We are what we think
We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts, With our thoughts we make the world … Buddha Be in charge: with our thoughts we make our world You may be finding it especially difficult right now to feel that you’re in charge of your thoughts. Aside from your…
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Mindfulness and Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IBS stands for Irritable Bowel Syndrome As April is IBS Awareness Month in the UK, let’s look at how mindfulness and irritable bowel syndrome are linked. There is no one specific cause of this distressing condition of the digestive system. However, if you suffer with it, or indeed, any chronic illness, managing your ability to…
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How to unhook from ruminating thoughts
You’ve probably tried before to unhook from ruminating thoughts. You know the ones – the unhelpful thoughts, memories and worries that are insistent and pretty tenacious! They often appear when you’re trying to sleep. Or before you are about to do something big because those thoughts include an inner critic who says you won’t be…
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What do you want from Mindfulness and Meditation?
If you are considering learning about mindfulness and meditation, perhaps through a course, here are the key reasons for doing so. Learning in this way is practical and enjoyable, and I wouldn’t be without mindfulness and meditation in my life. If you already have a practice, this may also remind you why! The words ‘mindfulness’…
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Find Calm in a Queue
Are you stuck in a queue? How can you find calm in the situation? Today we seem to be even more intolerant of delays in our everyday lives. You might be at the supermarket or any shop, the bank or the bus stop. Use these enforced pauses to be more mindful and get into a…
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Your Guide to Learning Mindfulness with Place of Serenity
You’re a busy individual working hard and juggling the responsibilities of your life. But do you sometimes feel as though you’re a hamster on a tread wheel? Or you’ve stepped off that tread wheel because life circumstances have changed, yet your mind is still whizzing constantly? Here’s your guide to learning mindfulness with Place of…
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Help! I am Feeling Overwhelmed
How to unhook from feeling overwhelmed Maybe right now you are overwhelmed by anxiety, fear, loneliness, difficult thoughts or low mood? Whatever it is, you feel as though an avalanche is happening. You have a sense of drowning. Engulfed in the overwhelming experience. So what do you do? Turn to your heart ‘…Do not strengthen…
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5 Simple Stress-busting Tips
You might be busy with numerous tasks at work. Experiencing worrying family news that is out of your control. Spending a lot of time feeling despondent, anxious or regretful. Everyone’s lives are uniquely different, but here are 5 simple stress-busting tips you can adapt to suit your kind of day. Remember that you have…
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Take better care of your stress and anxiety
Stress and anxiety can take on a life of their own. We end up worrying about the stress and anxiety. We feel we need to beat it, overpower it, take charge of it. Here’s an alternative: use the language of love. Be loving, inspiring and uplifting towards yourself because it’s a fact that where the…
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Shift from Anxiety to Self-compassion
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 judgmental. This further supports the idea that kindness and self-compassion are soft options. Yet a shift from anxiety to self-compassion…
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8 Tips to Feel Good with Natural Highs
Your body’s natural highs help you feel good – healthy, fulfilled and happy What are these natural highs? We’re all familiar with nutrition and exercise (walking, dancing, swimming, yoga, sex etc.) and how influential they are for our health and wellbeing. Your brain is continually keeping your body in working order and does so with…
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3 Approaches to a Difficult Situation
Have you got into a rut in your life? It’s common enough. You’re in a rut and find yourself in a difficult situation. Remember that you’re not broken, simply stuck. And there are choices to be made. Maybe you’ve lost touch with what is really important to you. You’ve forgotten who you really want to…
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April is Stress Awareness Month
April is stress awareness month It’s good to highlight an issue that so many of us experience to varying degrees. Small amounts of stress are part of life, yet it can so easily become overwhelming. I’ve pulled together some links with information and podcasts that may provide you with ideas and reminders. Stress awareness month…
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Keep Calm and be Mindful!
You wake up. You launch yourself into the day. Like a rocket or a whirling dervish, in a blur of landscape. Or do you drag yourself out of bed with groans and great reluctance. You will yourself to be motivated! Either way, here’s how to start your day and keep calm and be mindful. Steps…
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The ‘quiet revolution’ of Being Mindful at Work
Could Mindfulness be responsible for a ‘quiet revolution’ spreading across our businesses and UK government? I wanted to learn more about how being mindful at work can be a powerful tool. So in September 2014 I attended the International Conference for ‘Mindfulness at Work’ at Cranfield University*. The event provided a platform to hear from…
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3 Steps to Stay Sane at Work
How do you stay sane at work? Everyone’s experiences are different but see how you might adapt these following 3 steps to stay sane at work. Try these 3 steps to stay sane at work Step 1 Close down your emails and schedule times in the day to open and deal with them. Each time…
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10 Tips for Tranquility over the Festive Season
Christmas is on it’s way once more! It is a very different experience for each of us and can get pretty stressful. Balance your health and wellbeing with these 10 tips for tranquility so that you can fully enjoy the festive season! 1. Gratitude practice We have much to appreciate at this time of year.…
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Manage Stress at Work
Stress at Work “The old stigmas about mental health are finally beginning to fade as employers realise that a sit back and wait approach to such issues is no longer an option,” said Mike Blake, director at PMI Health Group. “Being proactive and making regular checks on employees’ emotional, as well as physical, health should…
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Negative Thoughts and the Sabre-toothed Tiger
If you were to count up the number of negative thoughts you had in a day, how many would there be? My guess is plenty pop up unbidden! Negative Thoughts The human brain has a negativity bias and we are alive today because of this! Our ancestors were on the alert for danger every second…
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Why should I be kind to myself?
‘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…
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The Incredible Power of Relaxation
It’s not a dirty word – relaxation. Yet it’s easy to forget the incredible power of relaxation. We need to relax when we feel tired and run-down. But we also need to relax in our everyday reactions. When challenging things happen, our tendency is to react swiftly. This is our in-built defence mechanism. It’s commonly…
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