I am going to be honest….. I’m NOT a jewellery person.

I have never liked the FAFF.

I am always just really AWARE that jewellery is on my body.

Like a CONSTANT ITCH.

 

However, my mind may have been changed

(slightly)

And yesterday after a series of difficult appointments…

I was glad to have a new piece of jewellery to…

GROUND me…

CONNECT me to the present..

And remind myself that I am okay.

And I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THE SAME.

Thanks to the kind people at the Health Bloggers Community, I was able to attend Live Well London on Friday.

It was the first time, for a few months that…

I had been somewhere new…

in a room FULL of new people …..

by myself.

I was scared and excited.

But you know what…..

I had not felt THAT JOYFUL for an ENTIRE DAY in a long time.

I actually felt like JOY again.

Everything about the event was really positive, informative and interesting.

And reminded me that sometimes the things that seem scary are BRILLIANT!

Whilst strolling through the stalls, I came across a company called ‘Mantra Jewellery’.

On their jewellery, they had words printed like

‘BRAVERY’

and

‘STRENGTH’

The idea behind it being, that you carry this piece of jewellery on you as a reminder…. a mantra.

Some of their jewellery’s profits go towards charities like ‘Mind’ and ‘Trees for Cities’.

I saw one piece of jewellery and after much indecisive faffing around…

GOT IT!

(Never bought myself jewellery before #romanceyourself)

The phrase that came with it connected with me.

And now more than ever, I feel like I need this mantra with me.

‘She who is brave is free’

There are so many things that I find TERRIFYING at the moment.

Being in large loud places.

Being in new places.

Meeting new people.

And now I am going back to work,

and gentle pushing myself further,

Making CHANGES and pursuing NEW THINGS that seem SCARY….

But will ultimately make me JOYFUL again.

This piece of jewellery reminds me how far I have come.

How brave I am being.

How I’m making positive changes to make my life better.

And with that bravery, and the steps I am taking, I am moving towards being free.

Now before you switch off

and your cynical mind goes ADVERT ADVERT ADVERT –

This is not an ADVERT.

I love the idea of this company and their philosophy….

But you could also quite easily use your own piece of jewellery and associate a mantra to go with it.

Maybe a piece of jewellery that is IMPORTANT to you…

Or a cheap piece of jewellery that you like …

Or one that a special person gave you….

And when you touch the jewellery you remind yourself of a chosen mantra.

Maybe it is

‘You are loved’

or

‘You are enough’

or

‘You are brave’

Choose one that fits you and that grounds you.

 

It is an instant and easy way of grabbing yourself out of anxiety, or fear, or negative thinking and YOUR OWN HEAD.

Bringing you back to the present.

 

I am someone who DOES NOT engage very well with mindfulness.

Half of the time, it ends in tears.

Partly because of ADHD and partly because my mind just screams

‘YOU SUCK!!!!’

So physical connection and mindfulness works well for me.

Having a physical item that you can hold and BREATHE with,

Like this necklace.

 Now I think the oats that I’ve made today perfectly match my new jewellery

(#fashioncoordination #handbagtomatchtheshoes

Oh wait that’s not right – I meant #porridgetomatchthejewellery)

I love Morrocan food.

The perfect balance of SWEET and SAVOURY together.

Tagines beautifully flavoured with prunes and apricots.

Cous cous studded and coloured with pomegranate seeds.

So I decided to make an oatmeal bowl inspired by Moroccan Jewelled Cous Cous.

I’ve flavoured the oats with ground cardammon and cinnamon to give it a fragrant, spicy, sweet flavour.

I’ve used pistachios (you could also add almonds) and pistachio cream as an extra hit of protein and good fat. But also because pistachios are slightly salty #flavourbalancing

And I’ve topped this with a spraying of pomegranate seeds. Packed full of vitaminc C and fibre for that extra boost of energy and for gut health.

I’ve also used grated courgette in mine for some extra fibre, magnesium (great for anxiety) and colour but if the idea of this DISGUSTS you, don’t do it.

This colourful and aromatic bowl has really BRIGHTENED my morning before a day of work.

Moroccan Jewelled Oats

What you’ll need:

• 45g oats (double quantities as you go if making for more than one person)
• Plant based milk (enough to cover oats and a little splash more)
• A pinch of salt
• 1/2 tsp of ground cardamon
• 1/2 tsp of cinnamon
• (Optional) 2 tbsp of protein powder (I used Macacha)
• (Optional) 1/4 of a courgette grated
• A handful of pistachios and/or pistachio cream/butter (and almonds)
• A handful of pomegranate seeds (include the juices)

How to make it:

• Put oats into a pan or bowl with the cardamon, cinnamon and salt (and the protein powder and grated courgette if using.)
• Top with plant based milk. Enough to cover the oats and a little more.
• If heating on the stove, heat on a low heat, stirring gently. Keep stirring till at consistency that is PERFECT for you.
• Heat for 2 mins. Stir. Heat for another 2 mins. Heat for 1 min more if you like your porridge THICK.
• Top with pistachios, almonds and pomegranate seeds.
• Sit down with your oats, breath in a mantra that works for you (e.g. You are BRAVE) and mindfully eat and enJOY your sweet and spicy oats.

Remind yourself of a MANTRA today.

Breathe with it.

Remind yourself of words that connect with you.

Much love,

Joy xx