Never stop having fun and a bit or role playing when you are in self doubt… “Start telling the story of your amazing life, and the law of attraction must make sure you receive it!” – The Power by Rhonda Byrne
This is my story that I am finally sharing, after a long deliberation. Because if I didn’t share today, I would continue leading a life full of lies, a beautiful instagram feed hiding a conflicted and a restless mind and a fatigued body. If this dialogue strikes a chord with even one person or if I get to hear even one single word of real-life wisdom, it would be my gain. #timetotalk
I truly believe that I lead an amazing life surrounded by a beautiful family, caring friends and colleague, have a dream job as my career since I managed to convert my passion into a career. Each day, I wake up excited to meet new people in my work field and inspire me with their stories, the behind-the-scene tales that go on to prove once again – everything that you dream of, is indeed possible. I have connected to so many people around the world that it seems incredible. The problem lies within – how does one take a cue from anything amazing that is happening in life when the brain doesn’t tune in to them automatically? Why and when does that brain wiring gets snapped? For some one like me, a moderately high-functioning, over-zealous creative individual, snapping doesn’t come easy. But when it does, it becomes very difficult to retune because there’s a lot of self-imposed expectation and comparison with the most efficient version of one’s self. That’s actually a very good and a positive thing, however, can be quite a lengthy process as the thought that strikes it’s head is always this – “I can do it myself! No help needed! And definitely Not burdening anybody else!” To be fair, everybody needs a bit of support structure in terms of having ‘someone/few people’ to off-load one’s emotions. And to be unfair, that ‘someone/few people’ are the chosen ones to be left strained and disappointed the most, when their ‘job’ of helping out fails.
I have no qualms in admitting that I have been living in a bit of doldrums lately. The last one year, I have been working to reverse a few of my physical ailments – an underactive Thyroid, insulin resistance bordering on Type 2 Diabetes, a bit of hypertension and adding feather to the cap, an abdominal hernia surrected from an unhealed laparoscopic incision from a hysterectomy done two years back. Oops, so a forced menopause? No not yet, as the ovaries are still intact – thank goodness for some naturally active female hormones! Excessive weight, dry skin, wrinkling and aging is just one aspect of it – the external aspect. But what really has been floundering me is how to deal with the internal aspects exhaustion, regular emotional breakdowns, acute brain fogs (forgetting to shut the car door and locking the car or walking upto the supermarket to buy bread and coming back without it!) and eventual brain drain (listening to various opinions throttled my way as to what I should be doing, how to exercise and what to eat etc swaying from one theory to the other). It is extremely disorienting and difficult for a person – who’s a conscientious daughter, mum, wife, friend, colleague and a co-worker. Hence FoodeMag’s aim to #bringbackbalance with a Wellness category is so vital in my life right now – it connects me to people who are helping me to bring back the balance that my mind and my life needs. For me, there are no ‘before and after’ pictures… it offends my senses to think that a ‘before’ or an ‘after’ is better than a ‘now’. I sincerely believe that I am always the best version of myself, momentary phases of emotional lows notwithstanding. Here’s what I have done in the past few months, in concrete terms and spiritual, to make sure that I am on the track that I wish to be!
Community farms in DSO (first picture); Overnight camping in the Al Qudra desert; Let the sand gulp away your problems and stress; Growing herbs in the garden can be really therapeutic; A quiet corner in the garden to listen to binaural beats and birds’ chirping; Smelling in the fresh vegetables and the fresh air in the Community Farms in DSO; And finally chasing sunrises everyday!
Strengthening the core
Undertaking private lessons with Rehab specialist and STOTT PILATES certified instructor Tegan at Real Pilates has been life changing. Focusing on simply strengthening my core and increasing my abdominal strength has transformed by ability to focus, increased my confidence about my own body and is slowly helping me to tune my brain wire again. I wish to learn pole dancing in the future and Tegan assures that it’s not going to be impossible. Although Pilates isn’t guaranteeing a cure for my hernia, it is definitely strengthening the abdominal muscles and closing the hernial gap, something that I am wanting with all my heart – and to avoid another surgery, if possible. Alongside her Pilates, Tegan has an interest in how exercise can help improve general well being and mood, and also aid in the management of complex neurological disorders and autoimmune diseases – we are both working together to make some magic happen! www.real-pilates.com
Walking from the time I wake up
In fact, a lot of walking – I have never been a gym person and have preferred to move outdoors or take up dance lessons. When I started to retrack my life, the best option for me not to give excuses was to be forcefully in nature. I walk twice a day, one ushering in the day and watching the sunrise, and the other after dinner, taking a moment to sit under a sky full of stars. Both the desert and the beach is at close proximity to wherever we may live in the UAE, and with the weather holding so good now, there can’t be any excuse. Initially I would be tracking my steps and now I don’t. I don’t want to feel stressed out when I haven’t walked the minimum daily requirement of 10,000 step. However, I do take the help various walking apps which guides me to make my daily walk a high intensive exercise – repeated intervals of three minutes of fast walking followed by three minutes of regular walking.
Chasing sunrises rather than sunsets
For the most part of my life, I believed that I was a night person – my creativity, energy and efficiency soared during the night. I joked that I chased sunsets rather than sunrises, even created a hashtag #101sunsetdays as I captured beautiful sunsets. I worked through the night with very less sleep, considering I had a fairly regular early morning routine with two school-going kids. We all know that our body is naturally attuned to the circadian rhythm which is linked to the light–dark cycle. It’s taken a while for me to reverse this cycle, thanks to the insistence from my family and friends. Today, I am addicted to the sunrise, having shared my inner conflicts and inner desires to the early morning sun for the last six months, breathing in it’s beauty and radiance and breathing out the assurance that ‘today is going to be magical’!
Listening to Binaural Beats and other spiritual pursuits
Listening regularly to Binaural beats via various chanting etc have helped me tremendously to re-focus and re-orient myself, specially because I am right-brain inclined and my entire wellbeing is dependent upon the success of my creativity endeavours. In almost every ancient culture, repetitive beats have been used to usher in intentions, wellbeing, prosperity and spirituality. There is science working here – the repeated beats can induce a trance-like state due to the brain shifting into a specific brainwave frequency, which is a low Theta brainwave state*. Nature too has embraced binaural beats – the sound of the sea waves, the consistent noise emitted by crickets in a forest at night – these have the power to calm down nerves and send signals to the brain. For example: through the use of repetitive drumming and chanting, Tibetan monks, Native American shamans, Hindu healers and master Yogis have been able to induce specific brainwave states for transcending consciousness, healing, concentration and spiritual growth. Open your mind to different theories from various cultures and religion – and pick the ones that seem to resonate with you.
*Scientists have discovered that certain brain wave frequencies (especially the Alpha and Theta) may:
1. Relieve stress and promote a lasting and substantial reduction in people prone to anxiety states. 2. Facilitate a deep physical relaxation and mental clarity 3. Increase verbal ability and also the performance IQ, verbal. 4. Better synchronize the two hemispheres of the brain. 5. Recall mental images live and spontaneous imaginative and creative thinking.
6. Reduce pain, promote euphoria and stimulate the release of endorphins. [www.thetahealing.com]
Loop in the experts
Connect to a community and loop in some experts who are in cue. I am lucky to have had close friend Tanuka Gupta (below left), a psychologist, yogi and holistic wellness coach (also the Wellness Coach from our 2nd #BringBackBalance event) on my speed dial. Since food and cooking forms a very important part of my wellbeing, I took lessons from Natural Chef Neha Jamani, also the founder of Sesame Dubai. She came home and taught us to cook in a more holistic way so that the food that we were cooking at home nourished us properly. A few tweaks here and there in the kitchen and we are good to sizzle!
Debbie Rogers, Editor & Business Head FoodeMag dxb – my soul sister and the boss lady who holds the whip at the work place (above); Friends who are like (more than) family as we make the UAE our adopted home; The boys in the Saha household – brings sanity and salvation in my life!
I have always believed in Law of Attraction and it has been working for me from the time I was born – and I know it. But how do you make a waning mind believe in it? I know it’s all in the mind, but how do ‘put all the fabulous stuff’ into a chaotic mind? I have accepted that ‘Falling is not failing’, and there is a real support crew holding me tight so that I can carry on – no matter what. Each day, I thank my stars that I am surrounded by people who love me, they may not necessarily understand me fully, but they never judge me. And remember, if not people, Nature is a great listener… So are pets !
#RealLifeHero
Follow Rhian Lindley, an integrative holistic healthcoach who’s lost 34 kgs, beat T2 Diabetes and Hashimotos and is a Fitbit Brand Ambassador! You can catch her daily journey on Instagram as @sugar_coated_me.