The Wellbeing Project
Sharon Rosen
Sharon shares tools with us that help us to build common ground with people who come from different backgrounds. These tools are particularly relevant when engaging with people of different religions.
Generous listening is the practice of listening, to oneself, to one another, and to nature – with an open mind, with compassion, and without prejudice or agenda. It is the ability and willingness to expand our horizons, reach insight and enlightenment, and form empathy and understanding across deep divides.
Generous listening arrives from the practice of taking oneself out of one’s comfort zone, knowingly exiting the echo chambers or ideological bunkers in which we exist, and making an active effort to listen to opinions, ideas, and experiences that may challenge us.
Generous listening leads to authentic connections and revelation. Through listening generously and working together to cultivate a culture of generous listening, we can transform the way we experience the world – Vuslat Foundation.
We believe that listening plays a key role in the creation of a culture of wellbeing. A healthy relationship with self is essential for sustaining relationships with others and this in turn also affects the way we connect with our work and the world around us.
Wellbeing is the experience of wholeness and interconnectedness and derives from a lifelong journey of inner work and conscious and intentional choices.
Kindness, vulnerability, connection, and community can only be cultivated through the three pillars of generous listening: listening deeply to oneself, listening genuinely to one another, and listening sincerely to nature.
Through learning to listen deeply to ourselves, we can cultivate better mental health. Be it through self-compassionate approaches like spiritual practices, meditation, and journaling, or through seeking external guidance through therapy and more, we can embark on both self-development and self-acceptance. Only through some degree of self-awareness and inner peace, can we achieve compassion and empathy towards others. By opening the space and holding the intention to listen generously to one another, we overcome the modern epidemic of loneliness, forge authentic connections, and find paths to bridging cultural or political differences. Finally, we must listen generously to nature in order to value, preserve and seek refuge in the world’s natural environment which nourishes us and gives us life. Our common need and desire for security, safety, and belonging can be attained through cultivating a culture of generous listening.
Social change and inner wellbeing are deeply interconnected. Changemakers who dedicate their lives to working on some of the world’s most pressing issues must similarly demonstrate leadership in listening generously, both to themselves, to others, and to nature. To drive meaningful social change, changemakers must have an acute ability to listen to the needs and experiences of the communities around them. To consistently display the adequate courage and compassion to respond to the challenges of others, they must first and foremost possess a state of inner wellbeing. Through being able to listen compassionately and intuitively to oneself, changemakers will then be able to step outside of themselves to understand the viewpoints of others, gain a more holistic perspective, and tackle social and environmental challenges.
Vuslat Foundation is a global initiative that fosters a deeper appreciation of listening as the essential element of all our connections. The Foundation creates awareness about and spreads the skill of generous listening. Established in Switzerland in 2020, with offices in Istanbul and London, Vuslat Foundation works with artists, storytellers, changemakers and thought leaders. Through partnerships with academia, civil society, artists, and businesses; the Foundation develops knowledge, research, methodologies, and tools on generous listening, cultivates generous listening in the ecosystems of youth and children, and builds awareness and inspiration on generous listening–deeply aligned with the Wellbeing Summit.
by Sambridhi Pandey
My hands slowly begin hurting as I am trying to finish the last few sentences on my “journal” while my eyes start clouding up and I cannot see clearly anymore. In the silence of the night, all I can hear is this prominent sound created from fiction; the pen against the paper when a pang of a sharp pain passing somewhere inside reminds me how difficult the past few months had been. Yet also reminding me, I was there…still there…breathing through another day.
Writing has always helped me revive through heartbreaks; both big and small. It has been an essential part of my human existence and a reliable source of contentment. Through times, when I needed a friend and didn’t have one, the paper and pen always came in handy to save the day.
Journaling, I realized, allows me to reflect, have a conversation with myself and look at situations through a new set of eyes.
The process is almost therapeutic as I begin flowing in with the words…stumbling into new perspectives and derivations from a situation that wouldn’t have otherwise occurred to me in a real time scenario.
Whether the moments are of sheer joy, gratitude or remorse, journaling blends into all the molds.
On occasions, it also plays the role of a time machine, meaning you can literally transport to a specific day or period in your life to revisit the memories, the emotions that come to life each time you go through the pages reminiscing the moments exactly the way they were.
As a good point of entry towards the journey of self-discovery, journaling lets you know yourself better, you begin understanding what makes you tick and what makes your heart sink as you write down. It’s almost like seeing yourself as a third person and really comprehending the inner workings while being detached and unbiased about situations.
I do not get to write in my journal daily and I don’t plan on logging the day-to-day mundane entries into it either. I am not super keen on tracking every hour or day of my life or what I ate for breakfast or lunch, although sometimes, that adds value too. I’d rather jump to the point and talk about things that need talking and attention. As a matter of fact, my journal entries are very intense. They are mostly monologues, where I talk myself out of a difficult phase, give myself more courage and hope to keep going.
It’s not always about stormy days though, I also make time to count my blessings and note down tiniest instances of coincidences, miracles, or my versions of “signs from the universe”, if you will. The entries are what I feel and what I think, they are mere mirrors of separate versions of me, the heart and mind. It’s always a pleasure knowing yourself from different phases of your life and seeing how you have evolved — there are certain moments where you realize how your vision had been morphed about a certain happening, how certain developments from the time of a journal entry has now shifted and your priorities have now transitioned. There is a lot of learning that goes around, rest assured.
If you’ve been considering journaling but don’t know where exactly to start, don’t fret, I’ve been there. Sometimes, its all at the top of your head, but you somehow lack the words or inspiration. To get started, you could try using some journal prompts.
SOME JOURNAL PROMPTS WHICH HAVE HELPED ME IN THE PAST:
We often underestimate the profound effects of something as simple as writing that comes with the least effort but has a wondrous and healing effect on us. Journaling is something I recommend to everyone interested and invested in wellness and betterment of their mental health and life.
You don’t have to be a great writer to commence your journaling journey, you don’t even have to be a writer to begin with. All you will ever need are three things — a pen, a few papers and all your consciousness, that does it!
Grab these things, sit down in a quiet space, put on some music, if you’d like and start jotting down whatever you feel, think or sense at the moment. Begin somewhere…anywhere and I promise the rest will fall together. So, whenever you feel clouded or you think you could use a friend and cannot confide in anyone just yet, a journal is what you need. It does miracles. So do yourself a favor and get yourself your paper binded friend. Trust me, I tried it and that’s what brought me here.
Sambridhi is based in the U.S. and works in Marketing/Communications at the moment. She has also been in freelance writing for a while and has previously contributed to many global initiatives. Sambridhi considers herself to be a proprietor of mental health and emotional wellbeing and loves adding her insights to related conversations.
By John Adams
If you are a person who remains busy in work and other matters and pays no attention to your health and wellbeing, you must take a break from the robotic routine and pick healthy habits.
According to a psychologist, eating well and exercise gives your body and brain instant benefits of managing stress, depression, and anxiety. True wellbeing comes with balance, constant growth and acceptance.
Here are a few effective and tested ways that can help you improve your wellbeing:
1. Take Proper Sleep:
It may seem to be the most common advice, but trust me most of the people don’t follow the basic strep towards their overall wellbeing. Our body needs proper sleep and rest to heal and renew the energy to function properly. This healing is essential for physical and mental activity throughout the day.
Sufficient sleep regulates the hormones that are directly related to our mood and emotions. Most often when you feel an irritated or emotional imbalance, chances are high that your body lacks in taking enough sleep. An adult body needs nearly 6 to 7 hours of sleep per day. So make sure you take enough sleep.
2. Eat a Balanced Diet:
Sleep alone is not going to give you the required benefits. You need to eat a healthy and balanced diet and ensure your body receives enough amount of nutrition. The food you consume determines how healthy your inner system is. Moreover, it also helps in determining your emotional health and mental illnesses such as depression.
When your body lacks essential nutrients, it leads to serious health problems. Moreover, you end up facing emotional distress and anxiety. Health and wellness experts suggest that you should eat fruits and vegetables in sufficient amount. Moreover, eating nuts and lentil also strengthens your heart. Try to avoid caffeine, sugar and processed food as much as possible.
3. Expose Your Body to Sunlight:
Vitamin D deficiency leads to several problems such and Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. When you are exposed to sunlight, it causes the release of endorphins also called ‘happiness hormones’ that is responsible for the productivity of the brain.
So, take some time out of your routine and spend some time in sunlight. But makes sure you wear sunblock to prevent sunburn.
4. Deal with Stress:
Although it is difficult to avoid stress nowadays, however, it is definitely possible to deal with it. It is very important to learn to deal with stress in a smart and effective way. For that, try to avoid the situations that cause stress. If your stress is unmanageable, note down the causes of stress as well as what actions can you take to improve your reaction, mood, and even situation?
5. Exercise Daily:
When you remain physically active and exercise daily, your blood flow improves in your entire body. With the increased blood flow, the number of oxygen increases and you feel more energetic, fresh and mentally active.
Exercises and physical activities are more important if you are an office worker. Exercise not only ensures our body remains fit but also keeps your mind healthy as well. You don’t have to join expensive gyms for that. A simple walk with your pet or daily morning walk is more than sufficient. The important thing is to make it a daily habit.
In addition to your mental health, exercise strengthens your bones and muscles that prevent you from a different type of personal injuries during a workout or running your daily errands.
6. Stay Away from Smoking and Alcohol:
If you keep drinking and smoking, no matter how much you spend on your health and how hard you try, your efforts are going to be wasted.
Quit smoking and drinking to ensure you lead a healthy life.
7. Be Social, as Much as You Can:
Isolation and lack of communication are the two biggest reasons for depression, mental and physical illnesses. No matter how busy your family and work life is, try to dedicate some time to friends and socialise with them.
A man cannot stay healthy without interacting with other people. Communicating with others lowers the stress level. If you have heard of laughter therapy, it also has the same purpose to reduce the stress in which you laugh with other people. Everyone needs acceptance and friendship that is fulfilled only when you socialise with others.
8. Find and Practice New Hobbies:
Hobby helps us keep busy and engaged. When you have an interest in some activities and enjoy doing them, you take healthy steps to improve your emotional wellbeing. It also keeps the work and daily life’s pressure off your brain. Finding new hobbies is great for strengthening your brain and boost your mood.
9. Learn to Live in the Present:
The biggest reason for experiencing mood swings, depression and anxiety are when a person remains stuck in past events. Negative self-talking such as ‘why people did this to me’ steal not only the happiness but make the person miss opportunities that the present moment tires to offer.
Learn to live in the present moment and try not to think too much about the future.
It’s Simple: Laugh and Enjoy!
Don’t take life too seriously. Those who remain happy, smile more and try to keep themselves happy experience better quality of life than those who remain worried all the time. According to a study, children laugh 200 times a day while adults laugh 15 times a day.
Staying happy and laughing more is essential for a quality life.
By Melisa Marzett
As Mr. Jackson Brown said: “What you give brings more happiness, but not what you get.”
Happiness comes to us from time to time, but people can achieve it themselves. When routine exercises take all the time, there will still be those who will be happy and have a good mood. And all because a person becomes much more pleased if a human has learned to benefit from any situations in life.
However, happiness must be earned. Those who manage to remain more favorable than others are working hard, developing the right habits to help to cope with unexpected problems. If you do not feel happy enough, do not worry – everyone has the strength to create the daily practices of happy people.
Ten habits of pleased people, which will benefit you:
Habit 1. Spend the day entirely on yourself, because you deserve it
It is good to have ambitions and take care of others. However, happy people know when to put things aside and devote all day care for themselves. Dr. Amy Kogut says that if we do not spend at least a few minutes every day, we are less happy than we could be. You need to focus on your needs and realize that your happiness is also essential and for this, you should start doing what will dilute the routine.
Taking care of yourself is an essential habit of many happy people. Even one day a week can improve your condition if you spend it on taking care of your good health.
Habit 2. Share qualms with friends
Sometimes things can get messy. In such situations, do not keep everything to yourself. Therefore, happy people are looking for support from friends. The perfect companion here is a friend with whom you can share experiences. Friends know how to listen and sometimes give useful tips. The main thing is not to forget to substitute the shoulder when they also need help.
Habit 3. Organize your time: to-do list and its implementation
Drawing up a to-do list is the perfect tool for organizing a busy person’s time. Happy people put their cases on such a list and ensure that all of its items have been fulfilled. This list should get everything you need to do in a day, regardless of the complexity. You will see for yourself how much happier you will be when you finish all the tasks from this list.
Habit 4. Do good to others
Being a kind person and doing good is the key to well-being and fortune. By making someone happy, you are going to remember the feeling, and the person you helped will surely pay you back in the future.
As Dr. Oliver Scott Curry of the University of Cognitive-Evolutionary Anthropology says: “People are social animals. Helping members of society, co-workers, friends, relatives and even random people (in some circumstances) makes it to where we feel happier. ” The findings of a study suggest helping others to bring pleasure, and mutual assistance is the only way to better the world.
Habit 5. Stop communicating with unreliable people, no matter how difficult it is
One crucial thing unites happy people. There are no untrustworthy people in their environment. A friend is a partner or relative, but your emotional well-being is much more valuable than indulging manipulators and people you are not sure of.
Habit 6. Make sure you do not starve and eat healthy food only
Proved: happy people eat too. It does not mean that you need to feed through strength, but, like overeating, hunger makes a person weak and causes fatigue. Agree, it is difficult to feel happy with an empty stomach.
This is what Professor Andrew Oswald says about this: “When vegetables and fruits are present in a person’s diet, his sense of happiness increases faster than these products benefit the body.” Find a snack in your full schedule, and your body will thank you.
Habit 7. Get organized in the workplace and dispose of rubbish
Happy people need a clean space, whether it is an office workplace, a studio, an apartment or their own home. Your thoughts will become much more apparent if you get rid of dirty cups, trash and other paper on the table and in general, it is much more pleasant to be clean than frantically looking for time to remove the mess around you.
Habit 8. You also deserve something pleasant – pamper yourself
A delighted person knows when s/he deserves something good. Shopping to pamper yourself is harmless and boost spirits, if not to make a toy of it. Try to reward yourself that way after completing a job or putting a big project.
Habit 9. Positive thinking regardless of circumstances
There may be problems with this habit, especially if your thoughts are full of negativity. However, the fact remains that a happy person is focused on thinking positively. Avoiding bad words in their address, such people look at everything through the lens of positive. Learn to do the same, and with each new day, you will increasingly come closer to happiness.
Habit 10. Last. No one is perfect, so learn to forgive yourself
Our mistakes in no way characterize us, and those who live a happy life know how high the power of forgiveness is. Learn to forgive yourself if you have been rejected at work or have been kept for the same course at the university. Life does not stand still, so let us be kind to ourselves!
Everyone learns in his/her way to be happy. However, the essence is that happiness is possible for all of us and we all deserve it. Adhering to the above habits, you will surely come to joy, simultaneously charging positive people around you and if during the night in your life, nothing has changed, do not be discouraged and be indulgent to yourself. Some changes take time, and they are worth all the effort!
By Melisa Marzett
All the research conducted on this topic over the years confirms one thing: we don’t get the welfare all at once. It is day after day combination of small, but essential details.
Make gifts for yourself and others. Change your sight angle to see events from a new perspective. Show gratitude. Sleep well. Do not forget to smile. It is unlikely that this is what we think in the first place when it comes to happiness. And yet we can feel better by changing some ideas and habits.
The primary condition for happiness is not the possession of certain benefits, but a lifestyle that combines self-care and openness to others. The good news is that it is never too late to start following this style.
1. Exercise
Speaking of happiness, we often think about our own feelings and ways of thinking. But the best stimulant of happiness is physical activity. So, is it time to walk? On foot, jogging, cycling. Take up gardening. Hit the ball, the shuttlecock, dance.
Exercise will allow you to feel fit, protect yourself from depression and stress, and improve both your physical and mental abilities. Find a lesson you like and fit your form. And do not limit yourself to the gym, go out!
2. Sleep
Those who spend 6–8 hours a day do better than those who sleep less than six or more than nine hours. People who sleep “optimally” are less likely to develop symptoms of depression; they quickly establish relationships with others and establish closer contact with their being.
3. Smile
How many times a day do you smile? Do not wait for the occasion to appear. Researchers recently confirmed what Darwin assumed as early as the 19th century: when we demonstrate emotions, they increase – whether we frown, or lift the corners of the lips. Indeed, with a smile, the muscles of the face are activated, sending a signal to the brain to produce endorphins – “hormones of happiness.” The more you smile, the happier you feel!
4. Stay in touch
Build relationships with other people: family members, friends, colleagues, neighbors. These connections are the cornerstones of your life, invest in them every day and enrich them. One of the distinguishing features of a human being is the need for belonging. Meeting this need fills us with positive emotions, while long periods of loneliness can knock you down.
Relationships, exceptionally close and friendly, are excellent indicators of happiness. A good social support network strengthens the immune system, slows the destruction of the brain with age and reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
5. Live for the moment
Focus on the outside world and your feelings. Realize what is unusual about them. Appreciate beauty when you see it. Enjoy the moment, paying attention to every sense: touch, taste, sight, hearing, smell. Stretch the moment, delving into this feeling, no matter how simple it is: the astringent flavor of wine on the tip of your tongue, the soft hair of the cat under the palm of your hand, the ever-new-color of the sky.
6. Express your gratitude
Going to bed, before falling asleep, think about the three points of the last day for which you feel appreciated. It does not matter if it is a trifle or something vital. Ask yourself about each one of them: what is your gratitude? Say thanks to a colleague who helped you today, or send him an email. Acknowledgment is one of the most effective ways to do good.
7. Continue to learn
What skills have you recently mastered? Whether you learn from a book, video or lecture, go back to your old hobby, or start something entirely new, this increases your self-confidence and a sense of pleasure from life.
8. Develop strengths
This feeling of being deep inside is your strength. Where does it come from? Think about it for a minute. What are you proud of? Knowing your strengths, talents, using them, developing them – this is one of the surest ways of personal and professional growth. The positive effects of such development will be long-term and will help in case of depression.
9. Change perspective
Are you one for whom the glass is half empty or half full? Are you looking at the positive aspects of life or pointing out something that is not going well? Events are rarely “completely white” or “completely black,” but in most cases, it is more useful to consider their positive sides.
Here is a simple exercise in realizing this principle: if something unpleasant happens to you, try to find at least something good about the situation (even if it seems artificial to you), treating it as if it did not concern you, correctly helps to look at what happened from the side!
10. Accept life
Henceforth, the beneficence of acceptance is scientifically confirmed. No one is perfect, and there is an excellent chance that you, too, do not accept about yourself (or about others) some character traits or some actions. Sometimes it comes to obsession. However, a fierce attitude to their weaknesses does not help anything, quite the contrary. While learning to accept and forgive ourselves, we will increase flexibility, resistance, and satisfaction with life. And this will allow you to become more tolerant of others.
11. Devote time to yourself
Studies show that we feel happier when we have the feeling that we manage time. One of the ways to achieve this is to devote time to yourself, a little bit every day. And to do at such moments everything that we please: to walk along the streets or through the woods, relax on the cafe terrace, read the newspaper, listen to music with headphones. The main thing is to be alone with yourself for a while.
12. Give
Do something that will not bring you any benefits. Tell a friend or a stranger a kind word. Join a mutual help association. Research shows that generosity and kindness stimulate the brain areas responsible for the release of endorphins. By sharing time and attention, we not only reward ourselves chemically but also establish relationships. Trust is the key to peace with yourself and with others.
By Alice Gatignol
How laughter saves my life every day
It wasn’t a life-changing experience, an epiphany, or anything similar. I have always loved laughing, and have always been very easily amused. I simply never realised how much laughter mattered to me, and how much my well being depended on it.
Laughter is a natural reaction – just like crying, or sleeping. We have all seen babies laugh, and – let’s be very honest – we all melt at the sound of a baby laughing. As a matter of fact, laughter is one of the rare things that ties humans together without boundaries. No matter what your past is, where you come from, or how you’ve been raised; when you find something fun or humorous, your body laughs/reacts to it. From tribes to metropolitan business-men, we all naturally laugh. Laughter is one of the basic instinctive reactions which is not influenced by our culture, education or background.
The odd thing about laughter, is that you can’t define it – neither its intensity nor its core. It can go from a shy, smiley hick-up, to a full-on, loud, open-mouthed uncontrollable explosion. The degrees are non-exhaustive. Laughter is non-exhaustive, and everywhere. In a joke, a word, a look, a grimace, a circumstance, a group of people, an individual, a repetition, a perception, an inside joke, an imitation, an impulse… the list is infinite. It is one of the very simple things that our body does, that we do not control but which we usually know well enough to kickstart.
Another interesting, fun fact – are there people who do not enjoy laughing? There are certainly some who will say so, but I am convinced that this would be playing a role. In fact, laughter relaxes certain muscles and we do not even know it – we can consider that it is a sort of homemade massage and workout (it even works your abs)! The effects of laughing are only beneficial. Medically, laughter releases endorphins, also known as the « feel good hormones », responsible for arousal, emotion and pleasure, and helps relieve pain.
We can often detect someone’s happiness on how much they laugh. At the early stages of a love relationship, or what we call the « honeymoon phase », couples often laugh regularly, recurrently, and easily. Humans, in their own complexity, can actually be quite simple when it comes to laughter. The happier they are, the more positive reactions their body will have, such as laughing. Studies reveal the happiness circle involved in laughter: the more people laugh, the more people engage in social laughter . Our instinctive reaction from seeing someone laughing is often a smile, and calm – embracing the moment. It’s contagious, too! If, when you are happy, you laugh, the reverse theory works too; so laugh more for more happiness.
Humans are victims of their own existence and conscience, and therefore do have moments of doubt, stress, fear or pain. These often negative emotions may even sometimes lead to depression. We may not control mental health, and all the negative stress that is imposed upon each one of us every day. We do, however, control how to deal with them. Practicing laughter regularly, stimulating your sense of humour, will not only keep your mind focused on something positive for you, but also relax your body from unwanted tension.
It seems that Provine was onto something: smiling and laughter are instinctual survival tools for humans that can help us thrive in our environment. Take the time to laugh every day. With others, at yourself, alone, watching a movie, reading a book. Take the time to find laughter every day, in little things, to increase your wellbeing, your positivity, and your happiness.
For some an oxymoron, a new concept has emerged in our vocabulary recently: that of “digital wellbeing”. Perhaps it is not surprising that academics have been researching the impact of new digital technologies on people’s wellbeing for quite some time already, but the fact that tech-giants like Google are now paying attention to the topic is a sign of its relevance for our modern societies.
As Google acknowledges, technology is transforming the way we spend time, and this is why it’s more important than ever to ensure the tools we use are helpful, and not a distraction. Let’s consider for a brief moment how digital tools have changed the work of changemakers and social innovators. Many of them use digital tools at the core of their ventures, e.g. think about tech-preneurs teaching digital skills to children to equip them with the skills of the 21st century. Others rely on technology to scale their impact, e.g. think about social entrepreneurs who can reach (back-then-unimaginable) large audiences through online platforms and apps.
It is clear that digital tools have opened up new horizons for changemakers (and for all of us), but as we learn to navigate in these waters full of fascinating possibilities, we must also make a well-rounded assessment on the impact of digital technologies on our work and life. In fact, many are pointing to the negative impact of digital technologies on our wellbeing, which contributes to behaviours such as addiction, distraction, anxiety… Whether we want it or not, digital tools will possibly become more and more present in our lives, so we might as well learn to recalibrate our digital diet so that it is diverse, balanced, and nutritious.
To help people – professionals, changemakers, youth, educators – consume healthy digital diets that feed their minds, bodies, hearts, and souls with the nutrients they need to thrive, is what motivated us to contribute to Google’s new course on digital wellbeing. This course shares a new series of digital wellbeing online learning videos, available here. As Google explains, “each video encourages you to think about how you use technology and suggests ways to find the right balance for you.” Have a look at the videos and let us know what changes you are making to maintain a more balanced digital diet.
Read Google’s blogpost on the topic here.
Visit Google’s Digital Workshop new course landing page here.
By Greta Rossi
On the tip of everyone’s tongue
Google Trends report that worldwide web searches for the term “mindfulness” have increased in popularity from a score of 9 (out of 100) in January 2004 to 100 in February 2018 (the August 2018 popularity is 87/100). This should not come as a surprise: mindfulness seems to be on the tip of everyone’s tongue – from Forbes to the New York Times, the world seems to have opened up its taste buds to this ancient practice. But what is mindfulness and how does it support the wellbeing of social change leaders?
In a nutshell, mindfulness is about being present in the here and the now, observing all that is happening within and around us with an attitude of curiosity which is neither critical nor judgmental. Against popular belief, mindfulness is not passive and isolating; it is rather active and connecting. Headspace App founder Andy Puddicombe highlights it stems from the “genuine desire to investigate how and why you think and feel the way you do”, opening up new pathways for mindset and behaviour change. It is a sort of gym for the brain.
Mindfulness can help anyone live with a sense of happy contentment, but it is particularly effective to sustain the wellbeing of social change leaders as they carry out their work in the world. There is plenty of scientific research that showcases the benefits of mindfulness on mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing, including “better control of emotions, decreased rumination (dwelling on negative thoughts), improved working memory, better self-awareness, improved awareness of thoughts, reduced depression and anxiety, reduced physical illness, decreased emotional reactivity, more flexible thinking, increased positive emotion, and decreased negative emotion” (Bridget Grenville-Cleave, Introducing Positive Psychology: A Practical Guide).
Discovering mindfulness through food
There are plenty of ways in which you can cultivate mindfulness in your life, but since I am a foodie (as confessed in my very first blog post for Shift media channel), I would like to introduce a simple mindful eating practice to discover mindfulness through your senses. Mindful eating is the application of mindfulness towards your relationship with food and it can tell you a lot about how you relate to the world in general. In his book The Headspace Diet, Andy Puddicombe highlights some of the main benefits of mindful eating on the mind and body, such as:
Ultimately, it gives you the power to choose – not what thoughts and emotions come to your awareness – but how you relate to them and respond consequently. This power of choice is essential for any social change leaders who wish to be effective in their outer work.
Mindful eating practice
The following mindful eating practice is a starter wellbeing recipe which you can find on our website. The guidelines have been taken from the “mindful eating” exercise provided by Bridget Grenville-Cleave in her book Introducing Positive Psychology: A Practical Guide.
Take five minutes out of your normal schedule. Find a couple of small snacks or other edible treats, such as pretzels, small pieces of cereal, chocolate, or raisins. You also need a quiet place to sit. First of all, eat one of your chosen snacks in your normal fashion. Then pick up a second one and go through the following steps. Take your time, don’t rush.
1. Observing: Start by looking carefully at it. Imagine that you have never seen a pretzen or a raisin before. Notice its colour and texture, turn it over carefully and slowly in your hand. Notice how its colour changes as the light catches it. Notice the fine grains or salt on the pretzels, or the crinkles on the surface of the raisin. Sniff it. What odour can you detect? Imagine eating the pretzel or raisin, imagine putting it in your mouth. Notice how your mouth starts to water at the mere thought of eating it. If at any point you start thinking “Why am I doing this?” or “This is a waste of time”, acknowledge these as thoughts. Then return your attention to the object.
2. Tasting: Having observed the snack closely from every angle, put it in your mouth but don’t eat it just yet. What is the first sensation you notice? Is it taste or touch? How does the snack feel as you roll it around your mouth?
3. (Really) tasting: Now start to bit into or chew the snack. How does it feel when you bite into it for the first time? Do you get a satisfying crunch, or a soft chewy sensation? Notice the taste – is it a single flavour or a combination? Is it salty, sweet, or both? Take your time, imagining that you must make it last forever.
4. Swallowing: Finally, swallow, noticing any aftertaste or other sensations in your mouth.
5. Reflecting: Having eaten the snack, how do you feel? How did it feel to eat the snack mindfully?
6. Comparing: Now compare this with your experience of eating the first snack. Often, the first time people eat mindfully, they cannot believe how different it is to their normal experience of eating and how much enjoyment can be squeezed out of one tiny piece of food.
Over the coming months we will deepen our exploration of mindfulness through other practices, but in the meantime, if you liked this mindful eating exercise, why not trying a more thorough raisin meditation practice?
by Radha Ruparell
On April 5, 2020, I started feeling tired, more tired than I usually feel in the middle of the day. Two days later, I realized that I had been hit with this new virus that everyone was talking about, COVID-19. The virus was like nothing I had ever experienced in my life. I started the year as a healthy, active, young professional. Then I contracted this virus and suddenly found myself bedridden, unable to work, and suffering from a full-body assault on my heart, brain, stomach and other organs. More than a year in, while much has improved, I still have not recovered my full health.
We all face turning points in our lives. One minute we’re doing well, the next, we’re in the middle of a crisis. Turning points can be terrifying. The ultimate question is, how are we going to face them?
Here are three lessons I discovered while battling the biggest turning point in my life:
2. Slow down and soak it in: Like many New Yorkers, I lead a busy life. This experience has gotten me to slow down and take life in. Slowing down helped me rediscover things I had taken for granted. When I left my apartment after 27 days in isolation, the first thing I noticed were the beautiful tulips growing in a little patch outside my building. I had lived in this apartment for a year. Why had I never noticed these flowers in springtime before? Oh, and the feeling of a breath of fresh air, a gust of wind, and the first time seeing trees after a month indoors! What would life feel like if we always approached the world with childlike wonder? What if you soaked in the magic of each moment like it was your first and last on earth?
3. Focus on “being” not “doing”: When my life flashed before my eyes, I found myself wondering not about what I had accomplished, but who I had been along the way. Had I been kind to my family and friends? Had I taken full responsibility for my mistakes? We spend so much of our lives focusing on what we are doing, but in the end, all that matters is who we are being. I have found that one way to bring more of a being paradigm to your life is to pick a word or two that defines who you want to be, and then treat this as your highest priority. For me, that word is “generous”. What is it for you?
I’ll leave you with one final thought from my new book, Brave Now: “Being brave is not an innate characteristic reserved for a select few. At any moment, any one of us can choose to be brave.”
BIO
Radha Ruparell has worked with CEOs, Fortune 500 senior executives, social entrepreneurs, and grassroots leaders around the world to unlock their leadership. She currently heads the Global Leadership Accelerator at Teach For All, a global network of organizations in 60 countries committed to developing leadership to ensure all children fulfill their potential. Her new book is BRAVE NOW: Rise Through Struggle and Unlock Your Greatest Self.
Valerie Gaudreault Guilbert
LETS REACH OUT
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
“During these stressful times, loneliness can be hard for a lot of people and staying home often means feeling isolated. To break this cycle and protect our wellbeing, contacting a family member, a friend or a mental health professional can help us go through this. Let’s reach out.”
bonnie browN
APART YET CLOSER THAN EVER
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
“Heading into our sixth week of lockdown in New Zealand I’ve been feeling physically distant from those around me, yet closer than ever mentally. From waving to my neighbours from my balcony, to catching up with childhood friends. When we leave lockdown it’ll be with a new sense of community, hope and optimism.”
Bee Harris
FIND YOUR PEACE
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
“This moment in time has heightened the anxieties of many people around the world. Now more than ever, it’s important that we look inward and focus on the things that bring us joy and peace.”
See more from Bee here
Chris Andri Lourens
THINK HAPPY THOUGHTS
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
“This artwork was created as an art piece to remind people to focus on the positive things. It also has a colouring book version which can be downloaded and coloured in for those who need some at-home entertainment.”
See more from Chris-Zandri here
natalia cardona puerta
SUPPORT SYSTEMS GO THE DISTANCE
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
“Even though social distancing has pulled us physically apart, the emotional bonds that we share with our loved ones are still intact and our support system will always be there to help, no matter what. In the meantime, let’s gather in a telepathic embrace, let’s hear our voices over the phone, and let’s read our words of joy & concern through letters. We will hug, and look at each other in the eyes again, and when that day comes, our connection will be stronger than ever.”
See more from Natalia here
Lisa Vollrath
SPREAD COMPASSION
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
“I see nerves getting frayed, from all the staying home, and little inconveniences of our new day to day life. I always try to remember to spread a little laughter when I go out, even if I’m not feeling particularly happy. The world isn’t all about me, and it’s good to have a little compassion for the folks around us right now.”
See more from Lisa here
Danica Ricciardi
TAKE CARE
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
“Protect each other and be kind!”
lindsay-bonavolonta
MENTAL HEALTH
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
“I, like all essential workers, have recently been given an important task; to be the face of resilience during this pandemic. However, while we spend much of our time helping others it can be easy to forget about our own mental health needs as we navigate this new normal.”
See more from Lindsay here
Kahfi Azhary
STAY HEALTHY STAY STRONG
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
This poster has a message for all citizens of the world to remain healthy and strong in the fight against the plague covid19. stay safe, stay home, stay healthy, stay strong.
CAM WATTS
COVID COMPASSION
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
We can’t offer each other our hands, but we can cultivate our compassion garden and be there for each other in other ways during these trialing times. Compassion for the sick, the fearful, the jobless, the old, the young, and the alone. We are all being challenged in different ways right now and compassion for each other is of the utmost importance.
LISA SALDIVAR
KINDNESS NOT CANCELLED
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
A demonstration of kindness from communities around the world shown to inspire a contagion of kindness in these difficult times.
RAUL GUTIERREZ
STAY MINDFUL
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
In the current Covid-19 crisis thinking on the future just makes me experience much anxiety. As I currently see things, there’s no point to think about the future when a storm of uncertainty surrounds us and our lives are on hold. I think it’s time for us to stay mindful, concentrating on the present moment and tackle everyday problems in the calmest way possible. If our mind is overloaded, our capacity response will stay low which won’t allow us to progress. I suggest practicing yoga and meditation as a powerful tool to stay calm and coherent.
ELIZA WOLFSON
STAY IN TOUCH
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
In the current Covid-19 crisis thinking on the future just makes me experience much anxiety. As I currently see things, there’s no point to think about the future when a storm of uncertainty surrounds us and our lives are on hold. I think it’s time for us to stay mindful, concentrating on the present moment and tackle everyday problems in the calmest way possible. If our mind is overloaded, our capacity response will stay low which won’t allow us to progress. I suggest practicing yoga and meditation as a powerful tool to stay calm and coherent.
See more from Raul here
GIANCARLO MANCUSO
HOPE
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
This poster is a symbolic expression of Hope. The color yellow is known to be the colour of hope, and happiness. All the images illustrated are used to express hope, peace, love, and the fight against COVID-19. See more from Giancarlo here
KIMBERLY ASHBY
SELF CARE
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
Kimberly Marie Ashby is a Black and Native American, queer, woman artist, activist, and doctoral candidate in counseling psychology. Kimberly creates hand-cut collages through an Afrofuturist lens, using found materials to reflect marginalized people’s ability to make marvels out of the scraps they are given. Kimberly created this hand-cut collage To express the importance of self-care, particularly for Black and Brown people in the US who are being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
SHIRIEN DAMRA
LET YOURSELF REST
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
Capitalism tries to push the idea that we need to be productive. A lot of us feel like we need to constantly hustle and be on the grind to achieve our dreams. But giving yourself time to rest and take care of yourself is a gift that can empower you. It sounds counter-intuitive, but rest ultimately allows you to be in a stronger place to tackle whatever comes your way. But we are in a global pandemic right now. It’s necessary to rest and breathe and check in with yourself!
See more from Shirien here
YASH PRADHAN
THIS TOO SHALL PASS
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
“Even if you’re isolated, you’ve to remind yourself you’re not alone in this. Staying home can be uninspiring, times passes slower but remember this too shall pass.”
See more from Yash here
DAMIEN CIFELLI
JUST REMEMBER TO BREATHE
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
“My poster is one of a series of three original oil paintings. I used oil due to its association with portraits of important historical figures, adding gravity to the message in the poster. The idea is to insert the mask into attractive and aspirational images, representing the idea of wearing a mask as a positive thing. Each poster is based around the word breathe. Firstly – around the literal idea of being able to breathe freely by wearing a mask, secondly – allowing the planet the space to breathe by doing your part and thirdly – addressing the anxiety that comes with the unknown elements of the crisis.”
DAMIEN CIFELLI
LET THE PLANET BREATHE
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
“My poster is one of a series of three original oil paintings. I used oil due to its association with portraits of important historical figures, adding gravity to the message in the poster. The idea is to insert the mask into attractive and aspirational images, representing the idea of wearing a mask as a positive thing. Each poster is based around the word breathe. Firstly – around the literal idea of being able to breathe freely by wearing a mask, secondly – allowing the planet the space to breathe by doing your part and thirdly – addressing the anxiety that comes with the unknown elements of the crisis.”
damien cifelli
BREATHE
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
“My poster is one of a series of three original oil paintings. I used oil due to its association with portraits of important historical figures, adding gravity to the message in the poster. The idea is to insert the mask into attractive and aspirational images, representing the idea of wearing a mask as a positive thing. Each poster is based around the word breathe. Firstly – around the literal idea of being able to breathe freely by wearing a mask, secondly – allowing the planet the space to breathe by doing your part and thirdly – addressing the anxiety that comes with the unknown elements of the crisis.”
Skye Sturm
SPREAD LOVE
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
“I created this artwork because I wanted to celebrate all of the acts of selflessness and kindness, both big and small, that we have seen during the pandemic. But I was also seeing so much hatred and blame. I wanted to remind people to withhold judgement, to remember that we are all in this together and that a little kindness goes a long way. Even wearing a mask and maintaining distance is an act of kindness and respect to those around us. I chose the rainbow and sunshine as a bright and positive backdrop to the message – the symbol of hope, of rays of sunlight which shine through in a dark storm. I hope this message can help people to stay positive, and that it encourages everyone to spread a little love in these difficult times.”
Varshini Ramakrishnan
GOOD DAYS NOT FAR AWAY
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
“It’s time to manage the voice of the Media and take control of the voices inside our heads. The media content we’ve been consuming since Covid-19 has taken a toll on our thoughts and emotions. We feel the urge to stay up to date on the current happenings and tend to incline towards negativity. This artwork is inspired by vintage advertisements, portraying the importance of a mental cleanse. Visual media like advertisements, cinema etc, have always been part of our mental growth. I visualise the voice of media to be more positive and break stereotypes around mental illness.”
María toro
mind-aware world-awake
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
“If we all connect our minds and stay aware, the world will wake up. MIND AWARE- WORLD AWAKE!”
VARSHINI RAMAKRISHNAN
MIND MEDIA POSITIVITY
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
“It’s time to manage the voice of the Media and take control of the voices inside our heads. The media content we’ve been consuming since Covid-19 has taken a toll on our thoughts and emotions. We feel the urge to stay up to date on the current happenings and tend to incline towards negativity. This artwork is inspired by vintage advertisements, portraying the importance of a mental cleanse. Visual media like advertisements, cinema etc, have always been part of our mental growth. I visualise the voice of media to be more positive and break stereotypes around mental illness.”
ALEJANDRO VARELA
DON’T PANIC, BE RESILIENT
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
“This work riffs off the famous phrase of the Indian spiritual master Meher Baba, “Don’t worry; Be happy,” later converted into song by Bobby McFerrin in 1988. Its concise message of positivity has at times been misunderstood as careless or passive, but simplicity is powerful and mantras like these continue to be used because they encourage us during challenging times. While its difficult to be happy in the face of this crisis and the uncertainty it brings, together we can withstand the curve, flatten it, and recover- not through worry or panic, but through collaboration as a world community. With this work, I want to express a simple message for all of us: to resist fear-mongering messages and to focus on our innate human resilience.”
PACO ESPINAR
HOPE HOME
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
ANIRUDH KADAV
BREATHE
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
“The nearer a man comes to a calm mind, the closer he is to strength’ In my opinion, mental health is the most overlooked aspect of human nature. Seldom we give it the attention it deserves. No amount of wealth guarantees ones well being and current global scenario is a reflection of the same. At the moment, when the world is facing a, what seems to be an immortal, enemy, no amount of wealth or militia is enough to fight it. In these times, when people are forced to be at home, take a step back and reflect. As much effort is being put in maintaining and enhancing physical strength, try and focus on your inner peace as well. What makes you happy? A question, to which most of us have an answer to, but rarely do we act on it. We have always been too pre occupied with things and troubles, which now do not seem to matter as much. So let’s take a deep breathe, and focus on what is more important – YOU. Be the change you wish to see in the world. World peace, begins at Inner peace. Stay Positive. Stay Home. Stay Safe”
RUCHITA ASHOK
PRAY FOR THE WORLD
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
“The modern pandemic COVID-19 will define this era absolutely. No one who lives through will forget the pain that people are feeling now and will continue to feel for years to come. Meanwhile on the other hand this will define brotherhood, humanity, faith, strength, courage and kindness.There is always a light at the end of tunnel but while going through that darkness nobody knows if there is any, but it is the faith and hope and willpower that keeps us driving through hardships to reach the brighter side. Pray for our world, pray for all!”
RUE OLIVER
GATHER OUR POWERS
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
RAHUL JAIGADKAR
GYAN MUDRA
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age
“Coping with the pandemic is getting harder and harder with each passing day. With so much of information freely available to read, our mind is filled with numerous thoughts such as the lotus surrounded by dirtiest water. As the lotus produces the most beautiful lotus flower from this dirty water, Gyan Mudra helps us to purify our thoughts.”
VINITHA BASKARAN
HOPE AND LOVE
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age
“The world will be a better place with an abundance of Hope and Love. In this difficult time of year, Let us all hope that this too shall pass and spread as much as love as possible to one another.”
TROY CHAFIN
NATURE HEALS
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age
“Nature (the sun, trees, plants, animals, and so on) is the greatest source of therapy for humans that has ever existed. Everything in nature is meant to heal us. In this age of isolation, yes, the world needs messages of action, staying in separation from each other, and helping one another. But in addition to this, we all also need messages of calming hope. That everything will be ok. Get some sunshine on your face, and connect with your plants and pets inside your home. Nature will heal us.”
Ruchita Ashok
HOPE
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age
“Hope can be a powerful force, especially in difficult times. Today, the world is facing the coronavirus crisis, a pandemic that has changed lives for millions of people, so Let’s stand strong behind every fighter and to donate non-profits organizations providing relief during Covid-19 and taking all precautionary measures. Stay safe at home. And most importantly, remember prevention is better than cure.🌼”
Ruchita Ashok
BELIEVES
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age
“Every little donation will help in making sure that somebody doesn’t sleep hungry.”
BUNNIE REISS
HOPE
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age
“I created these posters as a way to connect with the world during a time of such complete isolation. My hope is that they help others to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The only real way for us to get through this is together.
BUNNIE REISS
STANDING APART
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age
“I created these posters as a way to connect with the world during a time of such complete isolation. My hope is that they help others to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The only real way for us to get through this is together.”
EMILY PERELMAN
SUPPORT EACH OTHER
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
Digital illustration representing themes of support, coming together, and shining a light in a time of darkness, by Emily Lynn Perelman.
See more from Emily here
EMILY PERELMAN
SUPPORT EACH OTHER
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
Digital illustration representing themes of support, coming together, and shining a light in a time of darkness, by Emily Lynn Perelman.
See more from Emily here
LENDL ROMERO
SACRIFICES
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
A Greater risk of everything in life is what our Medical People are willing to sacrifice fighting this life threatening pandemic. Most countries are not prepared and it comes with a prize . My art speaks everything lacking on our Health Care System . We may get through this soon but we need to provide them the liberty and support they need . To our Front liners we salute and pray for the strength you put into despite the lack of measures of our Government. (Ray thorns & Sun represents the hero / liberty image)
KIMBERLY ASHBY
SELF CARE
In response to COVID-19, The Wellbeing Project, in collaboration with Amplifier Art launched a campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world, looking for symbols that promote mental health, wellbeing and social change work in this new age.
Kimberly Marie Ashby is a Black and Native American, queer, woman artist, activist, and doctoral candidate in counseling psychology. Kimberly creates hand-cut collages through an Afrofuturist lens, using found materials to reflect marginalized people’s ability to make marvels out of the scraps they are given. Kimberly created this hand-cut collage To express the importance of self-care, particularly for Black and Brown people in the US who are being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
