How Mushrooms Can Inspire Peace and Tranquility During Your Busiest Days
Walk into your local supermarket’s produce aisle and browse the mushroom section. What do you see? Beyond the usual suspects like portobello and white buttons, you’ll see fresh Shiitake, Maitake and maybe even some Oyster mushrooms. That wasn’t always the case.
In decades past, most mushrooms were only available as wild-harvested — so you would have to forage them yourself or hope that a local farmers’ market might offer them seasonally. Today, beyond the wide selection of quality mushroom supplements, you can find all sorts of mushroom-infused foods and even drinks.
Mushrooms remind us that the good things in life take time and can’t be rushed. Nature moves on her own schedule, though humans certainly do their best (and sometimes their worst) to influence it.
If you’ve ever stumbled upon a new-to-you species in a forest, savored a first bite of a perfectly cooked wild mushroom or witnessed the near-alchemy of growing them yourself, you understand how mushrooms can inspire peace and tranquility in today’s modern busy world. They truly are mysterious and magical.
Read on for four simple, time-effective ways to find peace and inspiration from nature’s intelligence.
1. Sip and savor.
The human body thrives on routine, and knowing what to expect can help offset everyday stress while reserving brainpower (and self-control) for the times you need it most. One of the simplest and most common routines is brewing and savoring a cup of tea. But if you are one who tends to take your mug to the couch to stream a show or your desk to trudge through more work, try changing things up. Set a timer for 10 to 15 minutes, find a quiet spot (or put on your headphones) and sit with your cup. Savor each sip, noticing how the flavors change with the temperature — and how your breathing and mood might shift.
Our top pick? The collaboration we did with luxury tea brand TEALEAVES. Our Fantastic Mushroom Tea aims to deepen your connection to nature while rejuvenating your mind, body and spirit.
We included organic red Reishi, organic Cordyceps and organic Lion's Mane, and the tea also includes ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, clove and nutmeg. Each sip has a warming and slightly earthy flavor, allowing you to sip on the benefits of some of your favorite mushrooms.
2. Shift your focus.
Getting outside in nature can offer a mood boost, but so can viewing images of nature. On those days when you desperately crave a nature fix but can’t break away from your desk or city life, our YouTube Channel has you covered. We shares mindblowing images of nature,
3. Offer your gratitude.
Did you know that one of the benefits of a gratitude practice is greater happiness, according to positive psychology researchers? Giving thanks just feels good! Our gratitude for nature’s intelligence inspired our first-ever Gratitude Elixir, a symbiotic blend of some of our favorite mushrooms to support your mood, immunity and longevity.* With 8 mushrooms in an equal 1:1 ratio, they are formulated to inspire infinite gratitude — for the mushrooms and nature’s wisdom. Yes, we intentionally chose eight mushrooms, since an 8 looks like an infinity symbol.
Pro tip: Gift a bottle to someone for whom you are grateful. That old adage of giving and receiving holds true!
4. Ground yourself.
Another helpful way to get out of your head and find peace is with the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding practice. When you feel the weight of the day getting to you, look around and identify:
5 things you can see…
4 things you can touch…
3 things you can hear…
2 things you can smell…
1 thing you can taste…
For this exercise, mushrooms can be the thing you taste and one of the things you can touch and smell. Whether you choose mushroom coffee, Gratitude Elixir, a gummy or another product is up to you. Mushroom-infused chocolate is also a great choice for this exercise! (Not to worry: The mushrooms enhance the flavor of chocolate but never mask it!)
