoxing:DietExerciseSleepFamilyRelationshipFriendsHouseFinanceWorkWhat ideas do you have about improving them, particularly for the ones you really care about?For example, if you’d like to detox at home, would a declutter help? Or is it more about crafting a relaxing, restful atmosphere to rejuvenate in? At work, does detoxing involve better time or stress management? Or is it working on more projects that bring you joy, while allowing you to stretch and grow?Asking these questions and being openly curious about discovering answers means you’re not just problem solving, you’re unlocking opportunities (and in ways that inspire you to action).The idea behind detoxing is really about finding your optimal balance, to ensure a happy life experience. If you’ve over-extended in particular areas, the knock-on effect is to no doubt feel under-exposed in others. Returning to your equilibrium – and in ways that satisfy you physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually – is your ultimate path to wellness.1 World Health Organisation (WHO) factsheet, No 313, HYPERLINK “http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs313/en/” Ambient (outdoor) air quality and health, updated March 2014.Shop the Story:Purity Specialist Compress Concentrate | $65Blog-Wellbeing-BlogBanner-purity-concentratePurity Specialist Treatment Mask | $85Blog-Wellbeing-BlogBanner-purity-maskWant more natural skin tips and tricks? Download the Jurlique Skin Care ChallengeDiscover more Jurlique skin care tips by subscribing to our newsletter.Share
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UNDERSTANDING: THINGS HAPPEN FOR YOU AND NOT TO YOU BY VASHTI WHITFIELD
As part of our Jurlique Mindfulness Challenge, executive life coach Vashti Whitfield has created an exclusive four-part series of guest blogs for us. In part four, she explores how actively practicing mindfulness can help you deal with whatever life throws at you.Over the last decade, I dove into – and then out of – the role of ‘wife of a superstar’. I learned very quickly the value of self-worth, which became an absolute necessity as a stay-at-home mum. With too much alone time with two small children in remote countries, I was forced to question and explore the whole concept of life, love and legacy.I also nursed my husband through a tumultuous 18-month cancer journey from “Yay, you’re going to make it!” to “No, you have three months to live”. I transitioned from being married to my best friend for 13 years into being a widow, the single parent of two gorgeous kids, and the sole provider and breadwinner. Oh, and did I mention that I’m also driven by my unwavering commitment to make a difference in people’s lives in any way possible?So believe me when I tell you that I totally get it. I know what it’s like to wake up in the night wondering how I’m going to manage the multiple balls I’m juggling. I understand the insane commitment it takes to be fully present for the people around me when my mind is racing; worrying about something in the future, or regretting something I could have done differently in the past.I had to explore different ways of looking at life to learn how to approach the scale of the life I was asking for – and cope with the mind-bending scenarios life decided to throw back at me. Because regardless of whether life is easy or difficult, it’s how you choose to interpret it that will either make you or break you.Creating the life you wantWhile no two brains are alike, we’re all hardwired to think our way forward, towards what we most desire. This is the part of our brain that, when it’s clear in its intention, is motivated and capable of making almost anything happen.But we are also hardwired – rather cleverly and somewhat annoyingly at times – to detect and protect ourselves against anything that might cause us pain, humiliation or rejection.In order for you to really dive into the potential of a situation and make things happen in your life, it is absolutely critical that you own, choose and understand what you want. This will immediately support you to clarify your level of commitment to your goal, and help expose any underlying fears that might have held you back up to this point.Actively practicing mindfulness is a powerful tool for reconnecting with your most intuitive and capable self (and it’s far more cost-effective than going on holiday). It’s also what the modern-day mind needs to tap into our innate wisdom, and our ability to create, adapt and grow from anything that life throws at us.Through this ongoing curious and non-judgemental enquiry of learning more about ourselves, we are able to live, love, and lead often remarkably inspiring lives.* With thanks to Byron Katie for the quote.Explore the Jurlique Mindfulness Challenge for tips, tools and a step-by-step plan for transitioning from mindful-mess to mindfulness. Download the Jurlique X Vashti Whitfield Mindfulness Challenge here
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TAKING CONTROL OF LIMITING THOUGHTS BY VASHTI WHITFIELD
As part of our Jurlique Mindfulness Challenge, executive life coach Vashti Whitfield has created an exclusive four-part series of guest blogs for us. In part three, she explores how our beliefs lead our minds to work for us – or against us.Have you ever found yourself feeling like you’re doing all the ‘right’ things – setting goals, taking action – but you’re just not getting any traction? It might not be your actions holding you back, but your beliefs.We are all born as perfect blank canvases: impressionable, absorbent, with the ability to become almost anything. And during our earliest years, while our brains and bodies are forming, growing and making sense of the world, we develop an acute awareness of what does and doesn’t feel good – and this has far-reaching effects.How our earliest experiences mould usThink of what happens when a toddler, having just mastered the word “please”, accidentally knocks a glass of juice all over the rug in her eagerness to grab what she’d been given permission to take. And her parents, who are exhausted at the end of yet another stressful work day, lose their temper and shout at her, complaining that she never listens, and couldn’t she just sit still.The little girl – who’d believed that using “please” correctly would be met with praise and adoration – is instead offered a confusing display of anger from her hugely frustrated and tired parents. The determination she set out with and was initially praised for now becomes something negative and unhelpful, as she becomes someone who “never listens and should do what they’re told”.If you’re that toddler, a few weeks of the same message being fed back to you – not to mention the confusion that comes when doing something impressive is met with anger and rejection – will form the beginnings of a very significant belief: that whatever you try to do without being invited will be met with a response that does not feel good.So, boom: you’re not even three years old, and you’ve already loaded a specific belief into the hard drive of your brain – one that will continue to influence everything you do or don’t do moving forward.Of course, this works both ways. If you get on stage at school and sing, and you’re praised and positively acknowledged, you’re 99% more likely to be confident singing in public again. Or if you try something and bomb spectacularly, but still receive encouragement from a loving support structure that challenges you to try again, it will help you build resilience – and form the healthy belief that as long as you try your best, nothing else really matters.Using mindfulness to take controlAssigning meaning to something is a very necessary tool. If we reach for a hot cup of tea and it burns our hand, our brain communicates to us through our pain receptors to tell us that this hurts. And we know for next time how to avoid danger and pain when it comes to hot cups of tea.The problem is that as we grow older and mature, we sometimes forget these past experiences – but we continue to act out the behaviours, habits and structures we put in place to avoid feeling the pain, embarrassment, abandonment, discomfort and hurt they caused. And as we travel through life, we might set goals to achieve something – but if deep down, we don’t believe we’re worthy of it, it becomes far less likely to happen.Unfortunately, we’re often caught living within the confines of a set of beliefs that neither serve us nor support us. But here’s the good news: once you realise that you’re operating from a self-limiting perspective – one that you know is far from how you would like to approach life – you can begin to map a new path.And when you’re courageous enough to acknowledge that what you believe may in fact be nothing more than a confused memory of your past, you can start moving towards what you’d most like to achieve – and learn to let that self-defeating belief and its accompanying behaviour be a thing of the distant past.Explore the Jurlique Mindfulness Challenge for tips, tools and a step-by-step plan for transitioning from mindful-mess to mindfulness. Download the Jurlique X Vashti Whitfield Mindfulness Challenge here
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FINDING YOUR FOCUS BY VASHTI WHITFIELD
As part of our Jurlique Mindfulness Challenge, executive life coach Vashti Whitfield has created an exclusive four-part series of guest blogs for us. In part two, she explores how focusing on what’s important to you can transform the way you experience life.In essence, mindfulness is about bringing your awareness and attention back to what is most important to you. Once you focus on what it is you do want, you can begin to create structures in your day-to-day life to interrupt, remove and retrain any self-limiting beliefs, and reduce any negative thought patterns.If you’re feeling stressed, anxious, disappointed or angry, you may very well be stuck on the negative, fear-based part of your brain. Our goal is get you off that dizzying hamster wheel and into a more empowering place – one that allows you to see, feel and move toward what you most want. That’s when you’ll be mindfully taking responsibility to be more fully satisfied in life.Being able clarify what you most want, define a goal, or even take a moment to clarify how you want to feel about something is all part of your brain’s clever ability to help you move towards what you want. But if you’re overwhelmed by the feelings created by the emotional part of your brain – the part that’s doing its best to protect you from the unknown, or worse still, anything in your past that felt less than great – it becomes very hard for you to see anything else other than a potential problem, threat or hardship.If you’re wondering why some people always manage to achieve so much while seeming so calm and positive, it’s usually because they’re embracing all the support structures they have to clarify and build their vision, goals and plan. It’s more than likely that they’re also surrounding themselves with daily practice and/or people who support and inspire them.Is your glass half empty – or half full?Before we go any further, let’s see if you’re a ‘glass half-empty’ or ‘glass half-full’ thinker, keeping in mind that there’s no judgement here – only tools to build awareness of how you filter your thinking and outlook.When something doesn’t go according to plan, do you: Get caught up in the drama, talk about your problem to anyone and everyone, and feel hurt and grumpy? Press pause and look for the opportunity in the situation? In a challenging situation, are you more likely to: Feel like something or someone has ‘done something’ to you? See it as something you can turn into an opportunity to learn, grow, or think on your feet? Focus: A family case studyI was recently gifted with a wonderful example of the different approaches we take when faced with challenges during a conversation with my kids, Jesse and Indigo, who could not be more different in their attitude towards life.We were supposed to go on a surf trip up the coast, but due to a work deadline, I was forced to postpone. (Being the sole breadwinner means these things happen sometimes.) Overwhelmed by her disappointment, Indi hurled herself to the floor, and began listing all the fabulous places her friends had gone for the holidays.She then began to list all the other missed activities, treats and anything else she could think of that would justify life’s harsh and unjustified treatment of her. She was determined, in case I’d missed the memo, to have me know just how much the situation sucked!Jesse, the head surfer of the family, stood by quietly, and I wouldn’t have known the extent of his disappointment had I not noticed he’d sprung a silent little leak. A single tear rolled down his cheek, but he simply said, “Ok Mum, this sucks more for you than it does for us, because you’ve got to work most of the weekend. What else could we do to make this a fun weekend?”I should add here that in response to my kids’ obvious disappointment, my own head was racing with thoughts like, “You’re such a mean mum…it’s so hard being a single parent and it’s so unfair…how did I get myself in this situation?” As a result, my heart was racing and my stomach was churning.But as their guide and the adult in this difficult situation, I was aware of the need to practice what I preach. That required me to step out of the drama and frustration of the situation and back into the opportunity of it. This is where practicing mindfulness is key. I focused on what was most important to me as my starting point, and used that to anchor myself to teach my kids how to view everything in life as an opportunity.I took a big, deep breath, picked Indi off the floor, sat Jesse down on the seat next to me and said, “We are all frustrated and we are all disappointed. But we all have a choice in how we deal with this. How can we take advantage of being in Sydney for the weekend and that I will have to spend a portion of the weekend working. How can we turn this into something fun?”Indi immediately focused on what she COULD do over what she couldn’t do or have, and it completely shifted her thinking. She was suddenly excited, specific and proactive in calling out her heart’s desire.“Okay, Mum: how about you work until lunch time and then take us ice skating and then to see a movie and then you can carry on working when we’ve gone to bed!”And there, in a shift from one point of focus to another, my little storm cloud of a daughter turned into a ray of sunshine. Although I’m not sure I came out on top, it still seemed to me a win-win situation – because if I wasn’t self-employed and my own boss, the flexibility I have to make these kinds of adjustments wouldn’t exist. At least, that’s how I chose to see it.It’s all about focusAt the heart of my little share is that it’s ALL about where you place your focus. Indi’s brain, in her state of disappointment, was referencing everything she didn’t have. This left her feeling helpless, powerless and frustrated.But by defining something you DO want versus something you don’t, you suddenly insert yourself back in a power position – and back to your rightful place in the driver’s seat. The ensuing release of endorphins will have you feeling excited and clear about what you need to do – and you’ll be motivated to take the steps toward what you most want.Your brain, with the clarity of a specific target point on the horizon, understands that you know exactly where you want to go – even if you don’t quite know how to get there.Explore the Jurlique Mindfulness Challenge for tips, tools and a step-by-step plan for transitioning from mindful-mess to mindfulness. Download the Jurlique X Vashti Whitfield Mindfulness Challenge here
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VASHTI WHITFIELD ON WHAT IS MINDFULNESS?
As part of our Jurlique Mindfulness Challenge, executive life coach and mindfulness expert Vashti Whitfield has created an exclusive four-part series of guest blogs for us. In part one, she explores what it means to be mindful and practice mindfulness.What does practicing mindfulness mean to you? Is it sitting quietly for a couple of minutes, taking the time to feel the breeze on your cheek, or slipping off your shoes and bringing all of your attention to how the ground feels beneath your toes? Or diligently meditating for at least 10 minutes, switching off your mind and washing away the chaos running riot inside your head?However you choose to be mindful, the process of reconnecting to your breath and senses as you actively clear your thoughts can allow you to recognise what your mind is trying to focus on, and scale back the intensity of how you feel about it. By giving yourself this clarity and distance, you are able to view what worried you with a clearer perspective and a calmer mind.When you sit in the silence of the moment, it is far easier to experience the magnitude of stress that our excessive thinking puts on our bodies.Three-minute practice: Rebooting your mindBefore you read any further, I want you to take three minutes to try it for yourself.Think of your mind as a laptop. If you’re anything like me, you’ve got multiple programs, files and documents open. After a while, everything is not only running slower – it’s also becoming a bit of a mess.In this practice, you’re going to close each of these programs or thoughts down. And once your mind is clear, you’ll only reopen the thoughts you REALLY need.Close your eyes, inhale for 5 seconds, then slowly exhale for 10 seconds. Repeat three times. Then sit absolutely still for at least two minutes, concentrating only on your breath and the sounds you can hear around you. Once you open your eyes, notice how you feel.I call this “rebooting”, and I do this exercise multiple times throughout the day. It helps me reduce overwhelming feelings and prioritise my focus. Most importantly, it helps me clarify if I am wasting time thinking about things I cannot predict, control or change.More ways to be mindfulOften when people are doing something creative or active, such as cooking or playing music, they’re able to experience a disconnection from the busyness of their mind. This physical or creative practice can also leave you feeling more calm, clear and inspired.Learning to think and feel through the senses is a remarkably simple and straightforward approach to slowing the mind. This one of the most effective ways to learn to be present in your life, calm your overactive mind, and use the clarity of distance that a moment’s pause can give you to reconnect.The benefits of mindfulnessPeople often use different mindfulness techniques to deal with stress, anxiety, or even insomnia. These practices are hugely beneficial for anyone caught in up in the stress and strain of modern-day living.And those ‘aha’ moments we rely on for inspiration or problem-solving don’t come when we overthink something. They almost always appear when you’ve let go a little and are in a completely different headspace.Think of the times when your best ideas have come to you while you’re in the shower, on holiday, or watching a movie. A daily Mindful Practice is also a wonderful way of bringing more clarity, insight and awareness to your life – along with more of those ‘aha’ moments.Practicing mindfulness dailyThere are two important aspects to consider when we explore the concept of mindfulness. First is the daily and consistent practice of moving out of your head and back into your body. This about letting go of your thoughts, and giving all of your attention to the sensations in your body, your breath, and the stillness of your mind. Then and only then are we able to distance ourselves from the freight train of thoughts our brains are hardwired to create.The second and even more powerful aspect of practising mindfulness is being able to do it when you’re in the midst of your busy life, and not just in the sanctuary of your dedicated practice space. This is when you’re able to actively stop and reflect on what you’re thinking about, explore why you’re thinking about it and whether it’s having a positive impact on you, and then – as an act of will – change your thoughts to better serve you.The key is to start small and do what you can – and most importantly, define your intention for getting started. We often reactively move into doing or trying something and yet fail to set a clear objective or goal around, making it far too easy to let ourselves of the hook for not seeing it though. Be clear and honest with yourself about what you’re really committed to – and write it down.Over the next month, we invite you to cast aside any scepticism and openly explore how being more mindful can vastly improve your quality of life.Explore the Jurlique Mindfulness Challenge for tips, tools and a step-by-step plan for transitioning from mindful-mess to mindfulness. Download the Jurlique X Vashti Whitfield Mindfulness Challenge here
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