Welcome to my lifestyle blog, where I write about my favorite things: pop culture, travel, career, wellness, fashion, friendship and relationships.
Enjoy! Dareise
All in Wellness
Naomi Osaka, the 23-year-old tennis phenomenon and four-time Grand Slam winner created a maelstrom of conversation around mental wellness when she pulled out of the French Open with a statement, posted on Twitter, on May 31st. This came days after she announced that she would not participate in the required press conferences that take place after the games.
Self-improvement starts with you and once you work toward being positive on a daily basis, you start to feel better. The power of a mindset shift includes living a happier more productive life that you are proud of.
When good things start happening to us, we have to let go of the scarcity mindset that will inevitably hinder our progress. Once we stop being scared of doing the work needed to become the best version of ourselves, the world we live in starts to look brighter.
Webster’s Dictionary defines party as a social gathering. I’ve redefined it as a spiritual gathering and decided to gather the people, things and vibes (socially distanced of course) that feed my spirit. Here’s what I did to create joy on my birthday during the pandemic.
I also had trouble getting into the Christmas spirit this year. The spirit of joy, giving and gratitude just wasn’t automatically rising up in my spirit like year’s past. The normal family tradition of the us gathering for dinner and helping the kids of the family (there are a lot of them, ages 1-10) make and bake cookies and gingerbread houses on Christmas Eve isn’t an option. Things are just different and I found myself angry and discouraged about the changes. I knew I had to do something about that because there is so much to be grateful for and so many opportunities to create joy and connectedness in new ways.
Sydney’s experience is like many of ours: we know it’s time to transition into something different, something more fulfilling, but for whatever reason we hesitate. Until the Universe forces us into it. Sydney saw and felt the signs that it was time to move forward as an esthetician and she gives details about her journey below.
I had already planned to write about what I am thankful for during this pandemic, but after listening to a podcast this past Tuesday, I was inspired to reframe this piece and not just talk about what I am thankful for, but how those things are gifts. Sparks of light to take action, live with purpose and savor every moment with those you love.
I love that last sentence because caring for yourself is an essential part of cultivating self-love. I’m talking about the self-care that takes your mind and spirit to its healthiest state. Therapy, affirmations, self-reflection, gratitude journaling, consuming healthy foods, media and music are all ways to build self-love. Of course, there are many more, but I have tried all of the aforementioned methods which led to the following four practices I also employ to deepen the love I have for myself.
A few months ago, Emelda De Coteau, founder of the community Women Creatives Chat and the podcast Pray with Our Feet started a series called “Creating through COVID-19,” which includes live conversations with women creatives who talk about how to embody gratitude, cope with mental health challenges and how to be mindful about physical and mental wellness during the pandemic. As a member of this remarkable community of diverse women creatives, I can attest to the power it has had on me in supporting my goals as a creative while also providing a platform for us to share experiences, advice, encouragement and expertise to aid in each other’s growth.
I've kept a journal since I was a teenager. Writing was a natural way for me to express myself. I'd write poetry, short stories and details about my day and my crushes. I always felt relieved after I'd write, especially when I could let go of thoughts I didn't want to or didn't have the courage to, speak out loud.
Fast forward many years later and I am still writing in my journal, but this year while in quarantine due to the pandemic, I decided to start a gratitude journal.
