Tabla de contenidos para Issue 9 en WellBeing Being

Many of us can spend our days, weeks, months — even years — searching for happiness outside of ourselves. From landing that “perfect job” to finding “the one” or obtaining your “dream home”, several Western ways of being have influenced us into believing that everlasting joy resides in our external world — in material possessions, job titles, even people. And if we’re lucky enough to obtain said goal, does the profession, home or partner give us the happiness we were promised it would? Other ways of being around the world suggest that it’s less about an individual seeking a perceived sense of success in something external, and more about understanding our threads of connection to each other and how they create a tapestry of collective joy. Shared joy worldwide Mudita…

I’ve always been a daydreamer, but sometimes I can get so caught up in my thoughts that I forget to feel my feet on the ground. Swept up in the neuroses, I can’t sense my centre, only the whirs and hums in my head — a cacophony of noises that drown each other out like insects in the night. World chaos, work, kids and life’s many responsibilities can create the perfect storm for becoming stuck in your head and out of your body. But to live your life fully, completely and authentically, you must find ways to come back to the present and back to yourself, despite whatever blizzards are buzzing around you. I’m not the only one searching for solidity. Grounding is now a formal practice that involves exploring…

Most afternoons, at 2 or 3pm, I walk my dog Maggie through the stretch of bush opposite our house. Here — her snout plunged into damp eucalyptus leaves as she sniffs for bugs — she is content. When we walk, she is right here in the world. She does not yearn for anything. And, in these simple moments, neither do I. In a year where chronic illness, work-related burnout and a pandemic have left me depleted and overwhelmed, this most ordinary excursion has been a balm. My loungeroom, with dog hair strewn across the floorboards, has been a refuge. My rundown kitchen, a place of nourishing creativity. “Some of the most extraordinary things about life are the ordinary ones,” writes Rainesford Stauffer in her recent book An Ordinary Age: Finding…

In the warmer months, we often focus on how our bodies look and how to get into “shape”. Negative body judgements can arise as well as a desire to “fix” perceived flaws. You may find yourself searching for solutions to the imagined problem that is your body. Instead of falling into the trap of believing you need to change how your body looks, I encourage you to be curious about how to change the way you relate to your body. Rather than being critical of yourself, I invite you to be critical of the unhelpful messages we are bombarded with from the media and our culture that are often internalised unknowingly (hello, “not good enough” beliefs). Turning towards your body with neutrality rather than judgement may be an unfamiliar path,…

I spent much of my childhood on the beaches of the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria, so when returning to Australia after living overseas, it was a natural choice for me to settle here with my young family just over 10 years ago. Living and working as a commercial photographer in an international city for so many years had created a disconnect in me. Time spent in nature was rare — reserved for mini breaks and holidays — and only ever delivered a short burst of unsustainable relaxation. After moving to the coast, it took me years to unwind from the effects of city living. I had become so detached from what brought me real happiness. A few years ago, I began swimming regularly in the ocean and now it has…

Money is the sort of topic that invokes pretty strong emotions, and not always positive. Money worries can impact our financial wellbeing and even general health, but it’s never too late to restore our relationship with money. Could changing the conversation (the inner as much as the outer one) around money help with making this relationship a healthier, happier one? My own story concerning money is that it’s inherently scarce, always in danger of running out. I also tell myself I’m not good with money, which is a narrative the media and society reinforces for women. These stories felt factual for most of my life. Until I came across Money: A Love Story — a book by Kate Northrup. Kate argues that healing our relationship with money starts with understanding…

Lime & Double Ginger Soba Noodles Serves 2 This recipe uses a lot of lime, which brings amazing zing, backed up by a double hit of ginger and coriander. I like these noodles with tofu, but any quickly sautéed vegetables, toasted peanuts or cashews would do. Sushi ginger is always in my fridge. It adds freshness and acidity and stands in when I have run out of fresh ginger. It’s great in salads, and the liquid it sits in works well in dressings. Any broccoli will work here, I use purple-sprouting broccoli but regular broccoli would be good, too. Remember to chop and use the stalks, too — no waste. Ingredients 200g dried soba noodles200g extra-firm tofu250g broccoli, stalk thinly sliced, top cut into small florets100g mixed seeds (eg black…

Q: What inspired you to create Melissa Allen Mood EssentialsTM? A: I always loved perfume from a young age. I loved wearing it, I loved how it smelt and it helped me feel good and dressed for the day … it brought happiness. I loved to receive it as a gift or to give fragrance as a gift to someone. When I was a teenager, I also lived a difficult and lost life at times due to my parents divorcing. Along my journey of life, I’ve also seen a range of other people struggle at times with self-confidence, self-esteem and anxiety. The aha-moment came when I was young and was instantly inspired by Richard Branson. I was motivated by his ability of turning dreams into reality, no matter who you…

Q: What inspired the name “Biologi”? A: Well, it’s simple really — it’s the Biologi of better skin! When we were coming up with a name, it was important to pick something that encapsulated the extensive work and research into the study of these living organisms, the incredible plant extracts that we use in our products and our proprietary extraction method. This was the culmination of more than 12 years of research, trials and expertise harnessed from a team of professionals who each had unique input into the research and evolving the initial methods into the technology we use today. There was a big emphasis placed on understanding human biology, along with plant biology, so the name Biologi really made sense from that perspective. Q: The Biologi skincare range is…

Q: What is the philosophy of Best Buds? A: At Best Buds, we have a vision of increasing awareness for the benefits of CBD and hemp in Australia. We want to break the negative stigma associated with CBD. There’s a plethora of data suggesting that CBD products provide short-term and long-term benefits for their users. We think it’s time to show Australians that they can trust their Best Bud and look into the benefits of CBD. We think this is a wonderful opportunity for our business to grow but, more importantly, we want our fellow Australians to join our campaign to legalise CBD in our beautiful country. Q: Tell us about your product A: Best Buds will be the global marketplace for the highest-quality CBD and hemp products. Rather than…

I started my gardening journey by growing flowers, specifically sunflowers. As I began to grow more and more, I realised I didn’t just have flowers in my garden, I suddenly had many buzzing bees, too. Industrious honeybees, tiny native bees, speedy hoverflies and, my favourite, the Queensland blue-banded bee, all found in my backyard and zooming around on a daily basis. But, as I fell in love with my local bees, I realised this situation was in stark contrast to what’s happening in the world at large. Bees, particularly honeybees, have been dying by the millions over the past decade, simply because the modern world has become inhospitable to them. With high levels of pesticide use, highways, concrete jungles, mobile phone towers and lack of flora, bees are struggling to…

Embrace Mother Nature No matter where you are, there’s a patch of nature to explore. You might walk through the forest, dip your toes in the ocean or simply sit by a window and feel the sun on your skin. Go barefoot Notice how kids love taking their shoes off? It’s such a beautiful instinct that instantly connects us to the earth. Move Take a walk, dance in your loungeroom, play hide-and-seek with your kids or chase your cat around the house. Bodies are a part of nature, and we are made to move. Practise gratitude Gratitude is an essential daily practice for me, and I swear it has kept me grounded amid the greatest calamities of my life. I habit-stack by reciting 10 things I feel grateful for each…

What happens when we’re being listened to? When we’re being heard without any attempts to be “fixed”? Some call it magic. Dusk Liney (who you’ll meet later) calls it the “mystery of life”. It was the unexpected and profound position that I found myself in not long ago inside a listening circle. Our lives are brimming with external pressures and expectations, with serving others often at the cost of our emotional reserves. Finding a place where we’re listened to has become a radical act of self-preservation. What happens when we are being listened to? Initially, the promise of being listened to felt more like a threat than an alluring proposition. Did that mean I had to be publicly introspective? Or that I had to say smart things that were worth…

When it comes to the concept of “negative space”, we’re perhaps a little too fixated on the “negative” part. The “negative space” in a room, for example, can sometimes describe a problematic area where space is wasted. And it’s true that humans have a fraught relationship with space: we seem to want more of it, but we’re so keen to fill empty spaces in any way we can. We often do this with conversation, TV, food, scrolling, news, physical clutter — as if spaciousness itself is a little frightening. The thing is that “empty” spaces aren’t really empty at all, and “negative space” isn’t an inherently bad thing. Designers, photographers, musicians, writers and other artists understand the value of uncluttered areas, white space on the page or silence. Graphic designers…

I first came across homemade teas being prepared at the incredible Agrarian Kitchen Cooking School in Tasmania. After walking through the beautiful vegetable gardens, I stopped by the cooking school kitchen. As soon as I stepped in the room, I was hit by a whole host of delightful scents. Taking centre stage in the kitchen was an enormous, rambling pile of wild dried mint, rosemary, lemon balm and lavender from the garden. A lovely staff member offered me tea and, as I observed her slowly crumble the dried flowers from lemon balm, add warm water and let it steep in a beautiful ceramic pot, I was hit by a revelation: this is the tea-drinking ritual I want to be part of! The slow-tea movement is about creating intentionality in all…

Q: For 100 years, Weleda has strived to make the world better for humans and nature. What are the most notable ways Weleda has achieved this? A: Weleda was a pioneer of sustainability right from the start and we continue this legacy today. Our founders, Rudolf Steiner, Ita Wegman and Oskar Schmiedel, developed their first anthroposophic medicines and skincare products based on understanding that human beings and nature are intrinsically linked. From growing ingredients in our biodynamic medicinal plant gardens to our sustainable and respectful supply chains and the responsible use of resources, we are always striving to make the world a better place. Sustainability, regeneration and respect for people and nature are part of our roots and our future. Q: Please share a bit of information about Weleda’s range…

Q: Why are we all falling in love with plants? A: Interior landscaping undoubtedly looks great and styling your home with plants has become one of the top trends for interiors, but as people realise that they are also good for you, they become everyone’s must-have! Plants not only look great but have been scientifically proven to be good for your overall health and wellbeing. Q: How has plant wellness been studied? A: One of the unintended consequences of having energy-efficient, airtight buildings is that trace chemicals from modern furnishings, computers, paint and carpets can create a phenomenon called the “sick building syndrome”. NASA realised that astronauts in space were subject to the same sort of problems, so they did some extensive studies and found that the best antidotes and…

Q: What inspired your health journey to create Supercharged Food? A: I was inspired to create my website Supercharged Food more than 12 years ago. I was keen to start a lifestyle blog that incorporated recipes, online learning programs and wellness information and products. Back then, it began as a place to house my recipes and share them with family and friends and it grew from there. After being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and fibromyalgia, I was accustomed to feeling constantly lethargic and achy with no energy. I was taking myriad prescribed drugs and antibiotics to “cure” my body, but I knew that the real change in my health could only come from within. This sparked my interest in wellbeing, the gut and nutrition. Instead of just reading about…

Q: What are your natural skincare tips for summer? A: During summer, it’s all about sun protection for me! I love the idea of treating my face to a full skin routine, but the reality is that I just don’t have the time — it always gets moved down the priority list — so protecting my skin from the harsh effects of UV rays is my number-one, must-do. Once summer comes, I love ditching my jeans and jumpers in favour of shorts and T-shirts but I have super-white skin, so I like to fake a golden glow to get into the summer mood. Until now, fake tans either delivered high performing or were natural and organic. Thankfully, with the latest development in this space, I can now get a toxin-free…

Organic Merchant Organic Merchant is an award-winning Australian premium loose-leaf tea brand. Founded by naturopath Chalimah Jeanne in 2011, all blends are formulated using 100 per cent certified organic ingredients carefully selected for their rich nutrient value, traditional therapeutic properties and fulsome flavour. W: organicmerchant.com.au Georgie Skin Natural. Simple. Bio-degradable. Give your skin a natural glow with 100 per cent pure silk. Raw silk is hypoallergenic and packed with many amino acids that will nourish your skin as you buff away old dead skin cells for a brighter look. W: georgieskin.com Hemp Collective Why does Hemp Collective use hemp seed oil in its Australian handcrafted products? Hemp seed oil has so many benefits for you and our planet. Hemp gives your skin and hair a cleansing, repairing and conditioning…

Baby-pink brushstrokes lightly cover the pale-blue sky as dawn mist envelops the valley in an ethereal state. We’re sitting on the verandah cocooning hot mugs of herbal tea in the crisp morning air. All we can hear are the waves, the birds and the wind. It doesn’t take long for bright-orange sunlight to shine through the spaces between the gum trees in the nearby forest, illuminating my boyfriend Lachie’s face in dreamy morning light. From the rumble of the rugged ocean in the distance to the morning birdsong and the gentle breeze making the native flora around us dance in the wind, this environment is nothing short of serene. Restful retreat Glenaire Cottages is nestled in 30 acres of natural bush, adjacent to Victoria’s Otway National Park on the renowned…

There are few experiences as magical as conjuring food, herbs, flowers and even trees from tiny seeds. Along with the Jack and the Beanstalk excitement and the mystery of partaking in the creation story, there’s the satisfaction of supplying your own needs. As it combines so many concepts we’ve fallen in love with — self-sufficiency, DIY and local-made — it’s little wonder so many of us are turning to hand-raising leafy babies. During the Covid crisis, for instance, The Diggers Club reported a 200 per cent increase in demand for seeds! The perfect conduit for our hope and creativity, nurturing seeds connects us to nature’s wisdom, the healing balm of sunshine and a healthy sense of perspective. Almost one in five Australian gardeners surveyed in the 2020 National Pandemic Gardening…

I am an amateur surfer. I am more frightened than I perhaps should be of ocean waves — especially waves that pitch with a steepness that threatens to send me head over heels. Recently, I fell off a breaking wave and got dragged under the water and along the shoreline for what seemed like forever. Later, as I stood under a hot shower, this experience seemed so startling: the way my body was tossed around and thrown about as I tried to push myself up towards the sky and crisp air above. It was also enlivening. Being inside the body As a yoga teacher, I help people build proprioception, which is a sense of the body in space. It’s the part of us that understands and responds when invited to…

In the thick of lockdown, I realised I did not feel lonely. While there were no fun social events, there were also fewer social expectations, comparisons or criticisms to bear. Over the lengthy drought of things to do and places to go, I discovered a neglected person hanging around in the background — me. Like two long-lost bosom pals, we rediscovered each other. Together we grew stronger and felt invincible. Like exploring a forgotten treasure chest, I discovered in my newfound solitude a realm of displaced dreams, neglected parts of myself and universal truths. There was also simply — in a practical sense — more time to get stuff done. A lot has been written about loneliness and our need for social connection. Far less about our need for time…

For some of us, going it alone can be a source of pride and an important part of our identity — but we all need a hand from time to time. Moving past the stigma Perhaps you’ve got no problems requesting help with practical tasks, but you don’t feel comfortable asking for support when it comes to your mental health. This isn’t uncommon, as neuropsychologist Dr Hannah Korrel, an ambassador for mental health charity Gotcha4Life, says that society can view mental health as less valid than physical health. “This may be because physical health is tangible and easy to see, while mental health can’t be seen and therefore often has its existence and legitimacy questioned,” says Hannah. “But the neuroscience of mental health is very legitimate and clear — it’s…

It has been said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but when I learned that this slogan was popularised by a large multinational food-manufacturing company, my inner cynic woke up. However, despite dubious motivations, they were onto something. There is nonetheless a lot to unpack in this sweeping statement. When we wake up, our bodies are in a fasting state and we need to raise our blood-sugar levels so that we can perform well physically and mentally. If you are not inclined to eat a meal in the morning, it’s still a very good idea to have a piece of whole fruit, a smoothie or a high-fibre snack to regulate your blood sugar and avoid that unpleasant “hangry” state that’s guaranteed to arrive by late morning.…

Q: I feel most calm when… A: I remind myself of the present moment. As I focus on my breath, and the rise and fall of my inhalation, I understand that in this moment all is well. That is when I nurture a state of being calm. There is nowhere to go and nothing to do — I simply bring awareness to this moment and relax. Q: The last time I felt inspired… A: I was listening to Amanda Gorman read her Inaugural Poem “The Hill We Climb” at the Presidential Inauguration of the USA. Witnessing a 22-year-old speak with so much poise and confidence about what is possible to a nation and broadcast around the globe was inspirational. I felt elation in my heart for what this represented. Her…