Bimba is a mental health counsellor, facilitator and the founder of the wellness doodle journal, Origami of Becoming. She believes in the idea that people are the experts of their own lives. Therefore, people need a physical space to reaffirm their strengths and expertise. This journal offers that opportunity. It contains quirky doodle journaling prompts (inspired by Narrative therapy ideas) to be filled in that take you to your happy space. And the moment you start expressing via doodles or words, you begin to feel a sense of calm & control. Here creativity intersects with mental well-being and offers an open interactive space for each one of us to document our strengths, our hopes & dreams.

Can you please share with us the benefits of journaling, and how someone who’s new to it can start?

I resonate with this quote  by Anne Frank “Paper is more patient than people.”Some of us ( including myself) have found it easier to confide in the neutral, non-judging, non-feeling pages than human companions. Journaling is often viewed as a space to vent and unpack your worries. And that’s completely okay. But I believe words are our inexhaustible source of magic.

• Journaling is also a gentle invitation for you to reaffirm your strengths, look for new words to express yourself, and be familiar with your hopes, dreams, and worries. We often feel we don’t have any strengths unless someone compliments us. It is actively engaging with your ideas and thoughts.
•  Keeping a journal helps you to quieten the mental chatter when your world feels like it’s in chaos.
• The act of using your hands to journal lets you connect with your body to your ideas.
• Journaling is an opportunity to slow down the pace, be mindful and enjoy writing/doodling in the present moment. And sometimes, when words are too scary to be out on paper, doodles or drawings can be your allies/supporters.

How does one begin to journal? There is no one right way. You may choose any path that connects with you, whether documenting your daily thoughts, travel stories, music lyrics, or family food recipes. The beauty lies in taking out the time to sit down with your own thoughts. Witness the confusion come alive on paper. And be a witness to your own thoughts. “Start with one thought, one doodle and see where it takes you”

Remember, your story absolutely matters. Here are a set of journaling prompts to get you started.

Why do you think mental health awareness is even more vital now given the significant impact the pandemic has had on everyone on different levels?

Conversations about mental health have been the elephant in the room for many of us, especially in multicultural communities. The pandemic has further amplified the need to make these mental health talks more public to people of all ages. Unfortunately, we live in a world where accessing mental health support is still highly stigmatised and not openly recommended in all cultures. The internalised message “I will take support only in extreme circumstances” is predominant in today’s self-reliant lifestyle. As a result, loneliness & suicidal ideation is globally more common than reported in the news. 

We are not alone in feeling alone. The time is now to start a conversation, whether a simple check-in with your friend, colleague or family members, sharing about your imperfections, or encouraging therapeutic support in case of continuing challenges.

Can you tell us how your background has influenced the way you are as a WoC founder?

Growing up in Mumbai, India, I witnessed my mother being a solo entrepreneur and running her own interior design business. At the back of my mind, I knew it was possible for women to be their own bosses. What I didn’t know was how difficult it would be to be a creative entrepreneur as a recent migrant and woman of colour in a foreign country ( Melbourne, Australia) at the beginning of the pandemic.

I come from a collectivistic culture where sibling relationships are interdependent and close-knit. Therefore, this project is special to me, as I have had the opportunity to work with my sister, Mita, who is the illustrator for this journal.This collaboration with Mita has empowered both of us as women entrepreneurs & also deepened our bond of sisterhood.

Throughout this journey, I have experienced a wave of both feeling powerful and also powerlessness. It has been a significant challenge to market this journal in a land where I have very few local connections. And hence it was an intentional decision to self-publish this journal. I have been grateful for the support of my partner, Rohit, in making this happen.

What was one of the most gratifying moments for you in business?

I truly resonate with a line from my favourite poet Mary Oliver.

 “If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it. Joy is not made to be a crumb.” 

Being a WOC entrepreneur can be incredibly isolating. I try to find crumbs of joy when I share my work with others, and I can witness the excitement in their eyes. I am grateful to continue finding & growing the journaling who continue to journal, just for themselves, thriving in a world surrounded by hyperconnectivity & external validation.

What do you think is one of the traits that make a successful WoC founder?

Tenacity.

To keep going no matter what, to begin again, forgive yourself if you choose to pause and not work on your ideas. Tenacity is to start again. As a person of colour, I have internalised the message that praise, recognition and success are something we “need to earn”.

It takes a lot of work to demonstrate this tenacity. I can’t do it on my own, all the time. In the last five years, my partner,Rohit has helped me to support my work and made me recognise that “my belief in my ideas is enough, a thousand times enough”. My dad and my close friends have encouraged and affirmed the need to continue this work. 

So I would say tenacity, with truckloads of support from friends & family.

Who is Bimba outside of being the Founder of Origami of Becoming?

I work as a counsellor & workshop facilitator at the intersection of creativity & mental health in Melbourne, Australia. I facilitate well-being conversations with people of all ages and cultures through Unhyphen Psychology. In addition, I write & design eLearning courses on mental health. I thrive on collaborating ideas and bringing them into any conversation that I have with my friends, family, and colleagues. I am an avid hoarder of words, patterns, poems, music, tiny pocket diaries, and zines. I hope to create a conversation space in every room, where every single one of us find a voice to share their thoughts.

On the weekends, you will find me exploring quirky jewellery at artisan markets, innovating new ideas with my sister, colouring mandalas or being the sous chef to my partner in the kitchen.

---

Follow Bimba & The Origami of Becoming. Purchase a copy of the journal here.

• Instagram
• LinkedIn