Building core practices: the pick 'n' mix approach
Dedicate time to the small things and experience a cascade of benefits.
“We all need to find what supports us when nothing supports us.” - James Hollis, Jungian analyst
This quote, a discovery while listening to Elise Loehnen’s podcast Pulling the Thread, has anchored the sentiment of the week’s newsletter for me. Here, Hollis suggests that discovery of the self is the most crucial element to inner peace, loving relationships and by extension, whole health.
From here, let’s flow downstream and consider our most core health practices. Hollis’ words show us how fundamental it is to turn inward if we want to make lasting change. Brick by brick, we must build our understanding of ourselves. Not what we aspire to do tomorrow, or what others are doing, but what we need to do to level up or heal, today. We come to healthier practices from all paths, reasons and compulsions. I like to remind myself of this when I observe others practicing things that to me, currently feel out of reach.
Practically speaking, be your ship’s captain! Learn yourself, get curious, understand where you’re at and go from there. This is where the pick ‘n’ mix approach comes in. Consciously choose and then practice small, daily core actions that you will mostly stick to. 2-3 daily practices seem to work best. The actions you commit to now won’t necessarily be the same in a year’s time, but they should be helpful and nourishing to you right now.
When you’re considering your pick ‘n’ mix practices, try to select with the following in mind:
Pick simple daily actions that you will actually do. Consider what is doable for you in your season of life.
The best pick ‘n’ mix practices can be built into the seams and margins of a day. They should directly benefit your health without feeling like a stretch.
Ask yourself: will this bolster my vitality when I practice it consistently or drain it? Pay attention to how certain commitments or actions make you feel.
Start from where you are, not from where someone else is. We can take inspiration from others but we’ve still got to turn inwards to see what helps us personally. Stay curious.
Keep evolving your mix. Once you’re vibing with health practice (aka sticking with it long enough to notice a difference) add another small healing action and let the journey continue.
Consider where in life you most need nourishment (inputs) rather than what needs to be cut or limited. Run through the following: time outdoors, time unplugged, intellectual nourishment, spiritual nourishment, community connection, physical challenge, friendship, food. There are all kinds of nourishment, and sometimes we need more of one than another.
With all of this, we are aiming for joy, ease and curiosity. These are my own personal baselines for health on a daily basis. Keep on establishing, practising and noticing and I’ll see you back here next week!
Sophie’s Marketplace
A few bits and pieces I’m loving right now, maybe you will too.
1. Jenny Rindermann private chef and catering. Jenny is a Michelin trained chef and on top of being a lovely, authentic human, she makes the most incredible weekly meals and nourishing broths for her clients. One look at Jenny’s Instagram will have you mentally file away her services for a time of life where you’re under the pump or need a little extra nutrition support.
2. Critical. x Nůž No. 3 Daily knife. Every kitchen needs a decent chef’s knife, and I’ve never seen anything like this one before. Made by the same team who collaboration with kingi restaurant, the blade is made from a recycled carbon steel saw and is paired with a beautiful Cleanstone handle made from recycled plastic packaging and commercial fishing nets - giving it the unique swirling pattern similar to the chopping boards designed by Critical, LegaSea and my husband Tom.