From Mauritius To The Cove

Come on in, the water’s life-affirming… Farzana at The Cove. Pic: Carole Speer Photography

hey say that opposites attract, which may explain how Farzana Maudarbaccus went from swimming in the tropical waters of Mauritius to the brain freeze of taking a dip in The Cove.

And discovered that this very new sensation was just what she needed.

It’s a journey that Farzana recently presented in a TEDx Talk in sunny Tralee, explaining how sea swimming in Greystones helped her building resilience by doing something that was totally outside her comfort zone.

Mind you, even for hardy born agus bred locals, jumping into the sea around here is outside any sane person’s comfort zone.

“As a work and organisational psychologist,” Farzana tells us, “I know how much resilience and adaptability are needed in the workplace – and in life as a whole for that matter. I want people to know that they can build their resilience muscle so that they can create that pathway in their brains, and therefore access it when life calls for us to be that little bit tougher.
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“​It is a talk about change, neuroplasticity, resilience and doing wild things that can help our brain prepare itself for the challenges that life will throw at us. And also about community, about the cold sea teaching me to be in the present moment, and our need to mind our shores. And ourselves…”

Sing it, sister. And brothers. Here’s Farzana’s TEDx Talk in full…

We’re surrounded by insightful blabbermouths in this town; Wen Wang-Whelan’s recent TEDx Talk about, hey, resilience and change, right here.