It is tuesday morning and I am enjoying a hot cup of coffee with my brother. He is off from school for the next three weeks and I finally have a day off work.
Life is calling us to get enmeshed in the process. However, the process can wait. For now, we are enjoying our steaming cup of coffee and sharing what's on our mind. The amount of depth in terms of conversation and pure company I enjoy with my brother has been unparalled. I appreciate it more as I get older. Today, there is an overlying truth that keeps turning in my head as he shares his fears and plans for working after graduation.
We are extremely good at soothing and helping in detecting the pain points of our loved ones. Their struggled and vulnerabilities become so easy to categorize and write a prescription for. However, it's not as easy to do this for our ownselves. We are often heavily dependent upon others to recognize our blindspots. This is not necessarily a weakness. In fact, it is a way to more spiritual and personal growth.
When we grow deeply in our interpersonal relationships, we slowly start embracing a solid sense of our inner vulnerabilities. As a result, we are able to deeply connect to other people through these vulnerabilities. This helps shine a mirror on our INTERNAL ISSUES, BAGGAGE AND CRAVINGS. Slowly, we realize that we all have so much more in common than we think. Even with the siblings who are going their own way with their lives.
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Sunday, August 4, 2019
The Mindfulness Trap
How does it feel when you splurge on Beauty Products?
Would you say it is the Epitome of Self-Care?
It sure is for me.
The emergence of thousands of new beauty products leaves one always wanting more.
Facial Masks, Hair Masks, and Neck Cleansing Clay comes along with facial serums, hair serums, and neck wrinkle reduction serums. Over the years, I have come to embrace these products as precious gems found in the cave Aladdin got thrown into. Simply put, I cannot live without beauty products.
There are markups and markdowns on all different hair products: Marc Anthony, TREsemme, Pantene and the list goes on.
Recently, I have noticed that beauty products are marketed towards a more environmentally conscious demographic.
No surprise there.
With rising fears about Sustainability and Global Warming, it is high-time for companies to do their part in helping secure our planet's future.
A huge sub-set of these new marketing strategies is the promotion of Mindfulness.
Recently, I purchased a tooth-paste and face-mask promoting the notion of peace of mind upon their consumption.
Now, don't get me wrong. Both Products live up to their expectations.
My tastebuds find a calm tingling every time I use Burt's Bees Toothpaste. There is a millisecond feeling that whatever residual of the garbage I inhaled during the day (pizza, fries, burgers, sometimes all three) seems to just roll up from my tongue. It flies right out of my mouth and high up into the blackness of the solar system.
Meanwhile, the face mask has incredibly calming effects on my botched, under-hydrated skin. However, underneath all these perks, and perhaps despite them, I still do not feel mindful.
Perhaps mindfulness cannot be categorized into a form of consumption.
It would negate the very purpose for which we turn to mindfulness in the first place: A resting place from the daily hassles and routines of life.
If we incorporate mindfulness into the very routines from which it provides us respite, aren't we being the exact opposite of mindful?
To me at least that poses a fundamental question of what is mindfulness?
You see, when I wear my face mask, I am also listening to a business podcast and editing photos for my Poshmark Closet, and learning about the ways Canada is changing their Tax Laws once again. I am working to support my eco-system while providing you guys the life tips you need to do well in their economy.
However, mindfulness goes out the window when it's being done at the same time as it is not being done. I cannot simultaneously work while not working.
I believe it is high-time for beauty companies to take more mindful initiatives for promoting Mindfulness that go beyond Flashy Packaging and Increase in Targeted Advertising.
I think companies can encourage individuals to find their own unique ways to practice mindfulness.
Ways that go beyond increasing their own bottom line.
I truly believe this joint effort can allow individuals to truly embrace mindfulness that is as uniquely tailored as their favorite beauty products.
For those of you still reading, my advice is to stop looking at mindfulness as a goal. Rather, appreciate it's unique nuances in your personal life as they come and go.
Appreciate them because they are yours and hard to come by.
Appreciate them to get more of them.
Discover the mindfulness of nature and strong kinship ties and more nourishing foods.
Embrace the mindfulness of human connection, since it is one of the scarcest commodities out there.
Embrace the mindful you, through less investment in beauty products and more investment into welcoming and revering mindfulness more gracefully into your life.
I am not saying you need to stop buying beauty products. Mindfulness comes about through daily actions and habits of catching your breath and being genuine in spirit. I am saying that the products don't lead to mindfulness. Sometimes you need both and sometimes you need neither.
Would you say it is the Epitome of Self-Care?
It sure is for me.
The emergence of thousands of new beauty products leaves one always wanting more.
Facial Masks, Hair Masks, and Neck Cleansing Clay comes along with facial serums, hair serums, and neck wrinkle reduction serums. Over the years, I have come to embrace these products as precious gems found in the cave Aladdin got thrown into. Simply put, I cannot live without beauty products.
There are markups and markdowns on all different hair products: Marc Anthony, TREsemme, Pantene and the list goes on.
Recently, I have noticed that beauty products are marketed towards a more environmentally conscious demographic.
No surprise there.
With rising fears about Sustainability and Global Warming, it is high-time for companies to do their part in helping secure our planet's future.
A huge sub-set of these new marketing strategies is the promotion of Mindfulness.
Recently, I purchased a tooth-paste and face-mask promoting the notion of peace of mind upon their consumption.
 |
| feel Face Mask: MINDFUL |
 |
| Burt's Bees Toothpaste: Zen Peppermint |
Now, don't get me wrong. Both Products live up to their expectations.
My tastebuds find a calm tingling every time I use Burt's Bees Toothpaste. There is a millisecond feeling that whatever residual of the garbage I inhaled during the day (pizza, fries, burgers, sometimes all three) seems to just roll up from my tongue. It flies right out of my mouth and high up into the blackness of the solar system.
Meanwhile, the face mask has incredibly calming effects on my botched, under-hydrated skin. However, underneath all these perks, and perhaps despite them, I still do not feel mindful.
Perhaps mindfulness cannot be categorized into a form of consumption.
It would negate the very purpose for which we turn to mindfulness in the first place: A resting place from the daily hassles and routines of life.
If we incorporate mindfulness into the very routines from which it provides us respite, aren't we being the exact opposite of mindful?
To me at least that poses a fundamental question of what is mindfulness?
You see, when I wear my face mask, I am also listening to a business podcast and editing photos for my Poshmark Closet, and learning about the ways Canada is changing their Tax Laws once again. I am working to support my eco-system while providing you guys the life tips you need to do well in their economy.
However, mindfulness goes out the window when it's being done at the same time as it is not being done. I cannot simultaneously work while not working.
I believe it is high-time for beauty companies to take more mindful initiatives for promoting Mindfulness that go beyond Flashy Packaging and Increase in Targeted Advertising.
I think companies can encourage individuals to find their own unique ways to practice mindfulness.
Ways that go beyond increasing their own bottom line.
I truly believe this joint effort can allow individuals to truly embrace mindfulness that is as uniquely tailored as their favorite beauty products.
For those of you still reading, my advice is to stop looking at mindfulness as a goal. Rather, appreciate it's unique nuances in your personal life as they come and go.
Appreciate them because they are yours and hard to come by.
Appreciate them to get more of them.
Discover the mindfulness of nature and strong kinship ties and more nourishing foods.
Embrace the mindfulness of human connection, since it is one of the scarcest commodities out there.
Embrace the mindful you, through less investment in beauty products and more investment into welcoming and revering mindfulness more gracefully into your life.
I am not saying you need to stop buying beauty products. Mindfulness comes about through daily actions and habits of catching your breath and being genuine in spirit. I am saying that the products don't lead to mindfulness. Sometimes you need both and sometimes you need neither.
 |
| Is it Really Mindfulness If I still have to use my mind? |
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