May 23, 2024 • 12 mins
Echoes from the Mountain - Creative Sparks
Join Loraine from Gracious Mountain Therapies as she maps out the journey of Creative Sparks, a podcast dedicated to harnessing the power of crafts and hobbies to nurture mental health and wellbeing across all age groups.
Loraine mentions about how her crafting has helped her through difficult times.
Join Loraine from Gracious Mountain Therapies as she explores how hobbies and crafts can boost mental health. She will talk to people from all walks of life about how they have found solace, inspiration and resilience through their own pursuits, hobbies or crafts. Creative Sparks, is a podcast dedicated to harnessing the power within us to nurture mental health and wellbeing across all age groups.
Echoes from the Mountain is a podcast by Gracious Mountain Therapies
Echoes from the Mountain YouTube Channel can be found here
Music by Chris Collins, Indie Music
Ready to climb your own personal mountain and looking for help? Loraine is an accredited BWRT practitioner, clinical Hypnotherapist and Advanced EFT practitioner. Book an initial consultation at https://www.graciousmountain.co.uk/book-online
If you would like to support my podcast and YouTube channel I do have a buy me a coffee page https://www.buymeacoffee.com/echoesfromthemountain
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/creative-sparks--6181083/support.
Join Loraine from Gracious Mountain Therapies as she maps out the journey of Creative Sparks, a podcast dedicated to harnessing the power of crafts and hobbies to nurture mental health and wellbeing across all age groups.
Loraine mentions about how her crafting has helped her through difficult times.
Join Loraine from Gracious Mountain Therapies as she explores how hobbies and crafts can boost mental health. She will talk to people from all walks of life about how they have found solace, inspiration and resilience through their own pursuits, hobbies or crafts. Creative Sparks, is a podcast dedicated to harnessing the power within us to nurture mental health and wellbeing across all age groups.
Echoes from the Mountain is a podcast by Gracious Mountain Therapies
Echoes from the Mountain YouTube Channel can be found here
Music by Chris Collins, Indie Music
Ready to climb your own personal mountain and looking for help? Loraine is an accredited BWRT practitioner, clinical Hypnotherapist and Advanced EFT practitioner. Book an initial consultation at https://www.graciousmountain.co.uk/book-online
If you would like to support my podcast and YouTube channel I do have a buy me a coffee page https://www.buymeacoffee.com/echoesfromthemountain
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/creative-sparks--6181083/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:11):
Welcome to Echoes from the Mountain CreativeSparks, the podcast where we explore the
incredible power of hobbies and crafts andthe natural world to nurture our mental health.
(00:32):
I'm your host, Lorraine from GraciousMountain Therapies, and I believe that
the passions we pursue outside of ourdaily routines can be our strongest allies in
finding joy, building resilience, andweathering life's storms. Today, we are
(01:00):
kicking off this series by diving intowhy seemingly simple things a stroll through the
woods, a dip in the lake, tuning into the birds song outside your
window can have such profound effects onthe way we feel. We often dismiss
(01:25):
hobbies as simply ways to pass time, but what if they are actually tools
readily available for transforming our mental landscape. First of all, let's just take
(01:45):
a look at some key points andthe science behind it. Stress reduction.
Engaging in hobbies provides a healthy distractionand can trigger the release of dopamine,
a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. This helps counteract stress hormones like cortisol,
(02:15):
mindfulness and flow state. Crafts ofteninvolve repetitive motions and focus on the
present moment, which induces a statesimilar to meditation. This can lead to
a reduction in anxiety and increased calmness, a sense of accomplishment. Completing a
(02:45):
project, whether it's knitting a scaror painting a picture, or going on
a hike or a run, providesa sense of achievement and it boosts self
as And then there's the social connection. Many hobbies have communities built around them,
(03:09):
offering opportunities for social interaction and reducingfeelings of isolation. You don't need
to be an expert, but understandinga bit of the why helps validate our
experiences. So it turns out there'sa reason that walk in the woods always
(03:38):
leaves you feeling a bit lighter.From a personal experience, I have found
that hobbies and nature have helped methrough some difficult times in my life.
Those of you who know me wellwill so that. I can often be
(04:00):
found with a crochet hook or aweaving shuttle in my hand, or found
sitting at my sewing machine, spinningwheel or weaving loom. I was first
taught to sew when I was aboutseven by my mother, and although as
well as being an extremely useful giftto pass on. I have found that
(04:25):
when I needed it the most,being able to totally engross myself in something
creative has helped me with sadness,anxiety, grief and trauma that life can
sometimes throw at us over the years. As the years have gone by,
(04:51):
for me, new hobbies and craftshave come my way, either by joining
clubs or by watching you Tube videosand teaching myself. And then there's the
wonder of nature, getting outside andwatching the animals playing, breathing fresh air
(05:13):
and looking at the wonderful views wehave on our doorsteps. Even here in
our cities in the UK, weare not too far from a park where
we can watch the nature around us, whether it's birds or squirrels. I
have mostly always lived in the countryside, although at one point I did buy
(05:39):
a flat in London with a friendas it was easier for work at the
time, but even then I foundmyself visiting my parents' most weekends. To
be honest, I think I missthe country lanes and trees, and of
course the sense of peace that youcan feel in the countryside rather than the
(06:02):
hustle and bustle of city life.Today, my hobbies and crafts help me
unwind at the end of a busyday where I need to be quiet and
mull over the day's meetings. Sometimesthey help me think over a problem or
(06:26):
a problem with a that a clienthas. And even if I feel frustrated,
sometimes well, there's nothing like diggingover the vegetable patch for that.
This today is just the beginning inthe coming weeks and months of creative sparks
(06:47):
in Echoes from the Mountain, We'regoing to have real, raw conversations with
people from all walks of life.They'll share with you how their hobbies and
crafts, or their connection to naturehave helped them navigate challenges like anxiety,
(07:10):
grief, and even major life transitions. We will find out how they found
their particular hobby or interest and giveyou tips of how you can join in
too, or maybe find something similarfor yourself. Together, we can build
(07:32):
a community of like minded people willingto support and help each other grow.
We'll be meeting a twitcher whose loveof birds and nature has helped him with
anxiety, a tale of weaving helpingshell shock during World War two, stories
(07:55):
of crochet, horses, papercrafts,goats, and all sorts of pets that
have helped us cope finding peace amidstchronic illness, anxieties, grief and pain.
(08:16):
But before we hear their stories,I want to challenge you take a
moment right now and think about thoselittle things that bring you a spark of
joy. Maybe it's baking, gardening, or even just taking your dog for
(08:39):
a walk after work. Over thenext week, I want you to pay
attention notice how you feel before,during, and after engaging in that activity.
You might be surprised at the shift'shappening within you. If you can
(09:05):
post a picture of your activity orcreation on the Echoes from the Mountain Facebook
page or send me a copy,I would love to see what you're up
to. Your story matters. Ifa hobby, a passion for the outdoors,
(09:28):
or a simple love for crafting helpedyou through a tough time. I
really would love to hear from you. Your experience could be the beacon of
hope someone else needs to hear.You can reach out to me via email
(09:52):
at Lorraine at Graciousmountain dot co dotuk, find us on social media at
Echoes from the Mountain or Gracious MountainTherapies, or why not visit the website
on www dot Graciousmountain dot co dotUK. I am Lorraine from Gracious Mountain
(10:26):
Therapies and you have been listening toEchoes from the Mountain Creative Sparks. If
you want to make sure you don'tmiss an episode, then please press the
subscribe button or follow me. Thankyou for listening and I hope you enjoyed
(10:46):
the first Creative Sparks. I'd loveto hear your thoughts on today's episode,
so please feel free to comment below. Why not check out our Meditation Monday
Day, Mindful Tuesday, or someof our other daily podcasts. If you
(11:07):
know someone who would enjoy the Echoesfrom the Mountain Podcast and YouTube channel,
then please share the links or lookus up on social media channels such as
Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.Tomorrow is story time and I am reading
(11:31):
the first chapter from Heidi by JoannaSpury. I hope you will join me
till then. Take care. Rememberyou are not alone on this journey of
discovery. Together we can create achorus of resilience.
Welcome to Echoes from the Mountain CreativeSparks, the podcast where we explore the
incredible power of hobbies and crafts andthe natural world to nurture our mental health.
(00:32):
I'm your host, Lorraine from GraciousMountain Therapies, and I believe that
the passions we pursue outside of ourdaily routines can be our strongest allies in
finding joy, building resilience, andweathering life's storms. Today, we are
(01:00):
kicking off this series by diving intowhy seemingly simple things a stroll through the
woods, a dip in the lake, tuning into the birds song outside your
window can have such profound effects onthe way we feel. We often dismiss
(01:25):
hobbies as simply ways to pass time, but what if they are actually tools
readily available for transforming our mental landscape. First of all, let's just take
(01:45):
a look at some key points andthe science behind it. Stress reduction.
Engaging in hobbies provides a healthy distractionand can trigger the release of dopamine,
a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. This helps counteract stress hormones like cortisol,
(02:15):
mindfulness and flow state. Crafts ofteninvolve repetitive motions and focus on the
present moment, which induces a statesimilar to meditation. This can lead to
a reduction in anxiety and increased calmness, a sense of accomplishment. Completing a
(02:45):
project, whether it's knitting a scaror painting a picture, or going on
a hike or a run, providesa sense of achievement and it boosts self
as And then there's the social connection. Many hobbies have communities built around them,
(03:09):
offering opportunities for social interaction and reducingfeelings of isolation. You don't need
to be an expert, but understandinga bit of the why helps validate our
experiences. So it turns out there'sa reason that walk in the woods always
(03:38):
leaves you feeling a bit lighter.From a personal experience, I have found
that hobbies and nature have helped methrough some difficult times in my life.
Those of you who know me wellwill so that. I can often be
(04:00):
found with a crochet hook or aweaving shuttle in my hand, or found
sitting at my sewing machine, spinningwheel or weaving loom. I was first
taught to sew when I was aboutseven by my mother, and although as
well as being an extremely useful giftto pass on. I have found that
(04:25):
when I needed it the most,being able to totally engross myself in something
creative has helped me with sadness,anxiety, grief and trauma that life can
sometimes throw at us over the years. As the years have gone by,
(04:51):
for me, new hobbies and craftshave come my way, either by joining
clubs or by watching you Tube videosand teaching myself. And then there's the
wonder of nature, getting outside andwatching the animals playing, breathing fresh air
(05:13):
and looking at the wonderful views wehave on our doorsteps. Even here in
our cities in the UK, weare not too far from a park where
we can watch the nature around us, whether it's birds or squirrels. I
have mostly always lived in the countryside, although at one point I did buy
(05:39):
a flat in London with a friendas it was easier for work at the
time, but even then I foundmyself visiting my parents' most weekends. To
be honest, I think I missthe country lanes and trees, and of
course the sense of peace that youcan feel in the countryside rather than the
(06:02):
hustle and bustle of city life.Today, my hobbies and crafts help me
unwind at the end of a busyday where I need to be quiet and
mull over the day's meetings. Sometimesthey help me think over a problem or
(06:26):
a problem with a that a clienthas. And even if I feel frustrated,
sometimes well, there's nothing like diggingover the vegetable patch for that.
This today is just the beginning inthe coming weeks and months of creative sparks
(06:47):
in Echoes from the Mountain, We'regoing to have real, raw conversations with
people from all walks of life.They'll share with you how their hobbies and
crafts, or their connection to naturehave helped them navigate challenges like anxiety,
(07:10):
grief, and even major life transitions. We will find out how they found
their particular hobby or interest and giveyou tips of how you can join in
too, or maybe find something similarfor yourself. Together, we can build
(07:32):
a community of like minded people willingto support and help each other grow.
We'll be meeting a twitcher whose loveof birds and nature has helped him with
anxiety, a tale of weaving helpingshell shock during World War two, stories
(07:55):
of crochet, horses, papercrafts,goats, and all sorts of pets that
have helped us cope finding peace amidstchronic illness, anxieties, grief and pain.
(08:16):
But before we hear their stories,I want to challenge you take a
moment right now and think about thoselittle things that bring you a spark of
joy. Maybe it's baking, gardening, or even just taking your dog for
(08:39):
a walk after work. Over thenext week, I want you to pay
attention notice how you feel before,during, and after engaging in that activity.
You might be surprised at the shift'shappening within you. If you can
(09:05):
post a picture of your activity orcreation on the Echoes from the Mountain Facebook
page or send me a copy,I would love to see what you're up
to. Your story matters. Ifa hobby, a passion for the outdoors,
(09:28):
or a simple love for crafting helpedyou through a tough time. I
really would love to hear from you. Your experience could be the beacon of
hope someone else needs to hear.You can reach out to me via email
(09:52):
at Lorraine at Graciousmountain dot co dotuk, find us on social media at
Echoes from the Mountain or Gracious MountainTherapies, or why not visit the website
on www dot Graciousmountain dot co dotUK. I am Lorraine from Gracious Mountain
(10:26):
Therapies and you have been listening toEchoes from the Mountain Creative Sparks. If
you want to make sure you don'tmiss an episode, then please press the
subscribe button or follow me. Thankyou for listening and I hope you enjoyed
(10:46):
the first Creative Sparks. I'd loveto hear your thoughts on today's episode,
so please feel free to comment below. Why not check out our Meditation Monday
Day, Mindful Tuesday, or someof our other daily podcasts. If you
(11:07):
know someone who would enjoy the Echoesfrom the Mountain Podcast and YouTube channel,
then please share the links or lookus up on social media channels such as
Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.Tomorrow is story time and I am reading
(11:31):
the first chapter from Heidi by JoannaSpury. I hope you will join me
till then. Take care. Rememberyou are not alone on this journey of
discovery. Together we can create achorus of resilience.
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