Hi friends, welcome to the second Wellbeing Wednesday newsletter! I hope you’ll find these resources a helpful self-care support as we hit “hump day” again. 🐪
✨✨✨✨✨
Inspire
“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.”
— Dalai Lama
Look
Part of a giant, uplifting and humorous post-it note installation in London Bridge Station, by creator Stephanie Seege, aka thestickyfairy What’s your favourite note?
Listen
When I need to focus, or just want some peace and quiet on a noisy commute, I tune into the album Forest - Sounds of Nature on Spotify. It gives me an instant feeling of tranquility.
Watch
I recently watched a beautiful documentary, Wilding, based on the bestselling autobiographical book by Isabella Tree. Wilding is the story of a young couple who turn over their failing family estate, allowing nature to “re-wild” the land - the “Knepp experiment”.
I normally prefer to read the book rather than watch a movie version of a story, but it was wonderful seeing the resurgence of nature in full technicolour glory.
I left feeling inspired by the resilience of the natural world and hopeful for our planet. It was great watching it on the big screen, but it’s also available on demand.
Read
If you struggle to offer yourself kindness, The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook, by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer is a great guide. It’s based on the authors' groundbreaking eight-week Mindful Self-Compassion course (audio meditation tracks included).
If you’d like the more in-depth support of an MSC course (the workbook still makes a great companion), and the timezone works for you, I’d highly recommend courses by The Mindfulness Project.
Ask
On Saturday, I wrote about mindful movement. You can read the full post here:
A few quick questions you could reflect on:
When do you really listen to your body? How do you listen?
Focusing your attention on your body in this moment, what do you feel?
How could you be kinder to your body? More accepting?
Can you invest 5 minutes in some mindful movement?
Do
Have you ever tried mindful colouring? I find it a lovely way to focus and relax. Occupying my hands really works, and there’s the bonus of having something beautiful to admire at the end (even if my efforts are sometimes messy!)
I adore Johanna Basford’s colouring books for adults, they’re truly absorbing. She even has a few downloadable images available free on her website.
If you don’t want to invest in a book yet, or you’re itching to give colouring a go right now, why not head over to The Creative Prescription by Georgie St Clair.
Georgie’s newsletter is full of stunning drawings - maybe print one out to enjoy? Her recent Florum animalium: lepus is one of my favourites.
✨✨✨✨✨
Wishing you all a wonderful Wellbeing Wednesday! 💖
I’d love your feedback on this Wellbeing Wednesday post: Is it a welcome addition? Do you like the bitesized format? What would make it better? 🌸
If you enjoyed this post, it would mean the world to me if you’d comment, hit the heart button, share with others, or subscribe to Zestful Zen for free! Thank you lovely people ✨
So many fab recommendations here! I've done an MSC 8 week course - it was absolutely great. Love the stickyfairy Instagram too - I had a great laugh reading through her Instagram!
Oddly as I read the quote about the mosquito, one flew by me.