I find Tagore's poem 'The Palm Tree' really helps me to calm my mind and body when I am feeling stressed. In my blog below I explain why this poem inspires me and some of the strategies I use to find my own calm amidst the storm. The Palm Tree Palm-tree: single-legged giant, topping other … Continue reading The Poetry of Trees
I recently chatted to Anya Hayes of motherswellnesstoolkit.wordpress.com about strategies I use to stay on top of things. Here is the chat: 1. Tell me about yourself! Tell me more about your day job, how long you’ve been doing it, how you came to write your book. I worked as a Primary School teacher (Key … Continue reading What’s in your wellness toolkit?
I began to feel more connected to myself and to the world around me. I recently spoke to The Happiness Compass as part of their 'Free Thinkers' series. Here is my interview: There are lots of mindfulness books at the moment - what makes yours different? 'Here and Now' is an experiential book that I … Continue reading Interview with The Happiness Compass
There are many benefits of mindfulness including better sleep, improved immune function and a reduction in stress and anxiety. With all of these benefits you might think that mindfulness must be hard work and demand a lot of time to practise. But you don't have to wait until you are able to clear a daily … Continue reading 4 ways to make space for mindfulness in your day
A young man goes to a monastery and says, 'If I join you, become a monk and meditate every day, how long before I become enlightened?'. The Abbot says, 'about 10 years'. The man thinks this sounds like a really long time. He considers for a bit and then says, 'but if I work extremely … Continue reading Don’t try too hard!
When we are stressed, it can feel as though our mind has become tangled up with worry. We might try to 'think' our way out of the stress but find that this only makes it worse: the more we attach to the worry, the tighter the knots become. When you are trying to untie a … Continue reading Easing stress with mindfulness
I recently read a story of a woman who was suffering from semantic dementia, a condition that caused her to lose her words. She had just 4000 words remaining (most adult English speakers have 20,000-35,000). This woman's husband had recently passed away and she lived alone. When asked by a neuroscientist how she felt, she … Continue reading Intimate Language
