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jzenmillenial

Daily living coupled with art, words, self-love and zen.

07/08/2023

⚠️ This post make may you want to eat / cook something 😅

I found this “yellow daal recipe” scribbled in my notebook from 2022 today 🙈

While I read how meticulously I have noted down the amount of masalas and cooking time for the simplest daal ever - I reflected back on my cooking journey.

All my friends know that I hated cooking growing up. It felt like too much work and too complicated. Then, lockdown happened and fortunately I was with my partner who is a food lover. 😅

Now, I look back and can notice that I have made several different cuisines, recipes, experimental desserts, traditional Punjabi food, diet food, salads, soups and what not! 😂

From the person who hated cooking, I have evolved into someone who now gets requests to make specific dishes when friends come over 🙈

I am taking this as a proven evidence for future, that with time and effort - what wonders can we “cook”. 💕

I started easy with hummus toast, to soups, to kadhi chawal rajma chawal and now I make the best pav bhaji ever! 👌

We often forget how the 1% improvements in our live cumulatively bring beautiful changes in our life. I am so glad that I showed intent, gave my shot and tried the yellow daal - it got me here today 🌻

03/09/2022

Lately life has been….well, like how life is expected to be - uneasy, challenging and crazy. It seems like the battles to win versus the energy to win to even show up for those, is oddly unbalanced. 🥲

While striking a balance between emotions, working on self-care and being grateful is mostly daunting on regular days, I recently experienced and experimented with one of the limiting beliefs I have had for a very long time.

I’ve always thought of myself as fragile with very low tolerance for pain. Even though tattoos seemed so cool and I’ve heard they don’t hurt as much as I imagined them to, I’ve always been scared.

So, one fine evening recently, I challenged that belief and got myself a tiny tattoo. 🐾

This tattoo serves me as a reminder of one of the beings I’m grateful for, my beloved .dorable_pup and also the reminder that the limiting beliefs have power over us until we gather the courage to challenge them. 💛

P.S: tattoos don’t hurt as much as I imagined them to.

11/07/2022

This one quote from the book stands out to me especially on hectic . 😅

My realisation with this quote assumes job could be a professional or personal task/obligation.
Often we all like for happiness in our jobs, a satisfaction of some sort which we imagine should come from outside and turn inwards. But that’s the thing author talks about: work becomes meaningful when done for others, and in turn, enjoyable.

Irrespective of the job you are in (professionally or personally), if you can do the smallest thing you’ve been asked to do with the privilege of “I get to do this..” instead of “I have to do this..” - this subtle change in mindset can make a difference. 😌

So, the next time, take a moment and ask yourself - “What can I do to make this boring job exciting for me?” 🤔

If you’ve read this book, please drop a ✌🏻
If you relate to the post, drop a 🌈

10/07/2022

Hello, readers. 👋

The past few weeks have been slow and internal. When I mean internal, I mean dangerously close to breakdowns, pulling away from close ones and being alone with my own thoughts. I’ve had days when all I did was just barely convincing myself to eat, shower and sleep.

In retrospect, maybe these days are essential for us all, sometimes. Sometimes, all we need is our own company, our own space and our own voices.

During these days, I reached to this book by to re-fuel our ability to see things only when we slow down.
Like all pieces of literature (mostly), this book came to the rescue at the right time in my life. I’ll be sharing some thoughtful quotes in the next few posts.

For now, I’m happy to say that I’m not completely back out of my cave, yet I’m not alone 🫶🏻

12/06/2022

Friendships evolve as we grow older. For me, friendships no longer means being in constant conversation, meeting every week, knowing the in and out of each other’s life. I’ve learnt it the hard way.🐣

Friendships now are more about making sudden plans, allowing oneself to carve out personal time in life, sharing big achievements, sharing life lessons and being happy in each other’s presence. 😍

Thanks for being a friend and catching up. I’m excited to see you soon as we both unfold another chapter of life 🌈

25/05/2022

The recent months can be best described in a single word - “overwhelming”.
With crazy work, new home, new responsibilities and such hot weather - there is very less energy to do something productive, exciting or soul-friendly. So, instead of being buried in the countless to-do lists, today’s post is a paw-friendly reminder to myself and to you reading:
If you look closely, you will find tiny things around you that do make you feel happy, grateful and proud of your journey.
Take a moment and be proud 🌈

24/04/2022

The one from the yoga mat 🧘‍♀️

After months of struggle between realising the importance of a body workout yet not being able to cope or find the way to exercise, I think I’ve found what works for best for me 🙂

Yoga - have been on this journey from past two months and loving it so very much!
In terms of benefits, I feel happier, much energetic, calm and flexible. Unlike gym or other hardcore workouts, I don’t sweat a lot or lose a lot of calories - but I feel warmed up, shedding water weight and losing few kilos week per week.

The why of doing Yoga is pretty much simple - but the most amazing part for my journey has been to gain a connection with my body and mind and establish a consistency.

Now, working out doesn’t feel draining but instead it is refreshing. 🌻

Special mention to for their Yoga Class which not only taught yoga asanas and benefits of doing it, but also the fundamentals of Ashtanga Yoga and how to listen and work with your mind and body. I’m in full agreement that in order to be a healthy individual you need to fall in love with the process rather than being focussed on the end goal. 🌈

12/04/2022

Core memories (concept from Pixar’s Inside Out) ❤️🧡💛

Core memories are created when a person experiences a certain event that defines their behavioural traits. That’s why people often say “invest in experiences” because at the end of the day - you are a sum of your life experiences and your reactions to your circumstances. My job offered me the liberty to create a core memory by spending a day in Mumbai.

Travelling solo is in itself a liberating yet overwhelming experience but at the same time, if you are aware of your circumstances - you can turn your exploration into an experience to remember.

The Mumbai darshan and visit was bittersweet but this picture is reminder of the core memory I’ve created for myself.

The experience of being a solo traveler, exploring art, visiting places I wanted to, meeting strangers, making friends, learning from the culture around you and realising how beautiful is every city in its own sweet little way!

Thanks, Mumbai. You’ve been kind 🌈

11/04/2022

Well, once again the Universe proved that good people always find good people 🌈

I was dreading to visit Mumbai but this time, I met the cutest family who made me feel like I was home. Now, instead of working overtime to skip being lonely, I looked forward to come back to my guest house to have dinner with this new family and have a good time. Thank you and 🌻
You are all super sweet and kind!
It’s always so good to find uplifting people around you in this unexpected journey of life. I’m grateful to have met you!

P.S: We’ll meet soon in Kerala, Aunty! 🌻

09/04/2022

Kindness - is golden. 🌻
No acts of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.

We are all in living in a scary uncertain world. Helping someone out without seeking something in return is so rare that people often think there must be some hidden agendas.

In a world like this, offering help to someone in whatever capacity possible - and experiencing the joy of helping them progress is often missed out.

I recently had a chance to help out a stranger on the Internet with their Literature assignment. For me, it was just a rekindling of my love for literature as I got to step back in the mindset of a lit student. I’m not sure how much would my guidance help them out - but the fact they were able to reach out, get help in return of no favours - made them reestablish the faith in the world.

And for me, I made a friend on the Internet from Algeria and I’m so happy about it 🥰

Offer help, be kind - cause we only rise by lifting others 🌈

07/04/2022

I’m back in the same place in a similar situation again. Few months back, I was here due to a business event while my dad was in the hospital. This time, I’m here my brother is being diagnosed for a rather serious ailment. I assumed that being away, staying in the city and working would be difficult considering all the past traumatic associations I have with this place.

But that’s the moment I realised the fundamental truth of our lives - we are not our circumstances. We are how we choose to act and respond to our circumstances.

Life is not allowing us to catch a break, have “good days” or spend time without breaking a sweat. But even in this rollercoaster of emotions, we as individuals have the option to choose how we feel right here in this present moment.

I feel grateful for this moment and this day. I miss my family, I am shaken by the memories of the past and thoughts I had in this place last time I was here and I’m scared and alone.

But this time, I feel I’m stronger to respond better to my current circumstances. Thanks to my friends and loved ones standing by me. Thanks to the Universe! 🌈

10/03/2022

I have social anxiety now. I was not socially anxious few years back. Today, I am. And today, I am able to pick and understand what it means to be socially anxious and be around people who have social anxiety. It is common.
Maybe your friend who always cancels plan at the last minute has it. Maybe your friend who gets sick every time you go to a new restaurant has it. Maybe your dad has it and that’s why he dislikes going to family functions. Maybe your co-worker has it and that’s why they avoid all social events with team.
Reading, experiencing and talking about social anxiety is one way to help. Check on your friends, help them navigate this problem. It is not something to be made fun of, it’s not something we can control or “put off”. It’s not something alcohol can help with either.

The only thing you can do is: be aware of your feelings and share it with people who can help you navigate your anxiety - be it a friend, a therapist or your partner 🌻
🧠

08/03/2022

I am super grateful to the girls in my team forever! I remember all the times when you showed up, hugged me when I cried, fought for me or with me, guided me in life and professional settings and taught me invaluable lessons. Irrespective of our connection today, I think of you every and feel proud to have been your friend! Thank you! 🥂

06/02/2022

Sometimes the tiniest thing you can do for yourself is to surround yourself with people who are uplifting. It gets hard to be one’s own cheerleader and keep at it. This is a good time to connect with a friend and let it all naturally flow.
Thank you for being there on heavy dark days and making them sunny, silly and supportive. 🥰

30/01/2022

Final ritual.
Lost in time and space, still hoping to see you again and hear your voice. Death is weird and so is this concept of rituals and rites. I have made peace with the reality but in so many ways, yet not.
Maybe the meaning of death is subjective - you choose to think of it what it means to you. To me, I’m still struggling with acceptance.

25/01/2022

Your job is a just a job, don’t take it too seriously. 🤗
Yesterday while working with my team we stumbled upon a problem. My team of fairly new interns were tasked to resolve the problem on their own. Few hours later, when we connected, we didn’t have the solution. I asked the team and all I could sense from their voices was a feeling of disappointment, frustration, sadness and fear.
That’s the point when I realised that I have been there so many times. So have you - irrespective of how many years of experience you have.
To help them overcome this, I went back to the mindset we all come across when we are in similar situations.
The way we are trained is: you learn, you work, you succeed. But in reality, you learn, you work, you may fail and go back to learn. And this is totally normal and should be acceptable.

At the end of the day, your job is just a job. You will gather the required skill set over time, you will learn what you are unsure about, you will succeed at what you are failing today. Not being perfect at your job doesn’t mean you are dumb or failure.
It just means, you have to plugin to the learning journey again 😌

15/01/2022

Sad Post 🙃

This one is for people who have suffered a recent loss. I’m sorry that social media and the world around us forces us to paint a smile, pretend that all’s okay and force us to normalcy. I’m sorry that you carry your pain hidden and live with the burden alone. I’m sorry that our society expects us to “bounce back” after suffering emotional trauma within 1-2 working days. I’m sorry your job, your friends, your relatives and your colleagues are unsupportive or limited in the ways to help you. I’m sorry that this never-ending cloud of sadness has enveloped you. I’m sorry that you don’t feel like yourself at all and yet there are s**t tonne of responsibilities you need to fulfill.
I’m sorry we do not live in an inclusive society which allows you time to grieve, feel the pain and find your own way of growing through with it. I’m sorry for your loss.
I hope you find solace, peace and strength.
For now, let sadness be your friend ☹️

13/01/2022

That’s the thing about Fathers…
You know that they are always there for you. Even though you share a complicated love-hate relation or sometimes just a distant relationship with them, but they’ve got your back. From bicycle trainings, to setting up your bank accounts, from making you feel their little princess to stepping up for you when societal norms are against you - dads are there to hold your hand and show their presence and support. Less words, immense love.
It’s a month, and life is still in shambles. Every day is a struggle without a father figure. No matter the kind of relationship you had, not having a parent leaves a big dark hole in one’s life which I believe only time can help heal. Wishing you all love and good vibes. Celebrate your relationship with your parents, tell them you love them 🙂

P.S: I’m using writing as a tool to cope, be conscious.

11/01/2022

I didn’t grow up having many role models. I grew up having people I didn’t want to be like and seeing situations I’d never want to be in. Not all of us are dealt the right cards, but that doesn’t mean you can’t reshuffle your deck, outgrow your environment, and transcend your reality 🌈

10/01/2022

One good thing I wish to inculcate more in my life this winters is getting some time out in the sun. It’s really too simple a hack to feel good and recharged. All you got to do is sit still in the winter sun and be in the moment. It’s free, it’s powerful and it works. Do you love winter sun soaking sessions?

09/01/2022

Hello! 🐣
I have been off this page for several months now. #2021 was a tremendously hard year. From quitting jobs without looking for option, to being and struggling to find my , from finally settling into a job..just to be lost by the sad demise of papa —— this year taught me hard to learn lessons.
That’s the thing about tough times - they make you evolve into a stronger version of yourself. You muster the courage you didn’t even know you had. You feel the emotions that you didn’t even know existed. You are shaken to the core and you see people supporting you - people you didn’t even had so much love for you.
Thank you for being a part of my 2021. I owe you all a lot.
Hoping to be a better person, a better friend this year ❤️
#2021

30/06/2021

It’s been ages since I posted…hello! 🧚🏻‍♀️
The reason being, it’s been ages since I felt like myself. After endless weeks of working on strict deadlines and immense pressure, I finally caught a break.
Or to be exact, I forced myself into a break.

Many well-wishers think working in my job role on a dream project with grand impact must be the BEST thing ever. It surely is. But one down side of it all was I lost my personal life underneath all the chaotic work life. Luckily enough, I was able to get back into my senses to realise what is important and here I am —— taking a much deserved break, sleeping, reading, cooking and dreaming away for the next big lesson life is to teach…..

I hope you too find time to take a break 🧚🏻‍♀️

28/04/2021

This is what I’m grateful for today.

Given the circumstances we are in, keeping positive is very difficult (no puns intended). We are hearing news from all around which affects us, sinks our happy hormones, makes us worry and anxious.
Wading through difficult times is one of the most hard phases to go through. Having someone around to share this with, is a blessing. It could be your roomie, your mom, your cousin or your divided by the distance best friend. Make sure to remind them today for their contribution in your life and feel grateful for the little things in life.

Thank you for standing by me in this weird times and for the delicious dishes you make and share. Super grateful 🙂

17/04/2021

So, I’ve been on and off from work, from Instagram and mood-wise. Reasons are plenty.
To start with, we are again sliding into the severity of pandemic (which we should’ve never forgotten in the first wave), uncertainty is engulfing us, we are constantly worried, dear ones are falling sick, situation is not getting any better.
With the second wave of COVID-19, the second wave of depression and doubts is also back.
So, my new method of coping all of this is to take a break. A complete break from overwhelming work pressures, break from routines, break from addictions, break from toxic friends, break from watching some content or reading same books.
All I am doing is some light reading, eating well, catching up on sleep and chilling with my dog.
Believe me, I already feel much better

06/04/2021

So very grateful! 🥳
Today, I am posting my 100th post of the project. This started out as an emotional outlet, an exercise to build conscious content in a world full of useless content and share whatever zen and life lessons I learn.
So far, I’m happy to celebrate this small win. If not anything else, jzen posts have kept me sane on difficult days, led to beautiful discussions and conversations with followers (now friends) and have helped me inculcate the habit of being persistent.
Thank you for sticking by me.
I wish to learn more and share more with you.
Jzen’s ultimate goal is to help whoever I can in whatever form I can, be it with zen teachings or with practical self-help.
Cheers! 🥂

05/04/2021

While I start my BUJO for April, I wanted to share the major lessons from the past month of my life.
Some important lessons I have learnt this month:
🌻 Choosing RIGHT (hard) over easy
🌻 Life cannot always be rosy and pretty, don’t expect it to be
🌻 Struggles make you strong
🌻 Crying is okay
🌻 Nobody can read your mind, share your feelings
🌻 Politics is everywhere, but you get to choose your stand
🌻 “I can’t do this” — it’s okay to say this
🌻 Prioritise your OWN SELF
🌻 Happiness is my own creation
🌻 When you stop being aware of the “NOW”, s**t starts happening
🌻 You can learn from everyone and every day
🌻 Being grateful gives sound perspective
🌻 Few minutes spent alone are important
🌻 Drinking enough water can make your day better
🌻 When unsure, be silent, calm and observant- let your mind become focused and disciplined
🌻 Ask for HELP and HELP others whenever you can

Drop a 🌻 if you agree to any.

04/04/2021

It’s been over a month since I started my new job for the with the Ministry of Heath, India. It’s been an overwhelming experience.
Not only has the life shifted gears directly from a chill WFH well-acquainted job to working in government sector for a project which currently is of utmost importance but also in personal terms.
Here’s the honest version of my experience so far: being new to adulting, living with my supportive partner and our furry kid, coming back home is the only respite from the chaotic and hectic 15 hours of work day. I’ve not been able to get sleep, prepare meals, exercise or even stretch. I miss reading, regularly bullet journaling, watching movies, chilling and going out for walks. I have been ignoring my mental health, getting buried under the immense pressure at work and trying to stay awake to get done as much work as possible.
However, this week, my body broke down and gave me a clear indication. I am unwell, literally on bed rest, can’t concentrate on a screen more than an hour, eating only home cooked food and catching up on reading.
My learning so far has been that eventually your body and brain will get exhausted. So, pause work, even the important work. Take rest, revitalize and focus on your well-being. The flood of work is ever flowing but our human self is capable of holding itself together only for little long. So, rest please 🌈

28/03/2021

I have something important to say. ☝️
Please support your friends who are experimenting with arts or trying something new.
Why? Because watching a documentary created by them might just take away 5 minutes of your time — but if you share an honest feedback with them, it could encourage them.
Show appreciation and support to friends who are willing to do away with the norm and struggling to make profession out of their passion.
Stop being condescending and judgemental - trying something new in your late 20s isn’t easy. If they are doing it, the least you can do is — watch their content, share your feedback, encourage them, share their work. 🙏

Nobody’s asking you for money, just your kindness ✨

20/03/2021

If you talk about it, it’s a dream.
If you envision it, it’s possible.
But if you schedule it, it’s real ❤️

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