Ada Mournian is Happy & Healthy
MBACP(Accred), UKRCP, MA, PgDipCounselling & Nutrition Support; Health & Wellbeing
The more you follow a Mediterranean diet, the lower your risk of depression. The more you follow a ‘Western’ processed food diet, the higher your risk.https://www.youtube.com/
Remarkable and encouraging trial results. “Effective in reducing aggression in prisoners, slow cognitive decline in the elderly, treat depression, anxiety, stress, autism & ADHD”. Treatment with micronutrients surpasses results from medication and is longer-lasting and improvement is continued.
“Everybody’s got a past. The past doesn’t equal the future unless you live there” Tony Robbins
Memories and words can keep coming back to haunt us if we allow them to. Sometimes that’s good – we have happy, joyful memories that we can keep fresh in our minds.
If the thought is hurtful or disturbs us as a flashback, we can learn to move on and be free.
When the thought or image arrives, acknowledge it and say, to yourself or aloud:
“Float Off ! ” With as much power as it takes. Off it goes.
I like my new job description.
I think the reason I delay writing a new blog is because there are so many good ones to read. Occasionally like today, I come across somebody who concisely and entertainingly sums up many of the things I want to say.
Luckily I’m happy to delegate; rather than reinventing the wheel here it is:
Before working on goals and changing behaviours we need to understand where our starting place is; only then can we move forward.
Oh, and it’s not the complete answer to life, the universe and everything – Step 4 explains that!
I think the grumpy are much-maligned. Grinning inanely or seemingly having a constantly good time, is not necessarily a marker of true happiness or contentedness. These latter states of being are more indicative of low stress levels and an Epicurean ideal of ataraxia. Being only happy could even be a type of depression; a fixed state and denying the experience of variable and fluctuating emotions. Or of mania.
What do you think? Should we pursue happiness? Is that realistic – or does questioning this appear to be a negative thought to you?
It seems to me we can never give up longing and wishing while we are thoroughly alive. There are certain things we feel to be beautiful and good, and we must hunger after them. George Eliot
I’ve been writing this blog in my head for some time and could probably write an essay on each of the types of hunger I have thought of so far. But that stops me publishing this synopsis, and everybody has their own subjective stomach that feels hunger-emotion in its own particular way.
If you’re not hungry enough to eat an apple you may be:
Feed me ?
Be loyal and you can ask for loyalty. Be generous and you will feel entitled to ask from your friends when you too need help. Be patient, because. . . .you want your friends to be patient with you!
Ingredients:
1 bunch spring onions (scallions)
chillies to taste
2 cloves garlic crushed
fresh tomatoes
half bell pepper
bunch fresh coriander (cilantro)
salt
lime
cider vinegar
splash of oil
Making Salsa can be totally absorbing, as can any task that is repetitive and needs focus. I chop and scrape, and finely chop some more – very therapeutic.
Today a bonus ingredient is a malfunctioning speaker that encourages me to connect my headphones and cocoon myself away from the outside world. I am transported back to my salsa teacher; the lovely Isabel Mournian who was my adopted grandmother although living thousands of miles away in San Diego. We didn’t meet many times over the 20 years or so that I knew her, and that was ok. “Do you like coriander?” she asked. “Yes” I said though had only tasted it once and thought it disgusting. This time I loved it and have been addicted ever since.
Through the headphones comes the beautiful strains of Harvest Moon sung by Cassandra; a wonderful interpretation. The serendipity of tuning into Spotify’s Discover Weekly – especially for me! https://open.spotify.com/track/21HsI1RpRHEjbUjmzHtIyj
I like to add salt and the lime juice before adding the coriander, vinegar and oil – it makes a better texture and I like the way it draws out the juices. I taste and feel the kick of the chillies, adjust the seasoning a little and stir in the aromatic coriander. I’ve thrown the halved limes into a glass of water and enjoy the refreshing taste which also accidentally incorporates some of the other ingredients. Waste not want not. You could call it mindfulness I suppose; I think it’s just cooking and life, especially life.
