Weekly Half Mermaid Journal Edition 9
Welcome to this Blue Mind Edition of the Half Mermaid Weekly Journal. As the Blue Mind challenge has just commenced, it seemed appropriate we deep dive into all things Blue Mind this week.
If this is the first edition you are receiving, a double welcome! Thank you for joining us and we hope our weekly journals and all our offerings serve you well!
Quotes we loved:
“The starting point of discovering who you are, your gifts, your talents, your dreams, is being comfortable with yourself. Spend time alone. Write in a journal”.
Robin Sharma
(I would like to add: And get in the water)“The thing about the ritual morning plunge, the entry into water that provides the small existential moment, is its total privacy. Swimming is between me and the water, nothing else. The moment the water encloses me, I am, gratefully, alone”.
John Jerome, Blue Rooms (also referenced in Blue Mind, Chapter 1, Why do we love water so much, page 7.
Floating, Blue Pool, Bermagui.
Journaling questions we are pondering:
It is only through the senses that we experience what it means to be fully human. How has water awakened your senses? What have you realised about your lived life and how has being in the water inspired you to live more fully?
This week’s blog post:
What is Blue Mind?
“Blue Mind theory sheds light on the profound impact that our natural environment, particularly water bodies, can have on our overall health and wellbeing. Blue mind is so much more though than the words that attempt to describe it here. It is a felt experience…..”
One new thing we learnt this week:
Petr Janata is an expert on Flow specifically on how the human neural system of perception, attention, memory, action, and emotion interact when we play or listen to music. He extended his studies to water to determine that “…the medial prefrontal cortex (part of the brain that is associated with emotions, self-image, creativity and insight) is particularly activated by water…In fact the same aesthetic emotions associated with music - for example joy, sadness, tension, wonder, peacefulness, power, nostalgia, transcendence- all come up then people talk about being near water”. (1)
(1) Blue Mind, Chapter 7, Blue Unified: Connection and Water, pages 219-220
Incredible blue and playful seals. Snorkelling, Montague Island.
What we are listening to:
The Session Magazine Podcast ‘On Water’, Episode: Dr. Wallace J Nichols unpacks how the healing benefits of Blue Mind Impacts our Health and Society.
This deep and rich conversation offered by Dr. Nichols brings together insights from the worlds of science, neuropsychology, health and well being whilst also offering a human, personal perspective. You will learn much about the founding principles of the Blue Mind Theory, the ground swelling Blue Mind Movement and other events. More importantly Dr. Nichols shares hacks we can implement in our daily lives on this water planet to access our Blue Mind more often. Highly recommend a listen.
Go to Podcast Episode (Link to Spotify, available on all platforms)
What is new at Half Mermaid
It has been a super exciting week and we have been looking forward to sharing the following with you:
Half Mermaid is now a Blue Mind Ambassador! Super excited about bringing you the latest insights, initiatives and the prospect of running workshops and events to advocate for things Blue Mind.
We are also super excited to announce we will be kicking off the inaugural Half Mermaid Challenge on our social media platforms very soon. As a sneak peak this challenge will involve water immersion and journaling and will offer one of the first Half Mermaid products! (Oh oops! that was two sneak peaks).
Yes! We have been working away at our first range of products and offerings. You will soon see the release of our first journaling guide! The guide will be available as a set of beautifully designed cards you can carry with you and journal with at any location. The questions are informed by Coaching and the Structural Dynamics Communication models (Kantor Institute), offering evergreen questions for deep personal inquiry. They also make a wonderful gift for those who love the water.
Other products and offerings are in the pipeline and we are looking forward to sharing more in the coming weeks.
Last but not least we are also working on realising our first interview series. Speaking with women of different walks of life and backgrounds we hope to bring to life stories that connect us all through water. Watch this space!
Thank you for coming on the journey with us!
Important note:
HalfMermaid is not a licensed mental health service and not a substitute for professional mental health assessment, treatment or advice. The journaling prompts and guides offered, are general in nature. If you are struggling, please see a healthcare professional or call the mental health support line in your locality.
Till next week….
Swim. Coffee. Journal. Live. Love. Repeat.
Half Mermaid, PO Box 4012, Doncaster Heights 3109, Melbourne Australia