Tania Richardson of ‘Tomas Pearce Interior Design’: How We Can Leverage The Power Of Gratitude To Improve Our Overall Mental Wellness

Parveen Panwar, Mr. Activated
Authority Magazine
Published in
13 min readFeb 25, 2021

Spend a few moments each day to write down 3 things you are grateful for. Studies have shown gratitude changes your brain. From the way we communicate to the words we choose; gratitude shifts our emotions to a feel-good state. Daily journaling is a great way to start the day with a grateful mindset. When we give thanks for the things we already have in our lives, we begin to live in a state of gratitude. As a result, we begin to feel better physically, emotionally, mentally, and socially. The power of gratitude in daily repetition helps to reprogram the subconscious mind and achieve an overall sense of wellbeing.

As we all know, times are tough right now. In addition to the acute medical crisis caused by the Pandemic, in our post COVID world, we are also experiencing what some have called a “mental health pandemic”.

What can each of us do to get out of this “Pandemic Induced Mental and Emotional Funk”?

One tool that each of us has access to is the simple power of daily gratitude. As a part of our series about the “How Each Of Us Can Leverage The Power Of Gratitude To Improve Our Overall Mental Wellness” I had the pleasure of interviewing Tania Richardson.

Tania Richardson is the co-founder and CEO of Tomas Pearce Interior Design, an award-winning international design firm that specializes in luxury residential and commercial designs.

After studying interior design and working as a designer for top local firms, Tania was inspired to set out on her own, partnering with a former colleague to launch their design consulting business in 2005. Today, with over 150 active projects across North America, Tania acts as the business lead of Tomas Pearce, ensuring projects are fulfilled while leading a staff of almost 20.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dive into our discussion, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about you and about what brought you to your specific career path?

A linear career path was never in the cards for me. I was inherently an entrepreneur, risk-taker, change-maker, builder, creative, curious, type of kid. From building tree forts and running lemonade stands to, initiating change through petition by the age of 12, my momentum and drive started from a young age. I always had an innate passion for design and eventually pursued my dreams of becoming an Interior Designer. Upon launching the business, my position of CEO evolved by way of company growth and expansion. Which in turn, has created a platform to expand awareness and contribute to sustainable social change.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

I consider the most interesting story of my career my own personal gratitude story. Seven years ago, an unwieldy incident occurred at work. As the events unfolded, I felt the weight of the world crash down on my shoulders. It was in this moment of discomfort that my courage, inner strength, and perseverance were discovered.

Later that year, I found myself backpacking through the jungle on my way to a remote retreat in Ubud, Bali, to learn and develop a foundation of mindfulness and gratitude. I returned home with a profound sense of self-discovery, new life skills and tools, and an integration of mindfulness, a daily gratitude practice, and an understanding of humility.

At the time, I didn’t realize that it would be the beginning of a life-changing journey: this experience led me to launch a successful company and opened up my path to discovering a deeper sense of self. This experience also laid the foundation from which I continue to build and practice gratitude and mindfulness subsequently.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Why do you think that resonates with you? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life?

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

C.S. Lewis

I believe that there are two things in life we can control: our actions and our reactions. Life will always teach us lessons and throw unexpected curve balls our way, but it is how we act and react at that moment that will define the outcome.

Often when we fail or face adversities in life, we instill limiting beliefs that we aren’t good enough, strong enough, fast enough, or smart enough. Having failed many times before, I have learned it is not about failing, it’s about our actions and our reactions to failing that count. My goal is to overcome this limiting belief system so that we can change the outcome of our situation. With gratitude, we can learn to harness our power from within to help us work through and overcome these moments.

My belief is that finding gratitude in moments of despair will help us to become more resilient to life’s experiences. In my personal experience, I have healed faster and bounced back stronger by embracing the things that I am grateful for, rather than dwelling on the negatives. By embracing gratitude and shattering limiting beliefs, we can and will change the ending — and achieve success!

Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story about why that resonated with you?

There are so many great books that I have read and learned from. From The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey to the likes of Dying to be Me by Anita Moorjani; I often select books that will develop my mindset and challenge any limiting beliefs I may have placed upon myself. I read to learn, to be inspired, and to empower myself with knowledge. From an array of subjects to an assortment of ideologies, I would not be the person I am today without the knowledge learned from these amazing authors and the writings they have shared.

The biggest takeaway from reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, is the Sharpening of the Saw chapter. It created awareness in my own life and how I wasn’t nurturing the fundamental elements of myself, for myself. For many years I was an unbalanced workaholic, focusing all my energies on my career and leaving little time or space to actually enjoy life. After reading this book and having a newfound awareness, I was inspired to make a change. While these changes didn’t happen miraculously overnight, it was the beginning of a journey that would ultimately define my story of personal growth and self-development.

Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we work, interact, and live. As our team designs the interiors and amenities for a substantial amount of condominium developers, we have been tasked with re-evaluating communal living spaces, particularly those of lobbies and amenities.

With space at a premium and social distancing at a maximum, it’s been an interesting challenge to create and redefine the new normal for shared common areas. We are truly transforming the way people experience condo living.

Beyond the grand design, furnishings, and décor details; social distancing is a new narrative that has forever changed the commercial interior design industry. Our job is to ensure that health and wellness are a large part of the end design and that new social distancing measures appear seamless — without compromising the quality of design or creating limitations within a space.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

I am grateful to my business partner. I can remember the moment which propelled us forward on this amazing journey: it was New Year’s Day when I received a call from him, and he announced that he was going to join me full-time to establish our interior design practice. We had worked together for many years prior and had often dreamt of starting our firm. Now, here we are 16 years later, building a brand with exceptional culture and values while redefining the skyline to create living environments that will be shared by many generations for years to come.

In my mind, though, it would be an oversight to credit one particular person to our success, as it has taken supportive families and friends, dedicated employees, consultants, clients, suppliers, and trades to get to where we are today. It truly takes a village to do what we do. Without the help and support of each one of these amazing people, we could not be as successful as we are. We remain humble and grateful as this support system has, and continues to, champion us.

Ok, thank you for all that. Now that we are on the topic of gratitude, let’s move to the main focus of our interview. As you know, the collective mental health of our country is facing extreme pressure. We would like to explore together how every one of us can use gratitude to improve our mental wellness. Let’s start with a basic definition of terms. How do you define the concept of Gratitude? Can you explain what you mean?

In my opinion, gratitude can be defined in 3 specific ways:

  1. A person with a grateful disposition, who feels gratitude at their core being. An effective trait that has deep roots embedded in a mindful practice.
  2. A mood we feel day to day, which can be embraced or fluctuate based on our personal experiences.

An emotion or temporary feeling when we receive a gift or gesture of kindness from someone else, or as a result of their actions.

Why do you think so many people do not feel gratitude? How would you articulate why a simple emotion can be so elusive?

In a world where we so often compare ourselves to others (thanks in part to the abundance of social media channels), feelings of gratitude can be overshadowed. Oftentimes, rather than feeling grateful for what we do have, we are left wanting more and take the ‘grass is always greener’ approach.

Gratitude is an internal process, a feeling, or emotion. I believe that many people do not easily feel gratitude simply because they have not been taught how to. We are not innately taught how to process our internal emotions. Having a grateful disposition is a mindset, one that is often overshadowed by searching for joy and happiness externally. Once we discover how simple a gratitude practice can be, we can then begin to make profound changes in our lives with ease and grace.

If there is one positive that has come from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that many of us are taking the time to stop and feel grateful for the smaller, simpler things and pleasures in life. From being in good health, having positive supports and relationships, or even being grateful for the simple enjoyment of sharing a meal with friends, it has created new perspective.

This might be intuitive to you but I think it will be constructive to help spell it out. Can you share with us a few ways that increased gratitude can benefit and enhance our life?

The benefits of gratitude are abundant and long-lasting. Research shows that gratitude has positive effects physically, emotionally, mentally, and socially. Science shows gratitude can actually alter the human heart and molecular structure of the brain. Gratitude has been proven to reduce anxiety, strengthen the immune system, improve quality of sleep, our mental health, and overall wellbeing.

Research shows that those who practice gratitude will also spend more time exercising. They have abundant energy and are more inclined to produce better work results and meet their goals. They develop stronger social support systems and have healthier relationships, including with family, friends, and co-workers.

Anyone can incorporate a gratitude practice into their lives. By spending only a few minutes each day focusing on the things we are grateful for, we stand to gain access to several amazing benefits that can enhance every facet of our lives. From the food we eat to the roof over our heads, there is always something to be grateful for. Take a moment now to think about something you are grateful for today.

Let’s talk about mental wellness in particular. Can you share with us a few examples of how gratitude can help improve mental wellness?

Gratitude has the ability to re-wire the brain. As mentioned above, individuals who have a daily gratitude practice are generally happier, more confident, have a surplus of energy, manage stress better and sleep better. When we practice gratitude our brain releases dopamine and serotonin. When we release these neurotransmitters, we feel good — which improves our mental wellness. It’s really that simple!

Combine a gratitude practice with outdoor activities, meditation, exercise, a healthy diet, massage therapy, and creative outlets, and you have a solid foundation for improved mental wellness.

Ok wonderful. Now here is the main question of our discussion. From your experience or research, what are “Five Ways That Each Of Us Can Leverage The Power Of Gratitude To Improve Our Overall Mental Wellness”. Can you please share a story or example for each?

There are many ways you can leverage of the power of gratitude to improve overall mental wellness, here are 5 effective ways you can begin to develop your daily gratitude practice.

  1. Spend a few moments each day to write down 3 things you are grateful for. Studies have shown gratitude changes your brain. From the way we communicate to the words we choose; gratitude shifts our emotions to a feel-good state. Daily journaling is a great way to start the day with a grateful mindset. When we give thanks for the things we already have in our lives, we begin to live in a state of gratitude. As a result, we begin to feel better physically, emotionally, mentally, and socially. The power of gratitude in daily repetition helps to reprogram the subconscious mind and achieve an overall sense of wellbeing.
  2. The more gratitude you give, the more gratitude you will receive. A simple “thank you” can go a long way. Socially, our relationships improve with a gratitude practice. Next time someone does something kind for you, make sure to thank them (verbally or write them a little note to express your gratitude). When we give and receive gratitude, we feel good, our self-esteem improves, we build confidence, and our relationships improve!
  3. Be mindful: practice living in the present moment. When we live in the present moment, our minds focus on the here and now. Being mindful allows us to take note of our surroundings, observe the moment and give gratitude for the day. Without effort, thoughts of anxiety and depression can begin to fade. There are many ways to practice mindfulness, from everyday tasks to spending time in nature. Mindfulness can be practiced anytime and anywhere.
  4. Practice random acts of kindness. Did you know that random acts of kindness can actually impact your immune system? When we do random acts of kindness for others, our brain releases oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine. Try doing something kind for someone and expect nothing in return, you will feel remarkable as your brain releases these neurotransmitters and helps to boost your mood and overall wellbeing. My favorite random act of kindness is to purchase a coffee or tea for the person behind me in line at a local coffee drive-through.
  5. Meditate: a great way to spend time in a state of gratitude. While this word scares many people off, it is very simple: the hardest part is getting over the fear of the word ‘meditation!’ There is no right or wrong way to do it and you can make time for it. Start by taking 2 minutes (set a timer) each day to think about all the things you are grateful for. This will put you instantly into a state of gratitude. When you are ready to expand this practice, the internet is an abundant resource for guided and visual gratitude meditations. Find one you enjoy and listen to it for a week and take note of how it makes you feel.

Is there a particular practice that can be used during a time when one is feeling really down, really vulnerable, or really sensitive?

One of the easiest and quickest ways to boost your mood and calm your mind is to ground yourself. Grounding is a great tool for everyone of all ages. It can be done standing or sitting, anywhere and anytime. Try this quick and effective visual exercise:

While standing or sitting comfortably — plant your feet firmly on the ground. Close your eyes, breathe and begin to imagine the roots of a tree growing from the bottom of your feet into the center of the earth. Take a few deep breaths and notice how you feel strong and centered. This visual grounding exercise will bring a calming sensation over the body and will help quiet the mind.

Then, get outside for some fresh air! Going for a walk or sitting in nature is the perfect solution when we are feeling down. Find some green space, a body of water, or even a nearby tree. Take a moment to settle into your body and feel yourself breathe in the fresh air. Be present, using all of your senses, and take note of your surroundings. What do you see, smell, hear, feel?

Do you have any favorite books, podcasts, or resources that you would recommend to our readers to help them to live with gratitude?

These are a few of my favourite resources for those hoping to start on a gratitude journey:

My favorite online learning platform is Mindvalley, it’s a great resource tool for your mind, body and soul (www.mindvalley.com).

Reading

  • The Little Book of Gratitude — Robert A. Emmons PhD
  • The Little Book of Mindfulness — Dr. Patrizia Collard
  • The Gifts of Imperfection — Brené Brown
  • The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck — Mark Manson

Social media is an ample resource to learn about gratitude and how to find a practice that suits your time and life. From Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to gratitude apps, find an outlet to inspires you. In the famous words of Marshall McLuhan “We become what we behold. We shape our tools, and then our tools shape us.”

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

If I could start a movement, it would have to do with mindfulness. Mindfulness and gratitude go hand in hand. I truly believe that mindfulness and gratitude are the foundation for happiness and success in business and life! When we are mindful, our mind, body, and soul are in alignment. We make better choices and live healthier lives. We remain present in our bodies and live in the here and now. We become happier and more resilient.

When we live in the present moment, we can achieve flow. When we are in our flow, we can set our intentions and achieve great success. Mindfulness is free and easy to integrate into everyone’s daily life. Its benefits are abundant and have life-changing and profound effects. If you don’t believe me, give it a try and see for yourself!

What is the best way our readers can further follow your work online?

Website: www.tomaspearce.com

Instagram: @tomaspearceinteriordesign

Facebook: Tomas Pearce Interior Design Consulting Inc.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tania-richardson-38733414

Thank you for the time you spent sharing these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!

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Authority Magazine
Authority Magazine

Published in Authority Magazine

In-depth Interviews with Authorities in Business, Pop Culture, Wellness, Social Impact, and Tech. We use interviews to draw out stories that are both empowering and actionable.

Parveen Panwar, Mr. Activated
Parveen Panwar, Mr. Activated

Written by Parveen Panwar, Mr. Activated

Entrepreneur, angel investor and syndicated columnist, as well as a yoga, holistic health, breathwork and meditation enthusiast. Unlock the deepest powers

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