LoveMindfulness

In the long run, avoidance of unwanted emotions doesn’t work. In the wise words of children's author Michael Rosen, "We can't go over it. We can't go under it. We've got to go through it!" Excerpt from 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt' The amygdala hijack came without warning: a sudden, undesired takeover by stress hormones. I had been sitting in a trustees' training session, feeling relaxed. The trainer was a thoughtful woman, and knowledgeable about her subject: workplace apprai

Something different had replaced that old, harsh script: " stupid idiot! "  Ten minutes after parking in the new-to-me, cheaper car park, I was no closer to buying my ticket. I'd considered myself organised for downloading the parking app beforehand. But now I was failing, on repeat, to verify my bank card. Cue an urgent call to my partner at home to look up a password. That didn't work either. I was now late for a meeting. I felt like a failure. The many previous times I hav

It was a battle to compete with the wall of sound, and we were the losers. It wasn't what I'd expected! The lack of response stung. Looking back, I saw that my expectations of the occasion had been unrealistic. In fact, they were the main cause of the hurt I felt.   In my mind's eye, the party guests were going to pause their conversations and gather around. As we donned our guitars, a respectful hush would fall. Everyone would be keen to hear the three songs my friend and I

Take a moment to mentally step back. Ask yourself, 'how important would this issue look six months from now? ..A few years on?' I find that in most cases, the answer is 'not important at all'. Sometimes, this flags up what is  important. Often, this is to do with our relationships. It matters how we treat people, including ourselves.   By this time of year, hedgehogs, dormice and bats have tucked themselves away for the winter. Hibernation is nature's way of surviving the co

The nervous system does not differentiate 'social' threat from bodily threat. We all meet risk in our lives. Even if we do not practice extreme sports or live in a war zone, we still have to negotiate busy roads. Yet, for most of us, times when we are at physical risk are few. More often it is not a physical threat but everyday interactions that seem to present danger. Here, the sense of threat arises in relation not to the body, but to one's idea of oneself . Most of us li

A quality of solidarity, free from the social pressures that can hover as we navigate our interactions with others As the meditation drew...

A full bowl is an apt symbol of being crammed with thoughts and ideas. An empty bowl suggests openness to something new. A space for the...

At its most enjoyable, meditation has brought me sublime experiences of open-hearted joy. But it has also brought some nasty surprises....

It was impossible! I'd made a four-foot-tall sculpture of a standing woman and was trying to get her to balance on her feet. Nope. It...

I sensed that she had me rumbled. Why couldn't I admit the truth?  It doesn't make any sense to breathe in but not breathe out again. Or...

How not to build regrets Avocet: crayon rubbing With wax crayon in hand and paper flapping in the wind, I took a rubbing from the...

Living in a town and surrounded by managed land, qualities of the wild can seem in short supply. The squally rain on the corrugated roof...

Was my body showing me how to grieve? I'd signed up for my regular New Year (online) retreat months ago. The natural pause between...

The separation of death is not as absolute as it might seem A huge flock of gulls rose up from down the hill, mesmerising as they wheeled...

She made a decision which would alter the course of her life from that point. She saw how easy it would be to spiral into anger and...

I have never seen a billboard that says:   You have enough. You do enough. You are enough. Online advertisers seem to know that I am...

This does not tend to feature in the marketing of mindfulness! I was so cross when I received that email! It was the latest salvo in a...

Shame is an uncomfortable, unwanted, emotion. But is it always a bad thing? I arrived early in the meditation room, looking for a place...

Ellie (as I'll call her here) arrived at our school with a fearsome reputation. I was warned: “Watch out! She’ll go for your eyes!”...

I have tried a few times to express appreciation to my friend. He has a big heart and he’s also a capable, practical man. But he shies...