Hello everyone.
Welcome.
I'm Melanie Underwood.
I am a chef and cooking instructor as well as a mindfulness instructor and I'd like to welcome you to this meditation on culinary creativity.
A lot of people when they begin to cook and don't feel that they're creative,
They're walking into a kitchen and they're concerned about judgment from others with their food and a lot of other things that prohibit people from experiencing creativity and joy in the kitchen and I'm hoping this meditation can help you alleviate some of that.
So let's get started.
Begin by finding a comfortable position in a quiet space.
If it's comfortable for you,
Close your eyes gently or gaze down at the floor and take a deep breath,
Filling your lungs completely.
As you exhale,
Let go of any immediate thoughts about tasks,
Duties,
Worries.
This is your time to connect with yourself and your creative spirit in the kitchen.
Focus on your breath.
Inhale deeply,
Feeling the air fill your lungs and exhale slowly,
Releasing any tension you're feeling.
With each breath,
Imagine yourself becoming more relaxed and more open.
Visualize the air as a calming energy entering your body,
Bringing peace and clarity.
Now bring to mind the fear of failure in the kitchen.
Maybe it is something specific that you've experienced or just the general fear of making mistakes.
Recognize this fear as a natural feeling and acknowledge it without judgment.
Imagine this fear as a color and with each breath,
See this color becoming smaller and less significant.
Affirm to yourself,
Failure is a part of learning.
Each mistake is a step towards mastery.
I am capable.
I am resilient.
Picture yourself in your kitchen standing confidently,
Surrounding yourself with your favorite ingredients or your favorite utensils.
Feel a sense of curiosity,
Joy,
And playfulness.
What new flavors can you explore?
What unique dishes can you create?
What fun can you have in the kitchen?
Affirm to yourself,
Creativity is my natural state.
In my kitchen,
I am free to experiment and to express myself.
Now think about the fear of judgment from others.
Recognize that this fear is external,
Not a part of your true self.
With each breath,
Imagine releasing this fear into the air,
Letting it dissolve completely.
Affirm to yourself,
The joy and cooking comes from my own experience,
Not the opinions of others.
My kitchen is my sanctuary where I cook for joy and nourishment.
Visualize cooking as a mindful practice.
Each chop and slice of your vegetables,
Stirring in your pot,
The taste,
It's a moment to be fully present.
Imagine the textures,
The colors,
The aromas of all the ingredients and feel the connection between your senses and the food.
Affirm to yourself,
In cooking I find mindfulness.
Each action is an opportunity to be fully present and connected.
Now focus on your inner creative spirit.
Feel its warmth and energy within you.
Visualize this energy spreading from your heart out,
Putting love into your body,
To your hands,
Down your legs,
To your toes,
Inspiring you to create and innovate in the kitchen.
Affirm to yourself,
My creativity is boundless.
In the kitchen,
I bring joy,
Innovation and artistry to every dish I create.
As this meditation comes to an end,
Take a few more breaths.
Gently wiggle your fingers and your toes,
Bringing awareness back to your body.
When you're ready,
Open your eyes,
Feeling refreshed,
Confident and creativity throughout your body.
Carry the sense of calm and creativity with you as you enter your kitchen,
Ready to explore and create without the fear of judgment,
Judgment from yourself,
Or perceived judgment from others.
Remember your kitchen is a canvas and you are the artist.
Each dish is a unique expression of your creativity and your passion.
And embrace this journey with an open heart and open mind.
I hope that this meditation has helped you go forth in the kitchen and experience more joy.
Thank you.
