Podcast Summary:
Mantra with Jemma Sbeg | OpenMind
Episode: I Create Spaces that Nourish My Soul
Date: October 13, 2025
Host: Jemma Sbeg

Episode Overview

This episode revolves around the mantra: "I create spaces that nourish my soul." Jemma Sbeg delves deeply into what it means to intentionally craft physical, emotional, and communal spaces that support well-being, restore energy, inspire creativity, and foster inner calm. The discussion blends practical psychological and philosophical insights with Jemma’s personal experiences and actionable tips, concluding with reflective journal prompts and a weekly challenge for listeners.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Mantra’s Meaning: Beyond Cozy Corners

• Defining Nourishing Spaces

  • Not just about “cozy corners with candles” but intentionally crafting environments to support one's internal world.
  • The influence of surroundings on shaping mood, motivation, and even identity.
  • “Environmental psychology shows that our minds respond to cues in the spaces around us.” (05:09)

• Psychological & Spiritual Perspectives

  • Clutter can foster stress; order and natural elements reduce anxiety and promote calm.
  • Nourishing spaces are “sanctuaries” amidst chaos—places, physical or emotional, that we can return to for restoration.

• Nature and the Power of Place

  • Jemma shares, “If I haven’t been in nature, if I haven’t been around trees or water for a while, I feel my mood changing.” (08:14)
  • Even brief time in natural settings can restore attention and regulation.

2. Space as Extension of Self

• Reflecting Values in Environments

  • Discussion on how physical and communal spaces mirror our values, desires, and current mindsets.
  • “If your space is a reflection of your soul, what is your soul asking for more of? What does it want to see reflected back at it?” (10:49)

• Philosophical Insights: Heidegger & ‘Dwelling’

  • “To dwell is to be in relationship with the world in a way that fosters meaning, belonging and wholeness.” (11:30)
  • Importance of integrating natural elements and simplicity for a nourishing existence.

3. Community, Relationships & Emotional Spaces

• Quality Beyond Decoration

  • Nourishing spaces are less about aesthetics and more about how they feel, and the energy within.
  • Recognition of the importance of people—some relationships act as “safe spaces” just as places do.

• Inventory of Emotional Safe Spaces

  • Jemma suggests evaluating who in your life makes you feel as calm and authentic as your favorite physical spaces.
  • “What is it about them that allows you to relax into a conversation… to be weird, goofy, or funny? How can you spend more time in those emotional spaces and relational spaces?” (16:11)

4. Personal Reflections

• Jemma’s Experiences

  • Hotel living while traveling—sterile environments amplifying feelings of disconnection and unrest.
    • “… there is just something about crisp, plain white sheets … clinical white walls … it never felt like home.” (19:05)
  • Shift in preference from cities to nature with age, seeking “vibrant greenery” and solitude for true nourishment.
    • “The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve realized I actually really don't like [the city]. I’ve been leaning towards kind of hermiting at home.” (20:07)

• Attention Restoration Theory (22:38)

  • Nature's capacity to shift us from “effortful focus to effortless awareness.”
  • Recounts real benefits, including mood improvement, creativity boost, and biological reduction of stress hormones (cortisol).

• Rituals for Nourishing Spaces

  • Daily walks, prioritizing a tidy home, decluttering, and being selective about social engagement at home.
  • “It’s not the mess—it’s the sense of a constantly impending task that needs to be done right.” (25:52)

5. Practical Takeaways & Action Steps

Quote of the Episode

• Gretchen Rubin:
  • “Outer order contributes to inner calm. There is only so much that introspection can do. Sometimes you have to just interrogate the environment in which you're operating.” (31:12)

Journal Prompts (32:16)

• Where in your life do you spend time in spaces that drain you? Why stay, and is there an alternative?
• What makes a space truly nourishing to you—beyond its looks?
• What small change could you make in your surroundings today for greater peace?

Weekly Challenge (35:15)

• The “One Corner Refresh”:
  • Choose one small area (home, workspace, car), do a deep clean, declutter, and add something calming/supportive.
  • “It doesn't need to be big… this won’t take long, and you will see the effects very quickly.” (36:12)
  • Jemma’s own target: under the kitchen sink.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Soul nourishing spaces… are a reminder that there are still pockets of beauty and peace we can access, even amidst chaos or daily obligations.” (07:41)
• “To dwell, then, is to be in relationship with the world in a way that fosters meaning, belonging, and wholeness—and this is why nourishing spaces matter.” (11:22)
• “Cleaning our room every night before we go to bed so that when we wake up, there’s not clutter, does make me feel less stressed.” (25:36)
• “When you make space for those restorative moments, you're sending a message to yourself—‘we are in control.’” (16:19)
• “Inner calm isn’t only a psychological project, it’s also an environmental one.” (31:53)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:55 – Mantra introduction & initial reflections
• 05:09 – Environmental psychology and the impact of surroundings
• 10:49 – Spaces as extensions of self, integration with personal values
• 14:14 – Community, relationships, and the emotional qualities of space
• 18:30 – Jemma’s recent experiences & realizations from travel
• 22:38 – Attention Restoration Theory and the healing power of nature
• 25:36 – Rituals, tidiness, and practical steps for nurturing environments
• 31:12 – Featured quote by Gretchen Rubin
• 32:16 – Journal prompts for self-reflection
• 35:15 – Weekly challenge: the One Corner Refresh

Final Thoughts

Jemma closes by emphasizing the importance of recognizing ourselves as part of our environments, not separate from them, and encourages listeners to be intentional about spending time in spaces—physical or emotional—that “leave us feeling energized, creative, happy, and clear.” The continual goal is to create or seek out those environments, even in small, manageable ways, that restore and nourish both mind and spirit.

Connect with Jemma:
DM on Instagram @MantraOpenMind or comment to join community discussions and bonus episodes.