COFFEE MOMENTS & EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE – WORKSHOP

You can’t stop the waves but you can learn to surf.
– Jon Kabat-Zinn, American professor emeritus

Emotional intelligence is a foundation for a balanced life. It has four components:

self-awareness
self-management
empathy
relationship skills

We cannot control our emotions. But we can choose, how we react to them.

Self-awareness and management skills can be trained like a muscle. We can improve our awareness and understanding of our initial emotional responses, feelings and thoughts.

Thoughts can nourish or hurt us.

Positive thoughts chase away negative feelings.

Every day and every moment, we have a choice. We can choose to think negative, but we can also have a positive attitude. Circumstances that appear negative to us at first can be reframed, if we imagine positive outcomes. When we experience negativity inside or around us, we can do positive actions.

Taking ourselves out of a negative attitude is a possibility.

Mindful coffee moments can help us to slow down and to return to a more peaceful and present state of mind. While enjoying coffee we can reflect on the beauty of the ritual and how we feel about it through all of our senses.

The Legend of the Two Wolves

There is a Cherokee legend about an elderly brave who tells his grandson about life.

“Son,” he says, “Within all of us there is a battle of two wolves. One is evil. He is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”

He continued, “The other wolf is good. He is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.”

“The same fight is going on inside of you, and inside every other person, too,” explained the wise Cherokee elder.

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”

The grandfather simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Source: https://psychcentral.com/blog/the-legend-of-the-two-wolves/

Let’s enjoy mindful coffee moments to feed the ‘good wolves’ inside of us ?.

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THE ENERGY OF COFFEE

Energy in coffee – four small articles

Smell, Taste, Enjoy or what is true coffee passion.

Every coffee-lover should have at least three coffee monkeys inside themselves. Each monkey has a different task. One focuses on tasting flavours. Another one explores the aromas with his/her nose. And one more monkey feels the body of the coffee.

All monkeys have to work together as a team with joy. People with a true passion for coffee take care of the monkeys inside of them. Otherwise, they would only consume coffee without enjoying it.

Caffeine

Continue reading THE ENERGY OF COFFEE →

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COFFEE MOMENTS AND THE ART OF TAKING FIRST STEP

hat you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create. –Buddha

First step

I am sure, everybody experiences moments during which we are unsure, if we are ready to start an activity or not. It could be – for example – our wish to try out a new coffee brewing method. In doing so, we could be wondering whether or not we have all the necessary information and skills to accomplish the task successfully. However, during such moments, our inferior thoughts create a mental blockade.

Thoughts have energy. Make sure your thoughts are positive and powerful. – Anonymous

A good advice is to replace these inferior thoughts with positive feelings, thoughts or actions! After all, feelings, thoughts and actions are all interconnected.

Therefore, let’s force ourselves to just act with a positive mindset. Let’s not overthink by trying to come up with the “right” way of doing it. Let’s not get overwhelmed and let’s be curious about what will happen 😊.

The Law of the First Step

Tree stand for Dripper — You can use for Hario Drippers

The law of the first step is quite simple. We will never achieve what is possible without taking the first step.

According to the Thought Entrepreneur and Leadership Expert Jon Mertz, the Law of the First Step welcomes the following:

Take the first step with confidence and curiosity
Keep taking the first steps to find the right path and insights
Focus on your lane, avoiding over-comparison to what others are doing
Remember your purpose is bigger than just you
Prepare for the zig-zags, caring for self while learning and pursuing
Recognize the ruts and step up and out to keep your work fresh in learning and spirit

Source: Jon Mertz, The Law of the First Step, Thin Difference, February 23, 2019 https://bit.ly/2NBuIkY

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WHY IS COFFEE SO POPULAR?

Simple things and small shifts in thinking can change our life… and the world. Often times, we are getting too comfortable in our daily routines. We stop challenging ourselves and lose the drive in making our life more meaningful, interesting and fun. One of the thing is “coffee”.

Overview

There is a way to make it better. Find it.
Thomas Edison, American inventor (1847-1931)

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages. Many people start their day with a steaming cup of freshly brewed coffee. I will not discuss the possible benefits or risks of drinking coffee, but it’s a fact that the majority of people drink coffee to boost their energy, to focus better on a task or to refresh themselves.

Is it coffee energy drink?

‘Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.’
Oprah Winfrey

A lot of people think that caffeine is the main energy source of coffee. However, I don’t agree with it. In my point of view, the biggest energy source of coffee are the mindful moments while we are enjoying the drink, our company and the environment around us. Magic happens when we practice mindfulness and start to notice and appreciate the coffee’s story from the plantation to the cup as well as the flavours, aromas and texture of the final drink. These exciting, magic and relaxing moments will give us energy.

Let’s also keep in mind that that caffeine doen’t give us energy. Through a kind of biological trickery, caffeine tricks us into thinking that we are not tired.

Source: David Ferguson, Coffee doesn’t give you energy, it just fools your brain into thinking it isn’t tired, Raw Story,December 27, 2014: https://bit.ly/2XUeOGr

If you want to drink a coffee like real energy drink, sugar, milk or cream needs to be added. One may also enjoy an energetic meal before drinking the coffee.

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BARISTA’S PHYLOSOPHY IN ASIA

Asian Baristas philosophy

Skilful masters of life keep moving forward, no matter how good or bad their circumstances are. They are attentive and notice the bitter ‘beans’ of life. At the same time, they keep in mind that interesting, memorable and balanced moments develop from a kaleidoscope of flavours. Continue reading BARISTA’S PHYLOSOPHY IN ASIA →

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THE WAY WE HOLD OUR CUPS/MUGS CAN SAY A LOT ABOUT OUR CHARACTER

The way a person does one thing is the way they do everything. –
an old Zen saying.

How are we holding our coffee cups? Do you pay attention :-)?

As a matter of fact, some psychologists suggest that the simple act of holding a coffee drink reveals some of our key personality traits or how we feel at the current moment.
Eric Standop, a professional face and body language reader, also pays attention on the way people hold their drinks to get an idea about their personality, mood and intentions.

Here are some relevant and interesting suggestions:

Openness & approachability

Some people are holding or placing their cups firmly in a barrier position across the body between them and whoever they’re talking to. In doing so, they are creating so-called ‘invisible walls’. By keeping the cup between themselves and others, they appear guarded and closed.
Shifting the cup from hand to hand in front of other people creates a so-called psychological barrier. Subconsciously, the person we are interacting with will pick up the message ‘I don’t feel comfortable around you’.

If we want to signal openness and interest in the person we are interacting with, we should hold and place the cup at our side instead of close to our chest.

Some people are more likely to follow rules

Myka Meier, founder and director of Beaumont Etiquette, demonstrates the ‘correct’ way to hold a coffee cup:
“Loop your index finger into the handle and keep your thumb on top of the handle. Your remaining three fingers — middle, index and pinkie — are tucked into the palm of your hand.”
Source: KATE STOREY, FYI, You’re Holding Your Coffee Wrong, COSMOPOLITAN, Oct 21, 2016: https://bit.ly/2LMNDIB
If a person holds the cup this way, it can be a sign that he or she is conscientious and driven to followrules.

Will Power

In many cultures, as Eric Standop underlines, the thumb is seen as a power finger.
According to him, if a person puts the four fingers through the handle while placing the thumb on top of the handle to secure the cup, it could be a sign that the person wants to exercise power and strength.

Safety

Some people like to hold or balance the cup on the palm of their hand. This scenario suggests that the person is in need of security and safety. The person could, for example, be worried about leaving coffee stains on the table or shirt. The hand under the cup could also be an unconscious additional safety measure for making sure that the cup will not drop on the floor.

Also, holding the coffee cup with both hands could also suggest that the person likes to play safe while taking no chances.

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IS IT COFFEE HARVEST BY HAND AN EASY TASK?

“Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen.” – Conan O’Brien

Visiting a coffee farm

During our recent visit to Chiang Mai, in Northern Thailand we had been invited by local farmers to their coffee plantation to pick coffee cherries with them. This task was not as easy as we thought it would be!

Continue reading IS IT COFFEE HARVEST BY HAND AN EASY TASK? →

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LIVING AN INTERESTING LIFE…. WITH COFFEE

I was brought up to believe you should always live the most interesting life you can.
Nick McDonell, American writer

What makes coffee experiences interesting?

Moments that we remember…Forever

For me, interesting experiences are inspiring moments that I will remember.

Let’s close our eyes and let’s think about the last time we truly enjoyed wonderful coffee moments – what did we do and why did we enjoy the experience so much?

I remember many different moments. Many of them offered something that I had never experienced before. In a special way, interesting coffee moments offer great pieces of – yet unknown – art that will become a part of us.

I not only remember, what I did and with whom I was with, but I also remember, how these moments made me feel. Interesting coffee moments are able spark emotions. If we are trying to express what we are feeling, we are creating art. Emotions can lift up our spirit and make us more driven than ever.

Moreover, I remember interesting coffee moments because they were feeding my mind by causing me to think creatively. I learned something new and gained inside into something I hadn’t thought of before.

Inspiring stories behind each cup

Interesting coffee moments tell us the inspiring stories behind every cup we brew. These stories celebrate passionate farmers, roasters or pottery artists who put their heart and soul into their daily work. Their work captivates me and makes my coffee experiences magical. In one way or another, I can identify with them and their work.

As a matter of fact, I love to explore the stories behind each coffee cup. Maybe the beans are from a plantation with adopted fascinating sustainable practices, or a region with a unique identity.

The beauty of details & balance

Interesting coffee moments are also about mindful preparation, presentation and enjoyment. It’s about discovering and paying attention to details, which are often hidden. These special moments are also about balance, compositions, the utensils that are being used and the environment and company around us.

LET’S MAKE LIFE INTERESTING ?!

My own TOP coffee experiences:

Preparing and drinking coffee in nature
Coffee expriences in coffee shops around Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. Amazing coffee shops with special coffee enviroment. https://www.bayawe.com/?s=chiang+mai
Coffee in Gallery Drip coffee in Bangkok, Thailand. https://www.bayawe.com/the-gallery-drip-coffee-bangkok-a-work-of-art/
Coffee at LaViet cafe in Da Lat, city in central Vietnam. https://www.bayawe.com/unique-coffee-spot-la-viet-dalat-central-vietnam/
Coffee at roasters Nylon in Singapore. https://www.bayawe.com/my-favorite-coffee-places-in-the-lion-city-singapore/
Coffee experiences in Ubud, Bali. https://www.bayawe.com/ubud-top5/
Amazing coffee in Panama city, around old town https://www.bayawe.com/panama-born-globalized-panama-city-coffee-travel-blog/
Amazing passionated farmers in Costa Rica: https://www.bayawe.com/aroma-tarrazu-costa-rica/ , https://www.bayawe.com/organic-coffee-nauma/ and https://www.bayawe.com/the-highlands-of-alajuela/

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COFFEE PHYLOSOPHY

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” -Pablo Picasso.

The art of brewing coffee

Brewing coffee is a deeply fulfilling ritualistic art. While preparing coffee with our hands and all our senses we can explore different techniques and refine our artistic skills.

Creativity arises when we are calm and present at the moment. Brewing coffee brings me peace of mind.

I respect nature and love to create things with my hands. I am eager to share my passion for the art of coffee making.

It is my goal to encourage coffee-lovers to learn to handcraft coffee and to replicate the sensory experience of preparing and drinking drip coffee in the comfort of their homes. Continue reading COFFEE PHYLOSOPHY →

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LIFE IS LIKE CUP OF COFFEE

A cup/mug of coffee – Seen as a beautiful metaphor

There are many word pictures – so-called metaphors – for our lives. Life can be seen as an adventure, a battle or perhaps a journey. Metaphors can inspire us. We use them to make sense of our lives. Word pictures help us seeing the big picture. Continue reading LIFE IS LIKE CUP OF COFFEE →

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License Type:	Attribution, Share Alike

License Summary:	You may copy this content, create derivative work from it, and re-publish it, provided you include an overt attribution to the author(s) and the re-publication must itself be under the terms of this license or similar.

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License Type:	Attribution, Share Alike

License Summary:	You may copy this content, create derivative work from it, and re-publish it, provided you include an overt attribution to the author(s) and the re-publication must itself be under the terms of this license or similar.

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Mindful Living with Coffee