I promise I won’t try to sell you an ebook at the end of this but hear me out as I flesh out these deliberations. I’m all for spontaneity and believe it’s an essential component for creativity, but I wonder if we’re living in a bubble that overvalues instant gratification and undervalues preparedness. You see, the very nature of preparing and putting “everything in its place” requires that you put in hard graft now for the benefit or reward of doing something that you enjoy later on. I won’t bore you with Googled quotes on preparedness but consider a person you think epitomises success, and I’m confident you will find an ethos that prioritises, considered preparedness. Late nights, early mornings, calloused hands from lifting kettlebells to engaging in tough conversation in relationships of value. The spadework is never easy and without scars but the accomplishments leave you feeling fulfilled. Neuroscientists refer to the pleasure-pain balance; our brains are wired to seek pleasure and avoid pain. While this may seem like a great idea from an evolutionary point of view, the constant aversion to pain or discomfort has a mitigating effect on goal setting and purpose, among other grave implications.
In similar fashion, the Stoics believe that when you face a negative circumstance, you lean into it, instead of avoiding it. This practice has many benefits, including the ability to build resilience.
I don’t want to overstate my case but the below recipe for my mixed mushroom risotto is more than just an elegant midweek meal, perhaps it’s a lesson in mindfulness and preparation. Oh, and a lightly oaked buttery chardonnay pairs perfectly with this dish.
For Food Sake (FFS)
The life lesson you can learn from mise en place
The recipe for mixed mushroom risotto is both an elegant midweek meal and a lesson in mindfulness and preparation
Image: Supplied
As an enthusiastic home cook, I marvel at the systematic, measured manner that professional chefs work, primarily because I’m the complete opposite, as my family will attest.
Mise en place is a French cheffy term that means “everything in its place”. The idea is that you spend time preparing your ingredients, chopping, grating, measuring and portioning so that when all the elements and equipment are in place, you can focus on cooking the dish. It’s efficient and crucial in commercial kitchens and can mean the difference between success and having patrons walk out.
I’m certainly not the only one that sees a significant life lesson wrapped up in here?
Making space at your table is way easier than building bridges
I promise I won’t try to sell you an ebook at the end of this but hear me out as I flesh out these deliberations. I’m all for spontaneity and believe it’s an essential component for creativity, but I wonder if we’re living in a bubble that overvalues instant gratification and undervalues preparedness. You see, the very nature of preparing and putting “everything in its place” requires that you put in hard graft now for the benefit or reward of doing something that you enjoy later on. I won’t bore you with Googled quotes on preparedness but consider a person you think epitomises success, and I’m confident you will find an ethos that prioritises, considered preparedness. Late nights, early mornings, calloused hands from lifting kettlebells to engaging in tough conversation in relationships of value. The spadework is never easy and without scars but the accomplishments leave you feeling fulfilled. Neuroscientists refer to the pleasure-pain balance; our brains are wired to seek pleasure and avoid pain. While this may seem like a great idea from an evolutionary point of view, the constant aversion to pain or discomfort has a mitigating effect on goal setting and purpose, among other grave implications.
In similar fashion, the Stoics believe that when you face a negative circumstance, you lean into it, instead of avoiding it. This practice has many benefits, including the ability to build resilience.
I don’t want to overstate my case but the below recipe for my mixed mushroom risotto is more than just an elegant midweek meal, perhaps it’s a lesson in mindfulness and preparation. Oh, and a lightly oaked buttery chardonnay pairs perfectly with this dish.
Image: Supplied
Mixed Mushroom Risotto
Serves 4
Ingredients
Method
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