Three minutes of calm
When there is a lot going on, in the world and also perhaps in our personal lives, I find it helpful to intentionally include practices during the day which are grounding and calming.
A mindful festive season
I can really relate to this Zen saying – usually those times when we most need the practices which ground us are exactly the periods when we abandon them.
Asking for help
There is a humility in asking for help – it brings us home to a sense of our common humanity. The words humility and humanity have the same root as the Latin word ‘humus’, which means soil or ground. When we are grounded, we feel comfortable being part of the natural cycle of giving and receiving.
A well-tended life
A well-tended life is less a matter of ‘this is what you should do’, but more a question of ‘I wonder what might be needed today, given this time and place, and my particular circumstances?’
Daily joy
‘Joy comes from touching things that are refreshing and beautiful, within and outside of ourselves.’
Finding balance
‘Let tiny drops of stillness fall gently through your day.’
Holiday favourites – nourishing ourselves
Regular mindfulness meditation can help us become more receptive to the nourishment which is present in our lives.
Feeling relaxed
Even when life is busy, we can benefit from slowing down the pace a little; and we can also choose to build little ‘relaxation moments’ into our day.
Finding our balance
I find that the ability to centre ourselves into what we are doing, rather than feeling ourselves pulled in all directions, is one of the greatest gifts of mindfulness.
The soothing system – Part 2
Two key factors were involved in evoking the relaxation response – repetition, and disregarding other thoughts when they come to our mind.