Mindfulness Minute

Bad or good - every experiences is a learning opportunity about life.Apologies for the audio while travelling! Thank you for being here.

Our inner voices are powerful - make sure to audit yours to see that it holds perspectives and beliefs that are empowering and healthy, rather than restrictive and cruel. Apologies for the lack of chime as I am travelling. Thank you for being here!

Sometimes, our friendships just need time and space to heal, just like romantic relationships do. Don't worry - the ebb and flow is natural.

Life isn't meant to be this repetitive, empty routine. Change something and find the magic in your daily life. Take that chance.

When you keep going back to the "bad place", memories of pain and heartbreak - be aware of it. Know that if the growth isn't happening anymore, it's okay to gently move from this place. 

Personal curriculums don't just have to be about knitting or making bread. You can set a simple goal of being more mindful through a 10 second daily meditation, or doing a 7 minute tai-chi routine. Allow yourself to be open to new learning, at a gentle, kind and enjoyable pace.

Nothing is ever delivered in one form. What you want can be achieved and fulfilled in many ways and sometimes, the true gift is in realizing that.

Fumbling and making mistakes is merely human. We all do it. There's no need to add in another heap of shame and blame on top of it. Learn from it, move forward and be better for it.

Stress is rarely from one source - it builds from many places until finally, there is a breaking point. When we learn the whole process of how this happens, we can learn to be gentler and kinder to ourselves, sooner.

Bad stuff is happening in the world. We all know and see it. Let yourself feel exactly as you are. Only when we hold space for our feelings can we accept them and begin to process them...eventually making way for hope.

Sometimes, you've done everything you can and it is still not enough. When this happens, it helps to give ourselves the gift of acceptance, instead of self-criticism and judgement.

In life, we're always pushed to go faster - so give yourself permission to pause and breathe.

Anger is more than just an emotion - it's an experience that sheds light on how we process emotion and what we can do to shift our lives in a more positive direction.

We're conditioned to drown out our pain but it's also the blueprint to a better life. In understanding our own pain, we learn more about who we are and the world we live in.

Reaching out and saying hello to someone can be a much needed lifeline for them. Never underestimate the power of small, kind gestures.

We can't ever truly expect things to never change - because change is ever-present in our lives.

It's hard and it's painful - but it's easier to learn to accept the chaos that's within ourselves than to keep running away from it.

A crisis maybe overwhelming but it also requires growing in ways we haven't done before.

When we know someone has done something to us, it can be very hard to forgive. But remember - they're the ones who have truly lost. In forgiving, you can move on, but they'll have to live with their actions.

It's ok not to have answers to a big problem. Be patient, stay open and the answers will arrive.

We know what to do when things go right - but how do we process our emotions when things go wrong? This is where rituals of small and large grief are very important - they help us move on in our day-to-day lives.

When things go awry, we can get caught up in the shame and blame spiral. Instead, ground yourself by remembering that life is full of unknowns.

Don't fall into the trap of obsessing about the future or agonizing about the past. Be honest with yourself and take stock of exactly where you are. This is where real growth always begins.

When we realize that our life can change in the blink of an eye, it makes us appreciate and savor everything and everyone we have, so much more.

Things in life have their own rhythm. In remembering this, we can learn to be more patient, loving and caring with ourselves.

Sometimes we just need time to recover from burnout. We need to give ourselves the space to rest and recalibrate.

In difficult times, we have to be especially gentle and kind to ourselves, simply to get through the day.

Underneath the stress and anxiety, is a deep capacity to appreciate the little things.

It's not easy to rest. Especially when we don't feel like we deserve it. That's why we have to give ourselves permission to rest.

Resilience comes more easily when you cultivate an environment around yourself that is more conducive to healing and growing.

When we keep thinking about our stresses and anxieties, it helps to interrupt our rumination with an activity that engages our senses and pushes us to focus on the moment.

Sometimes, we end up in situations where we feel profoundly lost, despite intense preparation. When this happens, remember to stay present and be patient - a sense of direction will come, with time.

What does it mean to be a safe place for ourselves? Let's reflect on this question.

We can't process things if we aren't safe space for ourselves. But this can be hard, especially when we are conditioned to be deeply self-critical. So - give yourself permission, every day, to practice non-judgement.

Life changes in the blink of an eye. Things that we previously took for granted can vanish, virtually overnight. Don't let anxiety about the future, ruin what you have in the present. Appreciate the love you have, for yourself, for others and the world around you.

There's no one way to gather inspiration or seek guidance on a challenge. Whether it's diving into a good book or listening to a nostalgic song, never underestimate the power of creative work to inspire us and give us fresh perspectives on difficult situations.

This week, grab a friend, a partner, a family member and ask each other - what are you grateful for? Our loved ones can often can give us fresh perspectives on life and help us find different things to be grateful for.

Anxiety is all around us - but by engaging with our present, we allow ourselves to be hopeful, rather than hopeless.

Judging others feels good. Temporarily. But then it creates a deep sense of disconnection and distance. Beware of becoming addicted to it.

There is always more to do. Take an intentional pause, every day, to simply connect with your mind, body and spirit, and give yourself a break from daily responsibilities and stress.

Don't just jump to conclusions. Carefully examine what came before, during and after each moment.

Gratitude isn't just a journal entry - it's an invitation to change the way you see your life, for the better.

The change of seasons is an invitation to examine the recurring feelings, thoughts and behaviors that define you. Keep what works and learn to change what isn't.

Some situations don't change no matter how much of ourselves we give or sacrifice. That's when we know it's time to stop putting energy into them.

Things look bleak but there's always a chance of hope.

It's not your fault the world is burning. You did everything you could. Even when you may not have realized it, you were working very hard. You are enough and always have been. Don't forget it.

Life is full of chronic problems that don't just "go away". This is why we have to continually honor our pain and engage in the personal practices that help us process it.

Gratitude is not just for good days. Always take a moment to pause, reflect and remember the beautiful moments, people and experiences you've had, especially when you are going through dark times.

Let moments of frustration be an opportunity for reflection on what triggers you, how these triggers affect you and how you can create more buffers for yourself.

We can't expect ourselves to immediately and instantly be resilient when we want to be. Resilience is an inner environment that takes years to cultivate.