I recently saw this posted on Sharon Salzberg's Facebook page. She is an inspiring Buddhist teacher who is renowned for her work on loving kindness (metta) practices. It's a beautiful reminder of the importance and wisdom of boundaries. We need them in order to be well and to serve ourselves and others. So when we set those limits, aim to bring kindness and love to that experience.
As anyone who knows me can attest, I am a huge proponent of the adoption of mindfulness practices. I believe that there are a multitude of benefits from learning about and bringing this spirit of kind open and nonjudgmental awareness to our lives. http://pixabay.com Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a widely researched method of learning mindfulness practices. Many studies of the MBSR curriculum have attested to its positive health effects. Attending an MBSR group and learning from a trained instructor, along with the other participants,…
Spring is fast approaching. For me, the season always brings thoughts of change and hope. I am not one for New Year's Resolutions, but as the weather warms to I find myself reflecting on what areas of my life might need a little fresh air, a gentle dusting off or perhaps an entirely new coat of paint. As I start this process of inner refreshment, I am reminded of the importance of just allowing a soft awareness of the sticky areas. I can find the tools…
Happy New Year! As you begin 2019, do so with a strong dose of self-compassion. After all, there is science that says it's worth it... http://ccare.stanford.edu/uncategorized/the-scientific-benefits-of-self-compassion-infographic/
As the holidays are upon us, here are some tips to supporting a friend or family member who is dealing with a chronic condition: Ask about his or her experience. Each person has a unique set of symptoms (even within a single disease) and each person deals with these symptoms in a unique matter. It can be a gift when someone cares to check in and ask what is going on. Unless otherwise specified, keep inviting them. Although you might hear the answer 'no' a lot…
A colleague recommended this book and I now pass on the suggestion to you, my readers. It is a fascinating exploration of depression and anxiety from a socio-cultural lens. I learned a lot and many themes resonated with my personal experiences and those of the clients I serve. It seems that we might need to rethink our assumptions about the causes of these conditions and to develop new ways of approaching treatment. Lost Connections - Johann Hari
This message is one we all need to hear. It is easy to attach our self view to the opinions of other people. When those people de-value us, our sense of a worthy self suffers. Unfortunately, others can make assumptions and judgements based on the health concerns we face. It's a theme I see repeatedly with the clients I see. There is a deep pain when the distress of coping with your medical issues is compounded by other people's lack of understanding. These judgements may be…
I'm happy to share with you new workshops in collaboration with Karen Gilbert, OT and certified Daring Way Facilitator. If you live in the Vancouver area, I invite you to join us for an evening in August and/or a weekend in September. We will be exploring aspects of curriculum developed by Dr.Brené Brown (have you seen her TED talk on vulnerability? If not, pop over here now and check it out!: Brené Brown on Vulnerability). These workshops focus on applying the themes of Dr Brown to people…