LIHA LETTER - April Edition

STRESS IS A CHOICE, JOY IS A MUSCLE

This can sound like the most annoying phrase when you are stressed! Take it from me- as any founder will tell you this journey is not for the faint of heart, and when someone said this to me in amidst a bout of shingles in the early days of the business, I was like what are they talking about!?!

But hear me out… if you can take the time to slow down and breathe in stressful situations and say ‘Stress is a Choice’ as a kind of meltdown affirmation, it starts to take hold slowly. After months, not weeks you may find yourself choosing to feel a new emotion even though the outside environment is stressful.

Of course, life sometimes throws us curve balls when we have no choice but to lean into stress, and it can also be a healthy signifier that a change is needed in your life, but there is always another option in every moment. Taking back control of a small decision such as what we choose to focus on can bring joy and peace.

This stress awareness day ask yourself what would it look like if you leaned into the glimmers in your day instead of the triggers? How can you extend the small moments that bring you joy to get the maximum benefit from them, and in turn, change your perception and focus so your mind starts to believe that stress is a choice….

Here is our stress relieving tips for the month ahead!

READING 

 Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles

A much needed fresh look on purpose, theres a reason this was an international bestseller. This book helps you touch on the intersection of what you love, what youre good at, what the world needs and what you can get paid for. 

EATING 

The university of Vermont’s Medical Centre nutrition experts have come up with this handy list of foods and snacks that can counter act the stressors that can lead to stress eating : https://www.uvmhealth.org/healthsource/6-snack-foods-and-3-easy-recipes-reduce-your-stress

DOING

Brick Lane Jazz Festival – 26^th and 27^th April What better way to zone out, vibe out and kick back than with (in our opinion) one of the best musical festivals of the year! Our top picks/ must sees are Laraaji, Oreglo and Ragz Originale.