Comforting Thought: Kindness is a muscle we exercise

Kindness is not a fixed trait that we either have or lack, but more like a muscle that can be developed and strengthened. We exercise kindness in any moment where we recognise our shared humanity- with all of the hopes, dreams, joys, dissapointments, vulnerability and suffering that this implies. Such simple but profound awareness levelsContinue reading “Comforting Thought: Kindness is a muscle we exercise”

Comforting Thought: Holding a Frog

“Holding a frog – if you are quiet and slower than slow, you do not have to ‘catch’ a frog at all – you can just slide your hand beneath one and lift it up without inciting any hint of fear or effort to escape.” Lyanda Lynn Haupt

Book Review: Real Love – The Art of Mindful Connection by Sharon Salzberg

One of the most erudite, spiritually nourishing and comprehensive books on the topic of love – of self, others and the world. Encompassing romantic and platonic love, familial love, friendship and more, by one of the world’s foremost experts on Loving Kindness Meditation. Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Genre: Non-Fiction, Spirituality, Psychology, Buddhism, Self-Help Publisher: Flatiron books Review in one word: HelpfulContinue reading “Book Review: Real Love – The Art of Mindful Connection by Sharon Salzberg”

Comforting Thought: We should allow ourselves to receive love and care from others

Paradoxically, letting go sometimes means allowing ourselves to receive love and care from others. Our can-do culture has made many of us believe that we should always be self-sufficient. Somewhere along the way we also get the message that asking for help is a sign of weakness. We often forget that we’re interdependent creatures whoseContinue reading “Comforting Thought: We should allow ourselves to receive love and care from others”

Comforting Thought: A traumatic childhood may actually make you more conscious, complex and understanding of others

Dr Elaine Aron in her research looking at Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) found that they are generally more affected by traumatic childhoods and that they are more depressed and anxious as adults. However, there is a big hopeful caveat with this finding – the HSP has all of the emotional tools and understanding of selfContinue reading “Comforting Thought: A traumatic childhood may actually make you more conscious, complex and understanding of others”

Comforting Thought: Keeping Together in Time

As I have always know intuitively: movement, dance and physicality of our bodies is the key to unlocking connection with other people and our connection to our inner feelings and true self. This was an incredibly powerful insight from ‘The Body Keeps the Score.’ This is why yoga feels good, cycling feels good, sex feelsContinue reading “Comforting Thought: Keeping Together in Time”

Comforting Thought: Introverts mature more gracefully than extroverts

Some extraverted people can avoid being introverted and turning inwards, for years at a time. Later in life, self-reflection becomes important for everyone. In short, introverts may mature more gracefully. So you are in good company. Ignore the barbs about ‘lightening up’. Enjoy the levity of others and allow yourself your own specialty. If you’reContinue reading “Comforting Thought: Introverts mature more gracefully than extroverts”

Comforting Thought: Hens are the goodness of the universe

This morning, a friend and I hung over the half door, watching a mother hen feeding her chickens. The hen bustled around breaking up the bread into crumbs small enough to feed her tiny, hungry offspring. The clucking sound she made was the essential sound of motherhood, the goodness of the universe was in thatContinue reading “Comforting Thought: Hens are the goodness of the universe”

Comforting Thought: When fear melts, all that is left is love

Love has many identities. The love of parents, spouses, siblings. The heady love of youth, the mellow love of old age. The love of passion, all fiery and insatiable, the subtle love of maturity. The love one person has for another for no particular reason. When fear melts, all that is left is love. InContinue reading “Comforting Thought: When fear melts, all that is left is love”

Comforting Thought: A highly sensitive person (HSP) can be an enduring anchor during difficult times

Whatever the times, suffering eventually touches every life. How we live with it, and help others to is one of the greatest ethical and creative opportunities for HSPs. We HSPs do a great disservice to ourselves and others when we think of ourselves as weak compared to the warrior. Our strength is different, but frequentlyContinue reading “Comforting Thought: A highly sensitive person (HSP) can be an enduring anchor during difficult times”