Jing Lens

Hi everyone! I’m so thrilled to announce that my book — Life Designer with Jingyu: A Journey Towards Discipline, Mastery, Radiance — is now live on Amazon!

Here is the book link : https://mybook.to/lifedesigner (available worldwide) 

I’ll be sharing an Audible version released chapter by chapter under my podcast Jing lens! 

Here is book review: Life Designer with Jingyu Chen is a transformative journey towards discipline, mastery, and radiant living. Rooted in her lived experiences with habit stacking, brain rewiring, and emotional regulation, Jingyu offers a deeply authentic exploration of self-awareness and personal growth. Blending science-informed learning with real-life application and soulful reflection, this book provides actionable insights and practical tools to help readers redesign their lives with intention, clarity, and beauty.

This is her own transformative journey—from living in a muddled place for too long to gradually reclaiming clarity across all facets of her life. Building self-awareness came late for her, yet it was only the first step. But she firmly believes—if anyone chooses to wake up at any point in life, that’s when life truly begins. The path forward may be filled with bumps, hurdles, and daunting tasks, but she’s learned that creativity holds the power to transform scarcity into abundance—even when resources, intelligence, or skills feel limited. That’s how her creative journey began five years ago. In hindsight, she can see the stark juxtaposition between the life she once lived and the one she is now creating. No matter how late the awakening, she feels only profound gratitude for pressing the reset button.

That’s why she feels compelled to share this grueling yet transcendent journey—because she truly believes everyone has the power to rewrite their story with the right approach and mindset.

Each chapter invites readers into intimate moments of growth—from rewiring old patterns and anchoring emotional stability to building rituals that align with the body’s rhythm and the mind’s intention. The journey culminates in cultivating self-awareness across three essential layers: our relationship with ourselves, with others, and with our environment. Through stories of her creative pursuits, personal accountability, and the making of her home tour video project, Jingyu reveals how outer elegance can mirror inner evolution.

In this book, you will learn how to:

Introductory : Unlock the power of habit stacking to build new habits and elevate self-discipline

Chapter Two : Tap into the brain’s rewiring potential to break old patterns and progress toward mastery

Chapter Three :  Navigate the art of emotional regulation by scaffolding emotional anchors, identifying triggers, and applying a personalized toolkit and rules

Finale Chapter : Connect to life’s tasks by cultivating self-awareness across three essential layers: our relationship with ourselves, with others, and with the environment ;  Draw a parallel from interior design to life design—a journey toward beauty, harmony, and radiance.

Please visit my website—a soulful, beautifully curated space showcasing all my creative work and evolving endeavors:
🌐 https://www.lifedesignerwithjingyuchen.com/

https://www.lifedesignerwithjingyuchen.com/

https://www.lifedesignerwithjingyuchen.com/

Hi everyone! I’m so thrilled to announce that my book — Life Designer with Jingyu: A Journey Towards Discipline, Mastery, Radiance — is now live on Amazon!

Here is the book link : https://mybook.to/lifedesigner (available worldwide) 

I’ll be sharing an Audible version released chapter by chapter under my podcast Jing lens! 

Here is book review: Life Designer with Jingyu Chen is a transformative journey towards discipline, mastery, and radiant living. Rooted in her lived experiences with habit stacking, brain rewiring, and emotional regulation, Jingyu offers a deeply authentic exploration of self-awareness and personal growth. Blending science-informed learning with real-life application and soulful reflection, this book provides actionable insights and practical tools to help readers redesign their lives with intention, clarity, and beauty.

This is her own transformative journey—from living in a muddled place for too long to gradually reclaiming clarity across all facets of her life. Building self-awareness came late for her, yet it was only the first step. But she firmly believes—if anyone chooses to wake up at any point in life, that’s when life truly begins. The path forward may be filled with bumps, hurdles, and daunting tasks, but she’s learned that creativity holds the power to transform scarcity into abundance—even when resources, intelligence, or skills feel limited. That’s how her creative journey began five years ago. In hindsight, she can see the stark juxtaposition between the life she once lived and the one she is now creating. No matter how late the awakening, she feels only profound gratitude for pressing the reset button.

That’s why she feels compelled to share this grueling yet transcendent journey—because she truly believes everyone has the power to rewrite their story with the right approach and mindset.

Each chapter invites readers into intimate moments of growth—from rewiring old patterns and anchoring emotional stability to building rituals that align with the body’s rhythm and the mind’s intention. The journey culminates in cultivating self-awareness across three essential layers: our relationship with ourselves, with others, and with our environment. Through stories of her creative pursuits, personal accountability, and the making of her home tour video project, Jingyu reveals how outer elegance can mirror inner evolution.

In this book, you will learn how to:

Introductory : Unlock the power of habit stacking to build new habits and elevate self-discipline

Chapter Two : Tap into the brain’s rewiring potential to break old patterns and progress toward mastery

Chapter Three :  Navigate the art of emotional regulation by scaffolding emotional anchors, identifying triggers, and applying a personalized toolkit and rules

Finale Chapter : Connect to life’s tasks by cultivating self-awareness across three essential layers: our relationship with ourselves, with others, and with the environment ;  Draw a parallel from interior design to life design—a journey toward beauty, harmony, and radiance.

Please visit my website—a soulful, beautifully curated space showcasing all my creative work and evolving endeavors:
🌐 https://www.lifedesignerwithjingyuchen.com/

https://www.lifedesignerwithjingyuchen.com/

Hi everyone! I’m so thrilled to announce that my book — Life Designer with Jingyu: A Journey Towards Discipline, Mastery, Radiance — is now live on Amazon!

Here is the book link : https://mybook.to/lifedesigner (available worldwide) 

I’ll be sharing an Audible version released chapter by chapter under my podcast Jing lens! 

Here is book review: Life Designer with Jingyu Chen is a transformative journey towards discipline, mastery, and radiant living. Rooted in her lived experiences with habit stacking, brain rewiring, and emotional regulation, Jingyu offers a deeply authentic exploration of self-awareness and personal growth. Blending science-informed learning with real-life application and soulful reflection, this book provides actionable insights and practical tools to help readers redesign their lives with intention, clarity, and beauty.

This is her own transformative journey—from living in a muddled place for too long to gradually reclaiming clarity across all facets of her life. Building self-awareness came late for her, yet it was only the first step. But she firmly believes—if anyone chooses to wake up at any point in life, that’s when life truly begins. The path forward may be filled with bumps, hurdles, and daunting tasks, but she’s learned that creativity holds the power to transform scarcity into abundance—even when resources, intelligence, or skills feel limited. That’s how her creative journey began five years ago. In hindsight, she can see the stark juxtaposition between the life she once lived and the one she is now creating. No matter how late the awakening, she feels only profound gratitude for pressing the reset button.

That’s why she feels compelled to share this grueling yet transcendent journey—because she truly believes everyone has the power to rewrite their story with the right approach and mindset.

Each chapter invites readers into intimate moments of growth—from rewiring old patterns and anchoring emotional stability to building rituals that align with the body’s rhythm and the mind’s intention. The journey culminates in cultivating self-awareness across three essential layers: our relationship with ourselves, with others, and with our environment. Through stories of her creative pursuits, personal accountability, and the making of her home tour video project, Jingyu reveals how outer elegance can mirror inner evolution.

In this book, you will learn how to:

Introductory : Unlock the power of habit stacking to build new habits and elevate self-discipline

Chapter Two : Tap into the brain’s rewiring potential to break old patterns and progress toward mastery

Chapter Three :  Navigate the art of emotional regulation by scaffolding emotional anchors, identifying triggers, and applying a personalized toolkit and rules

Finale Chapter : Connect to life’s tasks by cultivating self-awareness across three essential layers: our relationship with ourselves, with others, and with the environment ;  Draw a parallel from interior design to life design—a journey toward beauty, harmony, and radiance.

Please visit my website—a soulful, beautifully curated space showcasing all my creative work and evolving endeavors:
🌐 https://www.lifedesignerwithjingyuchen.com/

https://www.lifedesignerwithjingyuchen.com/

Hi everyone! I’m so thrilled to announce that my book — Life Designer with Jingyu: A Journey Towards Discipline, Mastery, Radiance — is now live on Amazon!

Here is the book link : https://mybook.to/lifedesigner (available worldwide) 

I’ll be sharing an Audible version released chapter by chapter under my podcast Jing lens! 

Here is book review: Life Designer with Jingyu Chen is a transformative journey towards discipline, mastery, and radiant living. Rooted in her lived experiences with habit stacking, brain rewiring, and emotional regulation, Jingyu offers a deeply authentic exploration of self-awareness and personal growth. Blending science-informed learning with real-life application and soulful reflection, this book provides actionable insights and practical tools to help readers redesign their lives with intention, clarity, and beauty.

This is her own transformative journey—from living in a muddled place for too long to gradually reclaiming clarity across all facets of her life. Building self-awareness came late for her, yet it was only the first step. But she firmly believes—if anyone chooses to wake up at any point in life, that’s when life truly begins. The path forward may be filled with bumps, hurdles, and daunting tasks, but she’s learned that creativity holds the power to transform scarcity into abundance—even when resources, intelligence, or skills feel limited. That’s how her creative journey began five years ago. In hindsight, she can see the stark juxtaposition between the life she once lived and the one she is now creating. No matter how late the awakening, she feels only profound gratitude for pressing the reset button.

That’s why she feels compelled to share this grueling yet transcendent journey—because she truly believes everyone has the power to rewrite their story with the right approach and mindset.

Each chapter invites readers into intimate moments of growth—from rewiring old patterns and anchoring emotional stability to building rituals that align with the body’s rhythm and the mind’s intention. The journey culminates in cultivating self-awareness across three essential layers: our relationship with ourselves, with others, and with our environment. Through stories of her creative pursuits, personal accountability, and the making of her home tour video project, Jingyu reveals how outer elegance can mirror inner evolution.

In this book, you will learn how to:

Introductory : Unlock the power of habit stacking to build new habits and elevate self-discipline

Chapter Two : Tap into the brain’s rewiring potential to break old patterns and progress toward mastery

Chapter Three :  Navigate the art of emotional regulation by scaffolding emotional anchors, identifying triggers, and applying a personalized toolkit and rules

Finale Chapter : Connect to life’s tasks by cultivating self-awareness across three essential layers: our relationship with ourselves, with others, and with the environment ;  Draw a parallel from interior design to life design—a journey toward beauty, harmony, and radiance.

Please visit my website—a soulful, beautifully curated space showcasing all my creative work and evolving endeavors:
🌐 https://www.lifedesignerwithjingyuchen.com/

https://www.lifedesignerwithjingyuchen.com/

https://www.lifedesignerwithjingyuchen.com/

Travel evokes a profound sense of reminiscence, a feeling that lingers in the corners of our memory. Since the Post-Covid era, I’ve embarked on a few solo trips, primarily across Australia and Japan. It might sound like a broken record, but my life often revolves around discipline and structure. Travel , however ,whisks me away from routine, landing me in a blank slate where I exercise my creative muscles to depict the utopia I envisaged. That being said, I also surrender to serendipity and mysticism, embracing the elements of the unknown and uncertainty that sporadically unfold on the road.

In 2024, I designed my second trip of the year—a bit scattered, perhaps—but uniquely meaningful. It kicked off in Hong Kong, whirlwind through Karuizawa and Kusatsu Onsen, and culminated in Tokyo for an epic reunion with a dear friend. Along the way, as I shared moments of sheer joy with her , she described me (and I quote) as someone who “travels in style.” That simple yet striking phrase served as a stroke of genius, igniting me to write my first travel piece exploring the full spectrum of experiences

My recollection of each trip is an intricate tapestry of multi-dimensional experiences, encompassing layered sensory moments and multifaceted aesthetics.  I find myself marveling at architectural masterpieces and standing in awe of nature’s grandeur.

Style, to me, is not merely about appearances; it reveals the potential matrix of my reality—a realm where I summon the courage to expose myself to foreign lands, albeit ephemerally, while encountering human connections imbued with humility and grace. As I put myself out into the world, it reciprocates with moments of beauty and meaning. I carve out each once-in-a-lifetime style journey that is perpetually archived and cemented in my memory lane. If I do live up to the standard of traveling in style to some degree, I feel compelled to share evocative vignettes from my adventures.

Chapter 1 – A Tale of Two Hotels 

Timeless Elegance and Enduring Allure: The Upper House & Kerry Hotel by André Fu

In a recent interview, André Fu revealed his top three elements that contribute to a unique hotel experience. First and foremost, timelessness is key in hotel design, given the substantial investment involved. The second element is a sense of comfort, as people come to hotel spaces to rejuvenate. The final element is the sense of relaxed luxury, which is signature to Fu’s design language. Luxury, he explains, is no longer about formality or ornate décor; it’s about the guests' feeling of relaxation, with the sense of luxury emanating from within. I can see how he has masterfully incorporated all three elements into his design approach, from inception to the future.

Chapter 2 – Life is Architecture

Exploring I.M. Pei’s Exhibition and the Hiroshi and Senju Museum at the Intersection of Architecture, Art, and Nature.

I am inherently drawn to exhibitions—containers that encapsulate the essence of a notable character through artistic form and chronological perspective. The sentiment derived from each exhibition often remains inexplicable yet palpable. 

I also reflect deeply and gain flourishing benefits—reframing my mindset, gaining a unique worldview, and discovering the strength to carve out a life worth living. These talents not only reshaped the world’s presence but their lofty ambitions also illuminate our future. At its core, it is the spirit that prevails over social upheaval and personal turmoil. In this prevailing, it roars as the engine of human evolution. By taking inspiration from and inheriting the core spirit of our predecessors and peers, it breeds aspirations and resilience that yield joy and hope!

https://www.lifedesignerwithjingyuchen.com/

Chapter 3 – Onsen and Meandering

A Journey Through Kusatsu’s Healing Waters and the Art of Serendipitous Encounters

I am always drawn to staying in a quintessential Onsen hotel, savoring kaiseki cuisine or wrapping myself in an authentic Onsen for its soothing, healing, and beauty powers. I have visited several Onsen destinations in Japan (Hakone, Izu, Hokkaido, etc.,), but Kusatsu Onsen exceeded my expectations and took my Onsen experience to new heights.

In hindsight, it was very clever of me to choose an Onsen hotel located in the town center, which allowed me to enjoy the vibrant nightlife of the Onsen town. Kusatsu is a two-hour bus ride away from Karuizawa.I checked into Urakusatsu TOU, a newly built Onsen hotel that blends modern comfort with traditional Japanese aesthetics, with a bit of a MuJi vibe, haha. The Onsen boasts both high temperature and acidity, standing out from its competitive peers. I admit, I was sold by its ranking as the country’s No. 1 hot spring in Japan!  After the Onsen, I donned a yukata and wooden sandals, carrying a basket as I meandered through the town center.

Here, I experienced a magical moment in my life. It was around 7 pm.  I soaked in the onsen scent as I walked from the hotel to the town, where I marveled at the splendour and magnificence of Yubatake (Hot Water Field)—a central meeting and sightseeing spot in Kusatsu Onsen. As night settled in, Yubatake evoked a surreal, fairytale-like wonder. I couldn’t help but conjure up the bath scene from Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away.

The next day, I continued strolling around the town, which I found fairly crowded, yet this injected vibrancy to the quintessentially Japanese atmosphere. My head finally stopped spinning as I indulged in a luxurious half-day of meandering through a foreign, secluded area. I ran into a lovely local lady at a honey shop, where we had a delightful conversation in Japanese about the beauty and healing power of kusatsu onsen. That afternoon, I returned to Karuizawa, where I embarked on a three-hour culinary journey at night, in a restaurant named Yukawatan. I may not be equipped to critique cuisine from a culinary perspective, but I’m innately drawn to experiential events. My night culminated in a symphony assembled by gastronomy, nature, and architecture.

The next day in Karuizawa, I serendipitously walked along a route where the hongye (autumn leaves) were in full bloom. I further explored a vintage café in the Karuizawa  forest, where I had the best "me time".

Chapter 4 – An Ode to Frienhship

An Epic Reunion Woven into Tokyo's Serenity and Splendour

I no longer claim myself a pure solo traveler since my friend relocated to Tokyo this year. We both made conscious efforts to make our reunion in Tokyo happen. With each reunion, we surpass the magic of the last, and  top epicness of the previous. What made our second reunion in Tokyo extra special was celebrating my friend’s birthday in advance. I planned a Tokyo Aman day for my friend. My underlying thought was to maximize our experience by amalgamating two distinct yet complementary spaces: Aman Café for lunch, an urban oasis, and Aman Lounge for afternoon tea, an architectural marvel. Since Aman Tokyo is at the top of my hotel wish list, curating a birthday experience for my friend  there just naturally emerged. I’m at a stage where I’m further examining my relationship with my environment, people, and myself. While architecture refines my eye to appreciate the physical world, it is the core element of human connection that truly ties me to humanity and greatness.

On that day, our conversations intertwined with the inner grandeur and gravitas of Aman’s architectural embrace. Time seemed to stand still, creating a sense of eternity and illumination.

https://www.lifedesignerwithjingyuchen.com/

Capella Sydney, the first outpost of the Capella Hotel Group in Sydney, was ushering under the spotlight of luxury hotel unveiling in 2023. After a meticulous seven-year restoration and expansion, coupled with a $225 million investment, Capella Sydney emerged as a new luminary in the world of luxury hotels, instantly standing out from its peers. Given the pedigree of the Capella hotel, I envisaged Capella Sydney as reinvigorated luxury that is an ode to its local heritage as well as a nod to contemporary design.

 My Encounter with Capella Sydney at its Inception
When my friend, a former architect turned photographer, decided to relocate to Tokyo this February, we longed for the perfect spot for an intimate chat and farewell. By a stroke of serendipity, Capella surfaced as the unrivaled choice. Aperture, as the latest incarnation, reinvigorates the former Department of Education building by reinstating its once central courtyard as a lush, green sanctuary.

At the heart of the Capella philosophy is our visionary curation of culture and experience, with core value rooted in crafted hospitality. 
From an Aboriginal art workshop and a bush food journey to the storytelling-themed Echoes of Eternity in the living room, my experiences were a true testament to the exceptional ability and masterful skill of Capella culturists in curating and delivering cultural programs. Iterating from its origins as an education department building characterized by utilitarianism and rationalism, Capella Sydney refines its aesthetic into multifaceted layers, crafting experiences that are truly multisensory. 

Elegance Redefined: Inside Capella's Exquisite Room Design and Luxurious Experience
The interior of my room features pared-back lines and high-end luxury. Its restrained elegance and understated sophistication exude Capella’s inherent aura of collected composure. The warm ambiance is achieved through a layered approach, with thoughtful artwork embellishments and considered touches, evoking the sense of a serene and poised urban sanctuary.

The Art of Illumination: Capella’s Dazzling Bespoke Lighting Scheme
I also feel compelled to spotlight the custom lighting composition, which is uniquely designed and thoughtfully layered, standing out as a work of art on its own. 

My Footprint at Capella Sydney
I was lost in the "Echoes of Eternity" storytelling delivered by Capella’s culturalists in the Living Room.  Golden opulence, wrapped in a restrained sense of contemporary ornamentation, shines through at Restaurant 1930, where I enjoyed both dinner and breakfast.  McRae Bar, named in commemoration of George McRae, the building's original architect, added a new layer of storytelling to my Capella night.  Aperture at night exudes an inner grandeur. 

 A Celestial Escape: Experiencing a Transcendent Wellness Journey at Auriga Spa
The next day, before checking out, I ticked off the final item on my itinerary: a facial treatment at Auriga Spa. The essence of Auriga’s philosophy, inspired by the cycles of nature and the moon, contributes to a uniquely divine experience for me.

 Gilded Past, Golden Present, Radiant Future
Michelle, an architect from Make, reflects: "Walking into the now-complete Capella Hotel Sydney is surreal. It was an emotional investment for all of us to achieve an end goal that we’re proud of and that creates a legacy for generations to come.
I wholeheartedly feel this goal has been accomplished, as I am marveled by Capella Sydney’s architectural restoration, timeless design, and innovative approach. Above all, it is the humility that every Capella staff member translates into their service with pride and empathy. A hotel with both substance and soul is destined for a golden present and a radiant future, evolving from its gilded past.

https://www.lifedesignerwithjingyuchen.com/

Since embarking on a new path of writing hotel reviews, I've encountered an additional layer of complexity when selecting a hotel. At first glance, the Okura Hotel's lobby, as seen on its website, blends Japanese sensibility and refined elegance. The subtle yet sophisticated design immediately caught my attention, evoking a sense of restrained luxury and understated elegance.  Stepping into its reconstructed lobby became quite a spatial and architectural moment for me. The new lobby in the Prestige Tower pays genuine homage to its heritage roots with traditional Japanese aesthetics remaining uncompromised. Its dramatic volume and grand scale are offset by a soothing and calming atmosphere.

ANDRÉ FU, the renowned interior architect who designs luxury hotels worldwide, interprets luxury in modern times as more genuine and down to the essence of the experience than something that is purely visual and superficial. A good hospitality project should focus on the essence of experiences. I couldn’t agree more.  I also want to add that from registration to connection with a hotel experience, it can be a surreal journey that transcends a person’s ordinary reality. It adds fresh energy to a sensation I wasn’t generally akin to. The moment I enter the lobby in the Prestige Tower, I immediately feel a profound shift within me.

Before diving into design details, I feel it imperative to provide Okura’s reborn story. Ushering in the rise of Japan from the ashes of war to a country hurtling into the modern era, the Okura Hotel became synonymous with luxury, serving as a cultural beacon that celebrated Japanese craftsmanship and hospitality, known as omotenashi (おもてなし). Its admirers are deeply attached to this iconic hotel. As news of its redevelopment spread, it marked the end of an era, as prestigious publication Monocle commented. Despite facing strong design criticism and defying public sentiment, the reconstruction commenced in 2015 and reached completion in 2019.

ANDRÉ FU said :  When I design, I always think about the essence of the experience that I am trying to translate. It is capturing a feeling in that moment. A moment that hit my core and triggered my emotions is created by a monolithic wood block that is positioned adjacent to the check-in front desk. Within this block, a cherry blossom installation captures the essence of authentic and iconic Japanese beauty. Its famous pendant, the pendant of five polyhedrons, is suspended from the ceiling, gracefully cascading down to complement the cherry blossom. It composes a very serene yet floating scene, offering an interesting contrast to the dynamic energy of the surrounding environment.

Entering  the room, a profound sense of tranquillity enveloped us.  In line with its overall aesthetic, the guest room continue to embody understated elegance, boasting a sleek modern interior adorned with wood furnishings, sumptuous textures, and soft ambient lighting. The marble-cladded bathtub is positioned adjacent to a picture window, framing Tokyo's unbeatable and breath-taking night vista. As the lights of Tokyo Tower pierced through the urban sprawl, The following morning, I indulged in breakfast at the Club Lounge on the 37th floor, savouring delicacies while immersing myself in the sweeping cityscape view of Toranomon. Once again, the vibrant and dynamic energy of the city enveloped me, evoking a feeling that the sky is the limit. 

Meticulous attention to detail not only reflects on its design sensibility but also roots in its hospitality ethos.  Okura's commitment to hospitality extends beyond operational excellence to a deeper level of human connection. Its approach to hospitality aligns perfectly with its aesthetic of relaxed luxury, embodying a subtle and nuanced demeanor.  Thank you, The Okura Tokyo! 

https://www.lifedesignerwithjingyuchen.com/

Islington Hotel first hit my radar because it is listed on small luxury hotels of the world. It was a late-night check-in.  It is a boutique hotel situated in a private yet proximal location, exuding an intimate and inviting home vibe.  The moment I walked in, I experienced that entry "wow" factor. A crystal chandelier hung from the high ceiling, and the statement piece was a massive weaving rug. Just a quick glimpse into its mixed collection of artwork and interior décor around the foyer, and the word 'eclectic' popped into my head—an ultimate mix and collage-like interior style.  On my left-hand side, it was a formal breakfast room & library wall featuring opulent antique furnishings. Having just checked in at the Victoria Mansion the night before and visited a Greek Revival Museum house during the day, I wasn't intimidated by the ostentatious and grand interiors. However, I did feel a moment of being overwhelmed by its eye-popping palette and full-on embrace of antiques. Overall, the furnishings embody a very palpable global influence—a mix of English country house and oriental mystery.

While historical touches and ornate decorations are embellished throughout, a small door opening at the entry leads up to a glass conservatory featuring contemporary cool in juxtaposition with grand opulence of other rooms. The glass conservatory is approximately 100 sq/f, serving as the restaurant and bar. Full-height glass panels from floor to ceiling blur the threshold between indoor and outdoor. Avant-garde sculptures infuse whimsy and playfulness into the atrium. Meticulous attention manifests through all design details, from the color matching of dining chairs and sculptures to the transition in floor materials from wood to mosaic tile.   Above all, ambient lighting was instrumental in creating an unparalleled immersive and enveloping moment for me on the spot. 
I checked into the loft suites, an attic on the top level of the hotel. Meticulously-designed boutique hotels always connect me to a sense of intimacy akins to the feeling of a home sanctuary.  Islington Hotel truly prioritizes guests' comfort and convenience  at the core and forefront with its full range of modern amenities, thoughtful curated design, and unpretentious presentation. It was a night of sound sleep.
The next day, I woke up to breathtaking sweeping views of Mount Wellington and took a relaxed stroll through Islington Garden. Islington's heritage silhouette was unveiled in the natural sunlight and dissolved into its mountain landscape. Built in 1847, Islington Hotel retains its original Regency architectural features, keeping its  stucco façade intact.I truly appreciate that the dwelling's heritage elements are sustained and intertwined with contemporary sophistication, adhering to the ethos of honoring the home's history without compromising its modern aesthetics.

Boldness and playfulness are woven into the opulent interior embellishment and further extend to its exterior structure. Award-winning architects Robert Morris Nunn adopted a robust and refined approach, pulling the new elements together, evolving its original form, and transforming the Islington property into a hotel pavilion with an amazing new wing: the conservatory.  
I also want to give a shoutout to the hotel’s top-notch hospitality with their highest level of sincerity and consideration. The patient approach in lieu of contemporary practices deeply applied to Islington’s architecture transformation, interior design, and connection to outdoor living, creating a retreat-like and immersive experience. This philosophy also extends to the hotel's service ethos—controlled and measured, discreet yet organic.  I wholeheartedly recommend Islington hotel to art enthusiasts, solo travelers, and city hustle birds.

https://www.lifedesignerwithjingyuchen.com/

In today's episode, I shared all nitty gritty about remaining and reclaiming  calm in different aspects of life.
At workplace,  clam people better empathy with others , and their calming energy also translate to others, putting everyone to operate at greater ease and creating an environment of ease and trust.  Our calmness level also profoundly impacts our relationship-building and well-being. Calm is an internal emotional status that also  reflects in our external body presence.
To both maintain and recapture a sense of calmness,
1:It all begins with awareness, which serves as the foundation for developing any mindset and tool.   It often took both positive and negative experiences to identify our triggers and underlying factors that disrupt our calmness, causing emotions like fear, anxiety, and rumination.  When we attain a certain level of awareness, we will be less likely to react impulsively.  Reacting rarely leads to anywhere positive but exacerbates the situation.  Given that part of our emotional triggers remain unknown, it's necessary to slow down and grant ourselves the time to analyse and process the unfolding events.  My experience has taught me that all emotions are equally important experiences, including those moments when we feel out of alignment. The key is to trust our ability to realign ourselves.
  
2: A patient or positive mindset is also a key that helps me remain calm. I had a  big honour to interview an empowering lady Chloe on my another podcast ' Life Designer' a year ago. Her insights into positive thinking have stayed with me to this day. She said after turning 30, she no longer experiences the same level of anxiety she used to because deep down, she's confident that she'll overcome obstacles and reach her goals. Our brain needs evidence to respond to new situations. I've found regular reflection useful in helping us accumulate evidence and references, guiding us through whatever problems lie ahead.   Patients also extend our calmness span, as we put everything in perspective, aligning each step with an ultimate vision in mind. I once came across a podcast episode that mentioned it often takes around five years to complete a significant project, whether personal or professional. At a certain point, you'll realize that anything worth doing is challenging. We may not sustain a constent state of calmness every second, but patience sustains us emotionally at the deepest level toward the end goal. 

3: The body and mind are profoundly connected and mutually support each other. When our mind runs into a bit of a spiral, we may want to turn to our body for comfort. we may take deep breaths and lean into activities that calm our minds down (I should say). It's a method of dealing with sudden emotional distress.  for example, when i suddenly feel distressed,  my body quickly responds by reaching for calming foods (like cucumber and blueberries0 or heading outdoors. If conditions permit, nature is the best remedy.
Music and exercise are two major consistent sources of camlness in my life.   It took me a few years to turn exercise into my  built-in habit. I made a podcast episode about this journey, feel free to check out this episode if you are interested. My point is you may want to explore more options when it comes to strategy-building. The reality is sometimes you may not feel up to hitting the gym, but you can nimbly shift to walking to a park and feeling breathing again. The more tools you  prepare, the more quickly you will get back to a state of alignment.   

https://www.lifedesignerwithjingyuchen.com/