Loving kindness meditation practice is a big part of the curriculum of the Mindfulness Association’s courses. In our mindfulness courses we practice loving kindness for a dear friend and then loving kindness for a dear friend and ourselves. In our compassion courses we practice widening the circles of loving kindness, where we start with a…
Every time I have ‘too much to do ’ I have to really take myself for a walk, and there’s always resistance. I’ve learned to lean into the resistances, if only I can get myself away from my desk and out the door, or on to the cushion. I seem to be glued to the…
Last week, I learned how when something difficult or very stressful happens to us, no matter how big or small, it is possible that it doesn’t get stored in the right way in the brain. It’s as if it gets stored in the wrong cupboard. Science tells us that the memories of traumatic events get…
Not being one who likes to be stuck indoors all day, I ventured out onto the cliffs by the sea, taking a risk that the black cloud pouring its contents into the sea, would continue its journey away from the land. I was wrong. It seemingly waited patiently, lulling me into a false sense of…
“Rather than letting our negativity get the better of us, we could acknowledge that right now we feel like a piece of shit and not be squeamish about taking a good look.” Pema Chödrön Well last week stress got the better of me. I forgot I was a mindfulness teacher let alone a mindfulness practitioner…
One of the jobs I get to do is to come up with the monthly themes and phrases for the MA monthly calendar. Then I send them on to Lisa, who works her magic and creates the beautiful calendars. For Christmas I chose a theme of connecting at Christmas because often this can be emotionally…
Last week I led a five day compassion retreat as part of our Level 2: Responding with compassion course. It was intense, in a good way, and for many participants transformative. At the end of the course we had a sharing, which conveyed the significant switches of perspective that people had experienced, in particular a…
As I reflect on how scary and difficult being human can be, Rumi’s words come into my mind. “This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they’re a crowd of…
Happiness cannot be found through great effort and willpower, but is already here, right now, in relaxation and letting go. Don’t strain yourself, there is nothing to do. Whatever arises in the mind has no importance at all, because it has no reality whatsoever. Don’t become attached to it. Don’t pass judgement. Let the game…