Articles and blog posts written by team members, tutors and supervisors of the Mindfulness Association about how they bring mindfulness into their lives.
Each morning when I practice I choose one of Pema Chodron’s compassion cards, which accompany her book ‘Start where you are’ (both excellent additions to any Christmas list). I select a card at random and then read the relevant section of the book, which is often just a couple of paragraphs. I take this as…
This past weekend was set aside for putting up the Christmas tree. I have all sorts of wonderful childhood memories of decorating the tree with my family. My mother would make snacks and hors d’oeuvres and there would be carols playing and everything seemed perfect. Although, I am beginning to think I may have had…
At Christmas time, with the night’s drawing in, we can find ourself cooped up in the house. This can feel quite claustrophobic, especially if we are guests or if we have guests staying over the Christmas period. Also, with all the over-eating, alcohol and Christmas telly a good walk in the fresh air can blow…
Many of us struggle with the coming together of old friends and family that happens at Christmas. So how do we bring ourself fully into these occasions? I think first it is important to acknowledge that some relationships are difficult, due to clashes (or more likely similarities) in personality. This is part of the rich…
I did my Christmas shopping yesterday, with my husband and daughter. We had a fun day out, spent enough but not too much money and hopefully bought some nice gifts that will be enjoyed by our friends and family. In general, Christmas troubles me: the unrealistic expectations, the excess, the over-spending, especially in an economy…
I enjoy this Coldplay lyric from 2011’s ‘Every Teardrop is a Waterfall’ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyMhvkC3A84) and so apparently do they, as it has been used again in the recent ‘Miracles’ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7atDQreame4). Our mind state inside effects everything. We know this from the difference between the days when we get out of the wrong side or the right…
I am on my way to Manchester to for our weekly MAHQ meeting. I travel down from Lockerbie nowadays and I have to change at Preston. Today my train onwards from Preston was cancelled amid a wonderful array of conflicting announcements – that it was on time, that it was delayed and that it was…
I had an interesting insight in my practice, quite devastating. It was that I have been living in my threat system my whole life. My mind and body have been wired accordingly so that every change, every uncertainty is a potential threat. Most thoughts that are engaged set me into spirals of planning for future…
Are you looking to develop and deepen your skills at mindful inquiry, while creating the conditions for holding and facilitating safe sharing within groups? Check out our CPD course that is taking place on March 23-25th 2018 at Samye Ling Tibetan Centre. This course meets the requirements of the UK Network of Mindfulness- Based Teacher…