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A gentle manifesto of calm (and chocolate!)
Mindfulness, nature and wellbeing
Boosting wellbeing with mindful baking
The power of contentment

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meredith_foodatheart

After many years of living in and around London, I

After many years of living in and around London, I moved to Mid Wales just under 3 years ago.

It was a big decision to make, even though it was something both my husband and I had planned for quite a while. One of the things I thought I'd really miss was being close to a big city.

After 3 lovely days in London doing lots of fun things, I realised again why I made the decision to move to Wales.

It allows me to breathe.

I know I'm lucky to have the choice to do this - and being able to share the experience (and all its ups and downs) with the support of a partner definitely helps too.

Of course it hasn't all been straightforward; leaving behind friends and building new relationships takes time.

But it's made me think about the wider definition of wellbeing.

Part of this is finding a style and pace of life that works for me (and what works for me won't be the same as what works for you!).

What I need at this stage of life in my mid-forties is also very different to what I needed in my mid-twenties. I need peace, time to recharge after social activities, closeness to nature - but also people around for chats and the odd night out (yes there are fun things happening in Mid Wales too 😊).

And coming home from London to the MOST glorious colours in my front garden is the cherry on top!

I think it's helpful to regularly check in and ask yourself honestly what you really need at this point in your life.

Of course it doesn't necessarily mean wholesale change (or moving to Wales!), but even small steps that genuinely support your wellbeing needs can make a huge difference.

What would benefit your wellbeing this week? (And it may or may not include beautiful pastries and/or hot chocolate 😊🍁) #wellbeing #mentalhealth #nature
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#natureconnection #selfcare #slowdown #connection #mindfulness #mindfulnessconnection #theartofslowliving #seekthesimplicity #breathe #takeabreath #mindfulmoments

I've been slightly mesmerised by the sound of my n

I've been slightly mesmerised by the sound of my new hot chocolate machine this week, so listening feels like a very appropriate focus for my suggestion for this week's mini-mindfulness moment.

(Though can you be mesmerised by sound or is that only sight!?!?!)

Perhaps you're someone who struggles with focussing on your breath in meditation.

Well first of all that's pretty normal, as focus can be pretty challenging, especially in a world that's designed to split and shatter our attention.

But secondly, another form of focus might be better for you.

So why not try listening? And this is listening with attention and intention, so try to give it as much gentle focus as you can.

This could be a half a minute, or if you have time, you can do it for a little longer. Just pause in your day, breathe nice and evenly, and listen to what's going on around you.

I used to love doing this on the train, and letting all the different conversations and sounds kind of wash over me.

Today it's pretty breezy in Mid Wales so I'm listening to the sound of the wind in the trees - and the occasional car going past.

What do you notice when you stop and listen? #mindfulness #meditation #mentalhealthatwork
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#listen #mindfulnessinpractise #slowliving #theartofslowliving #seekthesimplicity #slowliving #selfcare #wellbeing #mentalhealth

Well autumn arrived with a bang this weekend! 🍁

Well autumn arrived with a bang this weekend! 🍁

This is one of my favourite time of the year, especially when we get cool crisp days like yesterday. I had a beautiful walk in the hills behind my house with visiting friends - and it was a great way to clear the cobwebs!

The drop in temperature is also a bit of a signal for me to consider the next phase of my wellbeing for the year.

Seasonal changes are a great opportunity to stop and check in with how you're doing.
Especially if you're someone who finds the shortening days and colder weather challenging.
Or, like me, you're heading into one of your busier times of the year.

For me this tends to involve...
🧣 snuggly clothes to keep me physically comfortable (especially as we have a very cold house!)
🚶‍♀️long walks when I can
🧘‍♀️allowing some extra 'self-listening' time in my morning meditations.

Oh and hot chocolate of course 😊 (I'm kind of lucky to have my own source on tap!).

On a practical note, a meditation that helps you notice and relax your body is also really helpful at this time of the year as the cold can make you hunch up without realising (a body scan/yoga nidra meditation is my preferred option).

💚 What's one kind snuggly thing you could do this week to support your wellbeing as the seasons change? #selfcare #wellbeing #seasonalwellbeing
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#mindfulness #mindfulnesspractice #meditation #autumn #innature #seekthesimplicity #theartofslowliving #thesimplethings #breathe #breath #walk #slowdown #slowliving #bodyscan

It's #WorldMentalHealthDay so it's the perfect day

It's #WorldMentalHealthDay so it's the perfect day to check in with how you're doing today. (Mental health isn't just a negative thing, and it can range from crap to great!)

I'm also sharing my next video in my little series on meditation with some mini-mindfulness tips and techniques. (My last one didn't upload here last week so I'll try again later this week 😊)

Today I'm focussing on the breath.

There are lots of reasons for this, but one is that when we're stressed and anxious our breath can get a bit shallow and all over the place. So slowing the breath down and regulating it can help with feeling more calm

I also personally really love breathing exercises and have found they've really helped me better connect with the feelings in my body. I sometimes have a mind like a box of crazy frogs, so feeling into the flow of my breath takes this down a notch or two.

That said, not everyone loves breath meditations so this is just a chance to explore different techniques and see what is best for you.

And as it's World Mental Health Day, I wanted to add a little health note on meditation...

💚 Meditation can be a contra-indicator for some mental health conditions (which means some people have negative side effects). This includes clinical depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and dissociative identity disorder.

💚 Some people with these conditions are totally okay with meditation, and find it's really helpful and supportive as it can help you feel more relaxed and less anxious. However I always suggest chatting with your supporting mental health team/GP before embarking on any meditation.

💚 If a meditation doesn't feel right or safe, just stop.

(If you're joining a meditation group, I always recommend chatting with your meditation teacher ahead of taking part to let them know about anything that might affect your experience.)

And if you need a little extra support today, there are some great resources available over at mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/get-help 💚 #mentalhealth #wellbeingatwork #selfcare #meditationpractise #breathe

There's something really special about autumn rasp

There's something really special about autumn raspberries - especially after lots of the other wild fruit in my garden got nibbled or spoiled on the bush this year.

After a very busy few chocolate kitchen days it was lovely to spend a few moments enjoying berries and yoghurt on some homemade bread. Sometimes it’s the little things... 🍒 #seasonaleating #raspberries #slowdown
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#homemade #mindfulmouthfuls #mindfulmoments #slowliving #takeabreath #breathe #mindfuleatingforlife #mindfulliving #thesimplethings #toast #f52grams #huffposttaste #theartofslowliving #seekthesimplicity

And the Christmas prep begins... I've been getti

And the Christmas prep begins...

I've been getting started on the production for my @calmcocoa Christmas gift collections so have been quietly squirrelling away in the kitchen over the last week 🍫

If you're looking for something lovely to gift to your team/clients/friends/self do get in touch as I have a whole load of lovely things - including a couple of new collections launching imminently 💚

Of course it's also a good opportunity for me to 'practise' lots of (mostly) mindful tasting. Definitely perks of the job!

#chocolatetasting #wellbeing #selfcare
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#mindfulchocolate #mindfultasting #mindfuleating #chocolatelove #cacaolove #singleorigin #f52grams #huffposttaste #theartofslowliving #thesimplethings #seekthesimplicity #supportsmallbusiness #slowliving #gifting

I remember having a conversation with someone a fe

I remember having a conversation with someone a few years ago about my work.

He said very honestly - 'When you intro-ed yourself at the beginning of the meeting I kind of thought the chocolate and mindfulness thing was a bit of a gimmick. But now I realise it's not.'

(Well phew, I thought...)

Chocolate is something that brings me a huge amount of pleasure. This includes tasting it, working with it, and continuing learning about it (there's SO much to learn).

But that's not the only reason I bring it into my work.

It's one of my very favourite ways to bring mindful eating to life.

Mindful eating is a really beautiful mindfulness practice that can be enlightening and soothing and, yes, even challenging at times.

(And it isn't something I came up with by the way; it's been part of Buddhist contemplation and reflection for hundreds of years).

For some people it can even be a deep and connecting experience.

I love the sentiment from the Buddhist spiritual leader (and mindful eating guru) Thich Nhat Hanh who said that we can see a piece of food as an 'ambassador of the cosmos'.

One of the elements I really like incorporating in my own chocolate tasting meditations is a reflection on the people and hands who made the tasting possible.

This can include the cacao farmers, their workers, the chocolate makers, the delivery people, the shop workers (and maybe chocolatiers, like me, depending on the chocolate or hot chocolate you're having...)

Even tasting a 'simple' piece of chocolate can help us foster a sense of interconnectedness and gratitude.

And this can be incredibly powerful.

Maybe next you taste a piece of chocolate (or any other food for that matter), you could give a thought or two to the people and hands who brought it to your plate 💚

#chocolate #wellbeing #mindfuleating
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#mindfulmoments #mindfulmouthfuls #calm #wellbeing #selfcare #interconnectedness #theartofslowliving #seekthesimplicity #slowdown #takeabreath #breathe #f52grams #huffposttaste #mindfuleating #chocolatetasting #mindfulness #mindfulnesspractice

What a beautiful way to spend the Autumn Equinox!

What a beautiful way to spend the Autumn Equinox! Thanks so much to @mind_nourishing and @hanginggardensllanidloes for having me along as part of a lovely 'Snacks and Relax' workshop on Saturday afternoon 💚

We finished the workshop with a beautiful hot chocolate meditation - which is somehow the first time I've actually run one of these in Llanidloes!

I still totally love the calming power of slowly sipping hot chocolate 🍫. And thanks SO much to everyone who came along and got into the chocolate flow! #mindfulchocolate #hotchocolate #hotchocolatemeditation
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#chocolatelove #cacaolove #meditation #mindfulness #mindfulnesspractice #midwales #Llanidloes #f52grams #theartofslowliving #seekthesimplicity #slowdown #slowliving #wellbeing #selfcare

I ended up having a slightly unintentional Insta b

I ended up having a slightly unintentional Insta break for a few weeks (courtesy of coming down with a nasty bug and then some very full kitchen days!) - but it's quite nice to step away sometimes. And then come back 😁

I'm starting to gear up for hot chocolate season after the last little hurrah of summer last week. Woop!

But I've also been making LOTS of chocolate dots for an upcoming team session (plus a lovely chocolate meditation at the Hang Out in the Wild inclusive music festival in the hills outside Llanidloes last weekend).

A lot of my team chocolate meditations are still online - and it actually works really well if you don't have a team working from a single location.

I basically put together a selection of chocolate buttons across different chocolate origins to taste across an hour (some of this is done as a mindful eating meditation and then some additional focussed tasting) - and send these to team members by post.

It is a little different to the feel of doing these sessions in person, but it actually works really well. And I especially love it when I get a really chatty group of people who are totally up for sharing their tasting experience 😍

(And of course if this sounds like something your team would love, do pop me a note!) 🍫 #chocolatetasting #mindfulness #mindfuleating
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#calmmoment #keepcalm #veganfriendly #mindfulchocolate #mindfulliving #f52grams #huffposttaste #slowliving #slowdown #takeabreath #chillout #breathe #teamwellbeing #supportsmallbusiness #gift #wellbeingatwork #mindfulchocolate #chocolatelove #cacaolove

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