| Dear All
I was hanging out the washing on one of the very damp misty mornings that we have experienced this month, and bemoaning yet another grey sky, then I noticed the intricate designs of cobwebs attached to the line. Later on a walk with my dog, I saw that every bush was covered with bejewelled cobwebs.
Seeing clearly is a key element of mindfulness. Shining the torch-beam of awareness when noticing the little things,can we begin where we are.
– noticing things as they are rather than putting a negative judging spin on an experience; Bringing a flavour of curiosity of where we are
– noticing how we bring our attention is it leading towards or away from stress
– noticing how we interact with, or influence, our experience whether pleasant, unpleasant or neutral
– noticing when we are ‘sleep-walking though life’ and are not really there in our bodies in the present moment.
– bringing a different lens of appreciation?What would it be like to bring an edge of warmth ,warm attention kindness to our experience .
Using the mirror as a metaphor – a mirror needs to be still to see in it clearly. If it is cracked, dusty or smudged then we see things distorted, as we do if we hold it too tightly or hate and cringe at what we see. Can we hold the mirror gently so it reflects what is there?
In tough times, our attention is easily hijacked, caught up in a big worry blob. What if we come underneath the worry blob, notice what is going on: emotions, thoughts, physical sensations?
Bringing curiosity to what I was seeing took me to a different place, getting under the worry and anxiety and exploring what was really there underneath. Paying attention to the spider’s web and its beauty took me past my automatic reaction and nipped the unskillful reactions in the bud.
So, as an invitation this month, try noticing the little things, bringing curiosity to ‘what is going on here’, and being aware of what is happening externally and internally.
Monday evening Zoom Mindfulness & Self-Compassion sessions start again on September 6th. 7.30 – 8.30 p.m. Donations of £5/session
Dear Judging Mind
Dear judging mind.
How dare you find
Fault in others.
How dare you lay blame,
Secretive aggression under cover.
Criminal at large.
Dear judging mind.
How dare you find
Fault in me.
How dare you point out
All the flawed things you see.
An uncomfortable barrage.
Dear judging mind.
How dare you find
Fault in yourself.
Target and arrow, your chances of escape
Are narrow.
Judge, jury and executioner,
You are guilty as charged.
I’ve decided,
All that being said.
(Against my Lawyer’s advice,
I hasten to add.)
That the next time I notice
That you’re in my head.
I’m not going to attack you.
I’m going to smile instead.
I know we’ve had our differences.
I know you can be a pain.
But if we keep on like this
It’s to nobody’s gain.
So, let’s make a pact!
I’ll be civil when I spot you,
Peter Morgan
Warm Wishes,
Sue |
