Have you ever felt really calm and zen after an early morning swim, walk or meditation yet a family member says or does that one thing and you feel overtaken with irritation/rage/worry/fear or despair as if you were a completely different person than who you were 5 minutes ago? I have, daily!! Read more to understand how Internal Family Systems describes this process that we all experience.
I was in a lot of pain recently, waiting for the pain relief to kick in when I realised I was fighting it with my mind ( ‘oh no what if I can’t.....I don’t want to feel like this.....this is so unfair.....why me?.....will this make it go away? ‘ Etc). Suddenly I remembered mindfulness so I… Continue reading Mind Full Of Pain
I’ve been very lucky to have supervision at work with Sue G. who also teaches / practices mindfulness. Together we have come up with some great ideas on how to be a little more mindful at work:Mindfulness Bell clock on the computer (download for free and create your own timing). This is a great little… Continue reading More Mindful At Work
Phew....it's tricky getting back into getting everyone (including me!) to work and school on time! Something I have found so useful....especially when we are running late and I want to deliver that all-time lecture to the kids!....is to breathe out to the very last bit of air I have at least 3 times! For a more… Continue reading Mindful Monday Mornings
Have you noticed that mindfulness helps you deal with strong emotions? Occasionally in the last couple of months I have been overwhelmed with a strong unpleasant emotion......and I have to say initially disappointed that mindfulness didn't help me to AVOID feeling that bad!!! So the strength of the emotion is still there.....but somehow all of… Continue reading More Mindful Meltdowns
I wish I could say the reason why I haven't written a blog for so long was because I was being so mindful!! But instead is was because of a big trip to Western Australia, school holidays, returning to work and kids returning to school and lately because my partner has been away....sigh! I found… Continue reading Not So Mindful Mayhem!
I did a great grounding ceremony today that apparently Tarchan Hearn teaches ( I couldn't find a reference online) where just as with the raisin activity in the blog above (thank you Permaculture Tales!) you do the same with a cup of tea; engage all of the senses and really take your time to take each sip.....then… Continue reading Grounding Tea Ceremony
I just love this post on the science of loving kindness meditation!! http://dereksdharma.wordpress.com/
I was walking along with my kids one Monday evening and with a jolt out of my inner ramblings I realised the river had flowed the day before!! We had celebrated the rain and hoped the river would flow.....but somehow we had ended up relishing a wet, cool day at home and not gone anywhere!… Continue reading Not So Mindful Monday!!
Mindful Breathing really helped me get through a very intense weekend with the extended family, thank you for these wise words! I am loving reading Thich Nhat Hahn’s book FEAR (that I found at the airport bookshop on the weekend) with such practical strategies on how to be mindful and honour and reassure ourselves around our fears. 🙂
Our breathing is a stable solid ground that we can take refuge in. Regardless of our internal weather- our thoughts, emotions and perceptions- our breathing is always with us like a faithful friend. Whenever we feel carried away, or sunken in a deep emotion, or scattered in worries and projects, we return to our breathing to collect and anchor our mind. We feel the flow of air coming in and going out of our nose. We feel how light and natural, how calm and peaceful our breathing functions. At any time, we can return to this peaceful source of life.
Thich Nhat Hahn
Deep Heart Wisdom 