mindfulness | Silver Magazine

Mind

Kokoro A Japanese word worth knowing

Many of us are familiar with the Japanese word Umami. It essentially means a “pleasant savoury taste” and has become a common lexicon of chefs and food creatives around the world. Now, Japan is giving us a new word; Kokoro and even scientists are on board with it. Essentially, kokoro brings together the concept of uniting the notions of heart, mind and spirit. So if you said of someone that “she has good kokoro”, you would be saying that she has her heart, mind and spirit together. How wonderful a description is that? In Western culture, we tend to separate these three concepts, but this is not the case in Eastern beliefs, that see the three intertwined, as all interconnected. Artists, musicians, writers and dreamers of all cultures have always long seen these three as intertwined, but in Western cultures, we never quite had a word for it. Now we

Alex Hurst July 7, 2020

Mind

Living a fulfilling life

Feeling fulfilled. We all want that, but how do we get it? Good career? Check. Morning workout? Check. Eating healthy? Check. But something is still missing— sometimes, it takes a little more to feel fulfilled and satisfied. CEO of Metrus Group, Dr. William A. Schiemann, interviewed over 100 successful people to find out how to attain this feeling we all strive for. A Guide to living better every day Here are the top five things his research found that fulfilled people do on a daily basis at both work and home to bring about that satisfaction. 1. Have strong values—and stick to them They ensure their values are consistent and reflective of their work, environment and social life. Having contrary beliefs can be debilitating. 2. Practice resilience They are able to bounce back from adversity and focus on long-term goals while dealing with the many setbacks that arise in life.

David Holt June 30, 2020

Mind

5 ways to boost your self-confidence

Building self-confidence takes time and effort but when we do it helps us achieve our dreams. It’s no surprise that self-confidence is crucial to succeeding in every sphere of life. People often try unsuccessfully to boost confidence through various psychological methods, not realizing there are simple remedies to build self-worth. Self-doubt is common but not useful. Building self-confidence takes time and effort but when we do it helps us achieve our dreams. A Guide on how to build self confidence Aromatherapy Essential oils have been used for decades to calm the body and the mind. To feel inspired, try using rosemary oil. It makes you feel invigorated and acts as a nourishment for your soul. When you are relaxed and calm, you feel more in control of your emotions and actions. Consequently, your self-confidence gets a leg-up. Aromatherapy is known to take your mind to a place where you could

Erika Long June 18, 2020

Travel

Tap into your inner travel spirit

The magic of travel can renew your daily perspective. There’s something about travel that lightens your mind. Yes, there’s anxiety and stress that comes with a vacation, but there is also a sense of calm that will leave you feeling lighter, both physically and psychologically, before, during and after your travels. BEFORE YOU GO It all starts with a plan. You sit down with a vision of a destination and write a list of what your trip could look like. Use all of your senses. Where do I want to go? What do I want to see? What do I want to do? The anticipation brings your mind to a whole new place. It’s a refreshing escape from the stressful day you just endured. Through the planning process, you develop your desire for something new. The prospect of adventure and new geography will ease your typical daily aggravations. Leading up to your

Jessica Clerke June 1, 2020

Health

5 ways to boost your brain health

As we move age, we want to stay smart as well as fit. Keeping your brain healthy is just as important as your body. Here’s 5 things scientists say you should do. Exercise Daily: Sure it may seem obvious and we tend to think exercise is just good for our bodies. But it’s also good for the brain! A study by the Mayo Clinic in Germany found exercise increases our oxygen uptake, which is good for the brain. It showed exercise reduces cognitive decline. All you need is 20-30 minutes a day; even a brisk walk helps. A good cup of tea: Not coffee, tea. From orange pekoe to green tea, teas are just great for the old noggin. Coffee can help ward off Alzheimers, but tea is good for brain connections and neuroplasticity according to research. Proper thing what? Good heart health: Turns out, looking after the ticker is

Alex Hurst May 26, 2020

Mind

Age is just a number

“Sometimes, people use age as a convenient excuse. ‘I’m too old to start something new,’ or, ‘I couldn’t learn that at my age.’ Other people though, go on to achieve their greatest accomplishments in life in later years.” –Catherine Pulsifer There are two age pressures that we often face—the ones we set for ourselves and the ones society sets for us. We see it all the time. “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” “I need to graduate by this age, mar- ried by that age, start a career, buy a house, have kids, be financially stable, etc.” “I’m too old for that.” “I’m not old enough.” It’s a lot of pressure! I call bull****—you’re exactly where you need to be right now and if there’s something you want to achieve, age is not your limit, your mind is. I faced age discrimination often when I chose to get

Jessica Clerke April 12, 2020

Health

Beyond thought

Floating allows your muscles to relax and your mind to reset. I’ll have more of that, please. Like any new experience, I am apprehensive at first. After showering, I slip into the floatation pod, reach up and close the covering overhead. I lay back, floating at near zero G in a shallow bath of Epsom salts. There is mood lighting and ambient music–or darkness and silence. You choose. Time passes. I begin to relax, the tension gradually ebbing away from body and mind. Thoughts surface and drift away. After an hour I slide out and shower again. The experience is called Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST). A one-hour session is compared to hours of deep restful sleep. It lowers cortisol levels, the hormone produced by chronic stress, and can provide relief to those suffering from chronic pain. I have my first float at The Compass Rose Health and Wellness centre

David Holt December 25, 2019