Honest Reflections on trust and the “Open House”

A quiet corner at The Mindful Cup.

7 days. Every class: free. 23 classes. 79 seats booked.

1 teacher. Me.

In my past life as an accidental corporate, I know that with comms and marketing, the golden rule is to give at least 4 weeks’ lead time to an event. Time to promote, network, share, advertise - to build momentum.

I did not do that.

Within 18 days of a “Change of Use” approval to open the studio, the event was live. The Mindful Cup’s “Open House” or “Rumah Terbuka” was an offering to the community.

Perhaps it was the wait of 5 months since the rental started in March? Perhaps it was the date of the 8th of August as a nod to my Chinese lineage (until recently I didn’t realise it was the Lion’s Gate Portal)?

Honestly? I was just eager to open the doors.

At a personal level, doing this to affirm my own humanity.

To start offering some sense of compassion, sanity and calm in a media storm that seems intent on framing itself as “us” vs “them”.

I trusted.

I posted on 1 local Northern Beaches Facebook page. I posted on my socials 3 days before the event. I nervously shared with friends, family, acquaintances, local businesses and community groups whom I know by first name, living on the Northern Beaches for over 20+ years.

It made me cringe. It was uncomfortable.

The experiment was an open-hearted offering to trust - led less by the head than the heart.

Guided meditations on compassion, gentle visualisations on relaxation. Tea meditations invoking a communal tea-house, grounding into the 5 senses. Where guests could retain their solitude or share with others. The compassionate choice was theirs.

And through word of mouth, of sharing… 79 seats were booked. Some brought an extra guest - and we made room. Some classes were full.

To the familiar faces who came, or sent support, or shared - THANK YOU. Some of you brought friends, family. Some of you travelled from ACROSS THE BRIDGE. Not Narrabeen Bridge (although I acknowledge you brave free spirits, also), the SPIT Bridge.

You all fucking rock. (Yes, swearing is a valid emotional expression, even for meditation teachers).

Shout out to these folks - local owner-operated biz & orgs in Dee Why & Northern Beaches: Becc at Hold Space, Tony at Mowana, minhi/meimei Jarin from Trading Blak, Liv & Andrea at HUM Studio, Mara at Maine + Mara, Tak, Melanie, Emma, Jill and the whole holistic team at Dee Why Discount Vitamins, Tegan from Ngumpie Weaving, Sindre & Rika at Ask and Embla, Jack at The Eastern Medicine Clinic, Eddie at DY Local, V at V’s Dessert, Ko-san and Kazu-san at Sushi Train Dee Why, Sam and Russell at Dee Why Turkish Grill, Joanne and Richie at Billy Button Espresso, Gabriel and Sam at Sam’s Hair Curls (40 years in the biz!), Mark at Verses Half-back Books, Nigel & Jenny at Sandy’s Records, Kris K., my manager at the old Lifeline store, Myrna at Aloha Wellness, Kevin at Karoun Jewelry (50 years in the biz!) and MORE. Local businesses supporting local businesses is such a huge part of community.

I am so grateful for the sense of community and inclusivity. For rejecting the scarcity mindset, and for celebrating and amplifying with trust.

Very grateful to the strangers who came, trusting that they would be cared for equally. Some came from those they knew personally, some came from socials, others don’t remember how they heard, but links were shared and they arrived. I am so glad for their presence. It is a tender responsibility I hold with respect.

I also learned a lot about myself.

What values do I hold dear? How do I measure success in capitalist metrics? How do I balance the ideals I wish for and the reality of rent?

The first 2 days, I scheduled 6 classes each day.

Was it fulfilling? YES.

Was it sustainable? Absolutely NOT.

I needed time for the guests to absorb, embody and express what they experienced. To share, discuss.
And I needed time to do the same.

To rest.

To air and cleanse the space after each class. Preparing for the next.

So I scaled back the weekday classes. Leaving ample gaps for classes to end softly.

I felt like I was letting people down, but if I was to offer with a full heart, I needed time to refill. The Open House priority was not gathering data on the best timetable metrics, but on practising mindfulness. And mindfulness begins with me.

That gap allowed for more human choices and engagement.

Some groups left within minutes of the official end-time, each guest taking their experience without needing to share.
Others wished to linger longer, to simply rest, some to ask questions or to meet the group in a slow, shielded environment.

I learned what times MAY work (again, the whole 18 days lead-up “does not an accurate experiment make”).

I took on feedback about sound, placement and lighting. And as I guided others on listening to themselves, I also listened to myself.

I need rest. So I’m tapping out for the weekend. Kind of. I’m working on setting up classes on the website. And I’m faaaaairly sure it’s alright now. You can Book Here :) (ps. not an Acuity expert)

If you have any questions or feedback - you can contact me here.

For those I am yet to meet, may you be safe, kind and healthy. May we all have these moments of pause and rest.

And when the time is right for you, I look forward to welcoming you to The Mindful Cup.

Warmly,
Po-Tien