Self-compassion and meditation can help manage perfectionism and reduce anxiety and stress. Perfectionism We all have different ways of approaching a task and different work styles. If you're a perfectionist, you probably have really high standards for yourself and are quite focused on making sure everything is 'just right'. This can certainly have benefits, but can … Continue reading Struggling with perfectionism? Here’s how self compassion and meditation can help.
The Poetry of Trees
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
What’s in your wellness toolkit?
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?
Interview with The Happiness Compass
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
4 ways to make space for mindfulness in your day
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
Don’t try too hard!
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!
Easing stress with mindfulness
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
Intimate Language
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
Embodied Listening
A couple of years ago, I heard a story on the radio about a lady whose husband had voiced the announcements for the London Underground. Since her husband had passed away, this woman had visited her local underground station daily to hear his voice. One day, she arrived to find her husband's voice had been replaced … Continue reading Embodied Listening
Root Bound
Sometimes, when we are stressed or fearful, it can feel as though our thoughts are wrapping around and around themselves in the darkness. We will often rehearse the same thoughts over and over only further reinforcing the feeling of stuckness. We might know that we are doing it but we can't get out of the … Continue reading Root Bound
