Your brain likes to conserve energy. Lots of things you do occur on autopilot so that you can function easily and swiftly. But possibly less helpful are your thoughts on autopilot. Me and My Big Mouth! You may find you go through the motions of your life on autopilot. Yet it’s not just your day-to-day Continue reading
Do you find yourself with no control over your thoughts? They become overwhelming, unhelpful and relentless. When you are bombarded by thoughts, let mindfulness help! Step 1 Thinking is normal and natural There are no right or wrong thoughts. With mindful awareness, you can notice you’re having these thoughts without judging yourself. This can be Continue reading
‘All our reactions to people, to situations, to thoughts in our mind – are actually reactions to the kind of sensations that are arising in our body.’ Tara Brach, ‘Radical Acceptance’ It’s worth reading Tara Brach’s words carefully! It’s easy for us all to forget that our bodies are finely-tuned towards wisdom. You can access Continue reading
‘In a world where you can be anything, be kind’ To yourself. To others Be kind to yourself Have you noticed that you don’t often apply this idea to yourself? To others, yes, but to be kind to yourself? This might even seem a strange concept – you are getting through your days with a Continue reading
Being mindful is neither a chore nor a rigid set of rules. Experience a mindful Christmas of joy and quiet pleasure. Enjoy these simple reminders! ‘During the next few weeks, observe yourself compassionately, like a professional chess player watching a three-year-old learn the moves. Notice when you become stressed, manic, demanding, anxious, or seized by Continue reading
We tend to be hard task-masters, tough on ourselves. We sometimes view gentleness, compassion and kindness as weaknesses. Does this sound familiar? Our media and the world around us is aggressive and harsh, cruel and judgemental. This further supports the idea that kindness and self-compassion are soft options. Yet a shift from anxiety to self-compassion Continue reading
Most of us put on a brave front. We push ourselves harder and we keep positive. And yet beneath the veneer of success or mask of serenity that we’ve created, we often don’t feel good enough. A ‘trance of unworthiness’ lies beneath all our endeavours. This is Tara Brach’s term – a trance of unworthiness Continue reading
Life is busy and it’s easy to let stress build up. Yet even within the busiest of towns and cities where you might work you can find tranquillity. Finding Tranquillity in Unexpected Places By seeking out nature you can enjoy a tranquil spot which provides space to reflect and recover from stress. I love these Continue reading
When making decisions – do you trust yourself? You’re sitting on your own, in your home. You’ve changed out of your work clothes and you’re relaxed. No-one is around. Who are you when everything else has dropped away? Your name, age, religion, job title and any other labels you have for yourself no longer define Continue reading
What, for you, are the most obvious signs of stress? A little stress is healthy but when you’re experiencing it for longer lengths of time, it can become a problem. Some of your most obvious signs of stress might be easy to pinpoint yet signs of stress can reveal themselves in more complex ways. There Continue reading
