Interview: Natasha Mason, mindful Founder

natasha mason Natasha Mason is the Founder and Director of Nourish Melbourne, and she’s using her background in Health Sciences and Marketing & Communication for the better – to let Melbourne know where to find all things nourishing and to help those businesses spread their nourishing message far and wide. Natasha consults with health and wellness businesses in Melbourne so that they can improve or develop their own marketing and communications efforts. She also seeks to feature all things ‘nourishing’ from in and around Melbourne – people, places and programs with the background of either food (buying food and eating out), body and mind (fitness and health services), beauty or home.

Want to join Natasha Mason and her meditation team? Click here and search for NOURISH MELBOURNE.

Why are you going to be Mindful in May?

Because life can generally get in the way of everything, from being conscious about the exercise you do, what you eat and being mindful. Even though I work as hard as I can to keep both exercise and clean, nutritious eating in check as well as to practice meditation, paying extra attention to either one, every once in a while boosts knowledge and makes you a little better each time. Just like we read or learn to find out more about a topic, I’m going to be Mindful in May to be a better meditator!

What led you to meditation?

There was a point when life seemed to have become more ‘stressful’. Stressful in the sense of change happening via factors mainly outside of my control. Those factors which I couldn’t change made my mood snappy and I found myself thinking too far ahead and too far back rather than just being the best I could in the present moment. I first started by changing my diet (moved to eating whole foods, mainly organic and very little, if no sugar) as being more careful about food choices as a whole. This led to a clearer mind and no more ‘brain fog’ where I could see that there must be a better way to respond to situations I couldn’t control. I started yoga and there I was first introduced to the world of meditation and I’ve never looked back (or forward!).

What value has practising meditation brought to your life?

It has made me grateful for so many wonderful things in life. From having a roof over my head, to the ability to buy fresh, organic food to being able to go on a holiday every once in a while and be treated to a nice dinner out in our wonderful city of Melbourne. The value in this is priceless. For example, what’s the point in going out for a beautiful dinner if you don’t chew slowly, take in the flavours of the food, think about where the food has come from or how the ingredients have been put together to make an overall taste sensation? Being grateful and mindful can move life from being just good, to truly amazing.

How has meditation supported you in your professional life ?

Just a year ago I decided to leave my safe desk job and follow my passion of health and wellness mixed with marketing and communications. Many times I have been called ‘brave’ and ‘lucky’ to have left the safe job and have started my own business, but if it weren’t for having a 200% belief in what I was getting myself into, I could not be where I am now – even though the journey is still far from over! In short, meditation makes a mountain look like a mole-hill. It also makes you realise that some days are high, some are low. You not only become accepting of the roller coaster you’re on, but your sense of self and belief in your abilities skyrockets. If you believe in yourself wholeheartedly, so will everyone else.

What are the biggest obstacles to your practice?

Establishing a routine! I still seem to practice whenever I feel like it. I am trying to practice when I wake up in the morning, first thing. My new plan is to wake up 15 minutes before I need to in order to fit in meditation, but that always proves a little harder in practice than theory!

What is a quote that most inspires you and why?

My top one has to be, “Be yourself, everyone else is already taken” – Oscar Wilde. I truly believe until you truly love yourself and be yourself, without trying to copy the next person, you will flourish in any part of life. Although I have to share my second favourite because I really love it so much! “The two most important days in your life are they day you are born and the day you find out why” – Mark Twain. There’s really nothing more inspirational than finding out your own purpose in this world.

What is a book that has opened you to new ideas and inspired your growth and why?

Around the time I was thinking about what I wanted my ‘own business’ to be, and was seeking inspiration, I read many biographies and autobiographies. The one that inspired me the most (and just an overall fantastic read) was ‘Losing My Virginity’ by Richard Branson. The way Branson made the most out of dire situations, built business from a passion, and the way in which he went about life along the way really struck a chord with me and left me thinking “I really can achieve anything I want, if I really want to”.

What Mindful Music do you listen to (i.e. music that grabs your full attention and brings you into the moment)?

It has to be The Beatles. Being able to hear every lyric and each instrument is what makes it Mindful Music to me. This, together with having a knowledge of the group’s background and history, makes me grateful for being able to listen to their music.
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"If we wish to be healthy, happy and clear-minded, we need to upgrade our “inner technology”of attention to meet the demands of our increasingly complex world. That's where mindfulness comes in.."

- DR ELISE BIALYLEW

about the HOST AND FOUNDER OF
MINDFUL IN MAY:

DR ELISE BIALYLEW

Elise Bialylew is the author of the bestselling book, The Happiness Plan, and founder of Mindful in May, the world’s largest online global mindfulness fundraising campaign.

A doctor trained in psychiatry, turned social entrepreneur and mindfulness expert, she’s passionate about supporting individuals and organisations to develop inner tools for greater wellbeing and flourishing, and offers workshops and training at The Mind Life Project.

Her work has been featured in the Huffington Post, New York Times and on Australian Television. She was recently recognised by the Australian Financial Review as a 2019 AFR Women of Influence.

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