Japanese Garden, Tranquility and Your Creativity

“In Silence, We Find Answers…” – The Bible

I love to meditate. Do you love to meditate? Have you tried it yet? As a family, we love to come to a place where we feel tranquility and serenity. I love the Japanese garden in Cheekwood Botanical Garden, here in Nashville. Being there helps me to define my life purpose. It helps me to regroup… and start things in the right direction. Answers come from inside with ease. It is a great place to remove my writing blocks or even entrepreneurial challenges. As a publicist, a business owner, a mompreneur, I deal with it often and I accept it as a new learning experience to be better at what I do!

Yesterday, I spent a day with my family and my friend and life coach Krisna Flum. We were working on my new project called “Kangen Princess: Guiding You Back To Original YOU” (we will share more news very soon…shh it is a top secret)… Krisna even brought her little gals to this beautiful place! We practiced balance in life; being with our families while working on our project. And… it worked! We accomplished a lot while seeing our kids play and have fun! Nothing better than the smile of your little kids! We were creative because we had fun, plotting new ideas, manifesting our dreams!!!

(we are on a mission)


An interesting thing I read about Japanese gardens… people come to a Japanese garden to experience tranquility, so that their imagination and creativity will experience a boost! I remember reading in the Bible that Within Silence We Find Deep Answers.

It is all within…

…But, here is the thing we all struggle with: A balance of work and finding the time to relax.  So, I want to ask you…

Want to be more productive, but no clue where to go?  How do you define what it means to be productive? Do you feel you are spinning the wheels? Do you feel you are active in what you do, but never produce results? Are you striving  to be a perfectionist?

Just a few days ago, I was in my favorite bookstore and I grabbed a nice comfy chair.  I was also listening to water fall sounds and felt I was in my own little escape world from stress and life outside of the bookstore.  Personally for me, staying sane in a world filled with daily stress and constant new demands can be quite challenging and sometimes seemingly impossible.  70% of all medical problems are stress related and honestly there is no quick fix.  However, there are a few solutions or tips that can help anyone. They are very simple and so often overlooked.

Economic conditions are often false triggers

Especially due to the economic condition our country and the world is in  today, no wonder more and more people are depressed, overweight and develop chronic health conditions. Have we “created” a belief for ourselves about our current conditions due to the media and what we hear on weekly basis?

Did we allow what is happening in this country and even globally, to stop us from being productive?

I think it is an excuse for some to justify laziness. What should we do? We feel we are stuck in this mess and we often do not know whom to listen to and who can listen to us!

Control the stress. First and foremost we must put stress in its place like a misbehaving child who is out of control… and we must do the same with our stress. We must recognize we have a problem and determine what we must do about it. I learned to focus on the important matters in my life, despite the daily distractions. I call them “destructive distractions” since they carry destructive power. I learned to regroup and refocus on my priorities to ease anxiety and create a balanced life.  My best advice to you: find time for yourself!

Here are  10+ Steps to Feeling Alive and Productive

1. Deep Breathing.

Honestly, we sometimes get so rushed and pushed in so many different directions and being occupied with life that we tend to forget to slow down and smell the roses! We must slow down and take a few deep breaths.  It helps us to calm down, to gather our thoughts and start all over or move on.  I love to listen to the calming water fall sounds like I did in the bookstore and just relax by closing my eyes and connecting with nature sounds.

2.  Stay Positive

You may say, “Yeah, right Tatyana!” Positive people have better results and outcomes in any difficult situation. It does not mean that positive people do not have stress. They do. They just handle it differently. Their minds are programmed to expect positive results. Negative and positive cannot exist together, so we must choose one or the other.

When things went wrong in my life and my business, or something just did not work out the way I expected, I often felt like giving up or quitting… but, I made a choice of being positive, even though I was hurt or disappointed because I knew something better would come out of it.

3. Pamper yourself

When is the last time you took time to enjoy a relaxing candle lit bath, took a long walk, or listened to soothing music? You deserve to love your mind and body and create positive energy around yourself! I love to listen to meditation music.  A few minutes of listening to this type of music helps to release negative energy that can build up.  As they say, “If Momma is not happy, no one is happy!” And don’t forget, you can also indulge in a nice velvety piece of dark chocolate!

4. Don’t worry about the little things in life

If it is not a big deal, let it go. We often put too much attention to things that just do not matter. We make little things look like elephants and create a reality around it. Once you realize that certain little things do not serve any purpose and cannot be undone, you can move forward.

5. Learn to forgive

Forgive others and forgive yourself. Believe in forgiveness and forget it.  Forgetting is a part of forgiveness.  Forgiving yourself for mistakes will free you to do what you need to do and prevent you from sitting in the mud pile of sorrow, pain and misery.  Forgiving yourself for what you have not done or done poorly will allow you to move forward.

6. De-Clutter Your life

De-cluttering your life means less stress. Do not feel that you have to be a supermom or a super-dad and try to do too many things at once!  Multitasking can clutter your life and create chaos.  Determine what needs to be done first and stick to your plan. Write a list of things that are IMPORTANT. Usually the most important things will always tend to be on the top of the list.  As they say, “the creme always rises to the top”. You will always know what is important to you.

7. Use the word “NO”

It is a quite negative word, however it could also be your best friend.  There are times we must learn to say “NO” to the requests and demands of others and sometimes isolate ourselves from the rushed world. I love making casseroles, stews and bake desserts for friends who are sick, or for someone who has just had a baby and needs assistance… or even just watching someone’s else child though I have my own jungle at home with my two boys! Often, we are afraid to say “NO” because we wonder what people would think of us or if perhaps they might think less of us.  NO is a powerful word, so learn to use it wisely!

8. Find positive people

Surround yourself with positive people who understand and support your life, your vision and believe in you! They can enrich your life in many ways. The most positive people in my life are my kids! They are the ones who got me interested in meditation and learning how to relax..I heard my son Timothy saying “Mommy, lets meditate and relax”.  I never told him about meditation and he is the one who welcomed it in his life.


9. Be Grateful

Count your blessings, one by one. Consider all your challenges as blessings because there is beauty in challenges. Be grateful for happy and joyous moments in life.  Be grateful for the little things that bring a smile to you.  As they say, be thankful and pray when it rains and pray when the sun shines. It is all GOOD!

” To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven” -Johannes Gaertner

10. Take care of your body

Make sure to sleep at least 8 hours.  An adult in America sleeps on average 5 hours a night. No wonder people are stressed and tired. Sleep deprivation is right at the top along with bad eating habits, causing  countless health problems.  Create an exercise program and do it every day. Make it a habit.  I made a choice of eating healthy and a daily walking program… plus, drinking high ph water called kangen water.  Our well-being is a mirror of who we are.

11. Control what you do with your thoughts.

It does not matter if you have negative thoughts or positive things. It is about what you do with them. Do you like them, nurture them?  Your thoughts are like ice cream flavors. However, you only have one choice, one flavor at a time. Remember only you are in control of your life and well being.  Take baby steps and practice simple things that can ease your anxiety and create more harmony and balance. Have you ever been ina  situation where you wanted to make a huge leap into the future only to realize that you failed? The reason for that is that your mindset is not aligned yet with the quantum leap you wanted to make. Your views on life and how everything works have not changed.   Life is not always a bed of roses and learning how to improve your life takes time and wisdom.

12.  Be Creative

Creativity is the force behind productivity. Once you become creative and the ideas are flowing, you can then laser focus, providing you an opportunity to come  up with solutions that you never thought possible. Once you are creative and love what you do, it accelerates your productivity. I remember myself being involved in projects I loved and I felt very creative about… I could accomplish any task! In order to be creative we must relax, be tranquil and be at peace with who we are!

I want to end with a beautiful and simple quote, “Things do not change, we change”… Do not be afraid to make little changes in your life, because it is all for your good!

Have a great week!

Tatyana Gann, Nashville TN

(c) Copyright 2011 Tatyana Gann. All Rights Reserved.

11 thoughts on “Japanese Garden, Tranquility and Your Creativity

  1. Excellent article Tatyana … yes, negative and positive actions and reactions due tend to become self-fulfilling prophecies so we must, as you say, be positive…stay positive…and surround ourselves with positive thinking people! …Awesome, Hughie

  2. As a coach with a focus on women tending to their wellbeing , I could not help but nod my head at every recommendation that you write about. I have longed to explore the Chicago Botanical Gardens (Not a Japanese Garden by any stretch 🙂 . A whole day outdoors… but being my ‘best client’ …. despite living here for the last 13 years, I have never gotten out there. Makes me motivated to get out there and see what’s possible. Thanks for the reminder Tatyana.

  3. Hughie thank you so much for your comments…Yes positive thinking is the best remedy!

    Dr Eno…yes go for it. You live in a beautiful city of Chicago. Enjoy…We all need to practice what we preach..As a publicist, pr coach, we all stuck in the office, consulting, working, writing but allowing myself to enjoy a day that can create more balance and make me productive is what important the most to me and my kids!

    Tatyana Gann

  4. Hey Tatyana! I love meditation and may I share my secret – I do it every day for one hour, no exceptions for more than four years now! It has changed my life! I don’t know anything on this planet more powerful for your inner being than meditation. People think I’m mad when I share this so I try not to 😉 …when we can control our mind – positive thinking comes in naturally and mediation is all about mastery of one-self. Nothing can be harder than master one-self and mind. Lovely post – thank you! x

  5. Solvita

    You are amazing..I do meditation every day. Plus prayers…Prayer means meditation ..We focus. We relax. We are being clear in our mind. Powerful stuff you know..
    You are so welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!

    Tatyana

  6. Dear Ms. Tatyana … Yes … Our prophet Mohammed said … Good things are the center!

    Thank you!

    Fouad Al Zomir.
    Yemen.

  7. ““In Silence, We Find Answers…” – The Bible”
    Interesting quote. Do you know WHERE it says that in the Bible? I’ve never read that.

  8. It is more interpretation of the fact we must rely on God and that we must trust him. it is about not being anxious and trust then we can get answers..

    I have to look for you..thank you
    Tat

  9. I found excerpts from teaching by Dr Joseph Murphy.. I think it is about be still and know HE IS GOD..He gives us answers.

    “Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of woman there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Matt. 11:11). This means that any man who prays successfully and touches Reality by getting into the proper mood or feeling is greater than the wisest man. Most of us live life looking outwardly. The wise learn to look inwardly. The disciplines of looking “inwardly” are termed together, “Meditation.”

    Detachment is the key to meditation. That is, we must sever ourselves completely from all worldly beliefs and opinions, and focus silently upon our ideal state. It is the effortless-effort which causes us to flow towards that which we realize without conflict. Detachment does not mean that we give up what few earthly possessions we may have. It means that we must give up possessiveness in ourselves, or release the attachments that peculiarly limit us to a human viewpoint in all matters.

    “Be still and KNOW.” Stillness is not only keeping quiet; it means that the causes within the Self, by which the inward life is rendered discordant, have been removed. It indicates that there must be no inner dissonance, but rather when man goes within himself, he must find perfect and abiding peace. Knowing that God is within himself makes man live in a world that is ever peaceful. The lack of it makes him live in a series of conditions which grieve him to the end. He fusses about things which, if he saw them differently, would not cause one moment of unhappiness. ”

    Hope it helps you Paul thank you for your questions

    Tatyana

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