Present Mind Blog
– calm your mind, be present & take pleasure from daily life –
Four Mindful Strategies When You’re Running Out of Patience
I’ve noticed recently that a strong sense of impatience regularly arrives in my body - a tightness in my tummy, clenching in my throat, jaw and face, with stifled restricted breath accompanied by thoughts about wishing time would pass by quickly so that we can all...
Blog – 5 techniques to feel calmer
Everyone feels stressed or anxious at various times. For many this can impact sleep, have unpleasant physical symptoms like digestive issues, skin complaints etc and it can impact on our relationships with others. Not forgetting our relationship with ourselves too,...
5 Top Tips for Keeping your Meditation* Practice on Track!
*Meditation is the bit of Mindfulness that is sometimes called the ‘sitting practice’ bit. It can of course be done lying down, or even standing up… “I meditate sometimes, but I don’t have the discipline to do it every day.” “I meditated for a while, but I always seem...
Self-Care – 7 Ways to Take Better Care of Yourself
I recall at the beginning of the pandemic and first period of lockdown in March, being thrown into a tailspin as I tried to make sense of how an invisible and silent virus could sweep through the world causing so much suffering. Closer to home, the sudden loss...
Ouch! Falling over and gratitude for the small things
A few weeks ago I was out on a dog walk and managed to trip over and land flat on my face! When the initial shock had started to subside, the pain kicked in. I ended up having to go to the hospital and having wound closure strips on my forehead along with a number of...
The Power of Creativity
Some years ago now, when my children were in pre-school and primary school, I co-ran an after-school club for young children called “Art in French”. The idea was that the children would learn French through arts and craft activities as at the time there was no...
The Power of Music
My 13-year-old son reluctantly dragged himself into our car, harrumphing with frustration that he had to endure a 1.5 hour car journey with me, even though he would then be spending the day with his close friend. My son loves listening to music and...
Mindful Reminder – Gratitude for challenging times
Often when life becomes challenging, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the difficulties around us.
Mindful Reminder – Return back to yourself
Return back to yourself by simply feeling the body breathing - pause - feel the movement of the body - notice if it might be helpful for you to take some slow deep breaths or to breathe out for slightly longer than the in-breath as a way of calming any agitation -...
Mindful Reminder – Resting in Awareness
Hi Everyone, Mindfulness practice is not about finding some exalted state of bliss, peace or freedom of thought. It's about resting in awareness of our experience just as it is, without resisting and allowing it all to just be there. When we rest in awareness with no...
Mindful Reminder – Remembering to Practice Mindfulness
Hi Everyone, We can never be anywhere else but here, in this moment. However our minds are often racing around in another virtual world, as we engage in thinking about the past or the future. Much of this thinking can be unhelpful and often leaves us feeling, at the...
Mindful Reminder – Intention and Motivation
Hi Everyone, It can be extremely beneficial to reflect on our intention to practice Mindfulness, which drives change in the mind. In addition, reflecting on our motivation to practice reminds us of the importance of practice and provides the impetus and force behind...
Being Present to Reduce Anxiety (a super power?!)
There have been lots of reports of heightened anxiety now that the lockdown restrictions are being lifted. Whilst the Coronavirus pandemic has undoubtedly been the cause of anxiety, worry and stress, there are a number of people who may be struggling with the easing...
The Power of a Smile
Some people believe that happiness is a choice. No matter what mood we wake up in in the morning, we can choose to let that mood follow us around for the day (inevitably impacting on our experiences) or we can choose to ‘change our minds’ and embody a different mood...
Bumble Bees
Battling with the bees, rapidly swarming around in my aching head. Lashing out at them, they sting me as they take control. So relentless is the pain - I feel helpless at their mercy of each sting. Lost in the fantasy world of regret, wanting, resisting and struggle....
Seven Great Ways to Connect with the Power of Nature
It is true that we are “all in this together” – every one of us has been affected in some way by the impact of Covid-19. However, whilst we are all in this together, it is likely to show in very different ways. Some people say they are enjoying the slower pace of...
Mindful Reminder – Awareness of Thoughts
Hi Everyone, I've attached a YouTube chat and practice that I've recorded, just as a reminder about the difference between thinking and thoughts.I hope it helps you in some way to manage the ongoing challenges that we are all facing right now. Very best wishes and...
Coronavirus and Kindness
The Coronavirus pandemic has been a major event, possibly one of the biggest things that will happen in all of our lives. Such a surreal time and it’s impacting on the whole world. There’s understandably a lot of fear, anxiety, sadness and worry. One thing that I’ve...
Managing Anxiety During the Coronavirus
Feeling Anxious due to the Coronavirus? Here are some tips and techniques to help. Many of us, including myself are feeling at the very least unsettled by the changes in our lives due to the Coronavirus. The first thing that I say to myself when I notice this...
The Ripple Effect of Prioritising YOU (in a guilt-free way)
Ever been tempted to simply sit down and have a cup of tea (without doing anything else) and stopped yourself because of ‘I Should Be...’ guilt’? I should be writing that email/finishing that report, I should be cooking the tea, I should be researching cheaper...
Mindful Reminder – Just Breathe
Hi Everyone, Practising Mindfulness helps us to become aware of when we are engaging in unhelpful thinking, how this often creates unpleasant emotions in the body and impacts on how we behave. It's so great to notice this often destructive cycle, so that we can do...
Five brilliant books (in my opinion!) that can help you to connect with compassion for yourself and for others.
Five brilliant books (in my opinion!) that can help you to connect with compassion for yourself and for others. I love reading Mindfulness and Compassion related books and I’m often asked for suggestions from people attending our Mindfulness Courses. Here are a...
Mindful Reminder – Slow down!
Hi Everyone, Every time we notice something pleasant, we are triggering the soothing, calming system in our bodies and minds.We will feel more available to live our lives more fully and with increased joy.Perhaps you could practice slowing down to be able to notice...
Mindful Reminder – Make Friends with the Present Moment
Hi Everyone, It's so easy to get habitually caught up in the story lines and scripts that are often so unhelpful to us and creates a sense of unease.Mindfulness practice helps you to begin to notice these scripts and to gently turn your attention back to the present...
Mindful Reminder – Remembering to practice!
Hi Everyone, It's often said that being mindful is easy; the hardest part is remembering to practice. You might like to use a range of triggers to remind you to practise, such as setting a timer on your phone or computer to remind you to notice the body breathing...
Be More Dog!
January is a time that many of us make resolutions about how we would like to make ourselves better over the year. I have done this many times before with resolutions to exercise more, meditate more, read more books, eat more healthily ...the list goes on! I manage to...
2020 New Year Resolution – Gratitude
Hello Everyone and a Happy New Year! The start of a new year is a great time to make some healthy changes in our lives. The science of experience-dependant neuroplasticity shows that we all have the power to change our brains for the better. What you pay attention to...
4 quick tips to stop festivities becoming stressivities!
It’s no surprise that the busy period in the run-up to the festive season can be a source of stress for many of us – juggling last minute work deadlines, finishing off the gift-buying, sorting out family logistics, shopping for food etc. Not to mention the highs and...
5 Great Reasons to go for a Mindful Walk in the Autumn
As the nights draw in, we may well find ourselves entertaining those not so helpful thoughts about longing for the long summer days to return and fighting against the natural inevitability of the changing seasons, with the arrival of autumn. Perhaps it’s too dark, too...
Mindful Reminder – Slow Down and Just Walk
Hi Everyone, I love this quote by Tara Brach. "If I move half as fast, I notice twice as much" Tara Brach Many people feel frustrated that their good intentions of pausing and practising formal mindfulness just doesn't seem to happen because life tends to get in the...
Mindful Reminder – This Too Shall Pass
Hi Everyone, The weather is so unpredictable isn't it and it keeps on changing? One day it's glorious sunshine; the next it's so much cooler and it rains!! We cannot control the weather and maybe, instead of getting upset by engaging in thoughts of complaints about...
Mindful Reminder – Thoughts and Thinking
Hi Everyone, Thoughts naturally arrive in the mind, just like our body naturally breathes. So, thoughts are just a natural state of being human and are not a problem. Our relationship with our thoughts however can become a problem, when we start thinking and...
Taking your brain on a holiday!
It feels like the end of holiday season now that autumn is approaching. In my courses I often talk about how, as humans, we often are on countdown to our holiday, wishing it here as fast as it can be. We often rush around beforehand to get everything done. Do you tend...
Mindful Reminder – Acceptance
Hi Everyone, In my experience, acceptance is one of the most helpful attitudes to bring to mindfulness practice. We all experience physical and emotional pain in our lives - it's just part of being human - but so often we fight against or try to ignore the pain and...
Mindful Reminder – Teflon V’s Velcro
Hi everyone, I love this quote and find it to be so true. It's almost like the positive, pleasant experiences and thoughts just slide off us (like teflon) and go by unnoticed, whilst the unpleasant, negative experiences and thoughts stick to us (like velcro) and...
This Too Shall Pass
I find there’s something comforting about knowing that everything that arises passes away. We learn this from nature. When a flower blossoms, it will eventually wilt and die. When a storm rages, it will eventually pass and calm will be restored. One of the amazing...
Our favourite quotes to help you to manage difficult emotions
Have you noticed that even when you're on holiday, or spending a lovely summers evening with friends and family; that you can still find yourself feeling emotions that you find difficult, such as sadness, boredom, anxiety, disappointment... As human beings, we all...
Mindful Reminder – Stay here – in the moment.
Hi Everyone, I love this simple quote. See if you can remember as often as you can, to acknowledge unhelpful thoughts and leave them alone. Wake up to the present moment even if its just for a short while: Feel the breath Listen to sounds Taste food Feel the body...
Take a break before you need one!
This has been one of the most useful pieces of advice I’ve ever been given! In a book I read this was offered as a helpful tip to manage physical and emotional pain. The chapter was all about pacing and how, as humans, we tend to go through boom and bust cycles...
Mindful Reminder – Power of a Pause
Hi Everyone, Practising spending more time aware of your present moment reduces the time spent obsessing about the future which creates anxiety. It also reduces time spent replaying broken scenarios from the past which causes anger or sadness. See if you can create a...
Mindful Reminder – To Worry Or Not To Worry!
Hi Everyone, When you notice that you're engaging in worrying thoughts, remember that this will not help you to feel good - but often quite the opposite. Each time you notice the thoughts, see if you can: Acknowledge and label the thoughts - "having a worrying...
Mindful Reminder – Pause and Breathe!
Hi everyone, Here is a gently reminder to pause, breathe and spend a moment being here. Often, the hardest part about practising being mindful is remembering to do so. In our busy lives, we can so easily become lost in the constant and rapid stream of thinking...
Mindful Reminder – This too, shall pass.
Hi Everyone, I love the quote below. It's so easy to believe that emotions will remain forever, especially when we are experiencing difficult emotions. Remember that all emotions are temporary and just like the weather, they will keep on changing. With mindfulness...
Mindful Reminder – When you can’t find the time to practice!
HI Everyone, Life can be so busy that we can find it really hard to sit on our own in a quiet room for ten minutes (or more) each day to practice formal Mindfulness. This can then become a source of stress or regret and it doesn't have to be this way. There are also...
Letting go of the struggle
From an early age, we’re conditioned that playing harder, studying harder, working harder will lead to direct rewards: recognition, good grades, a better job, wealth… This need to achieve can leave us (including, increasingly, our children and young people) feeling...
Mindful Reminder – Just Walking
It's often said that the hardest part about practising Mindfulness is remembering to do so. We are so habitually caught up in our busy, thinking, doing world that we forget to bring our awareness into the present moment. We can feel exhausted before our day has even...
Do You Want To Be The Master Of Your Thoughts?
Mindfulness practice helps us to change our relationship with our thoughts. For many, this can be extremely challenging as we appear to have an unhealthy "addiction" to thoughts no matter how negative or unpleasant they are - we find it so easy to attach to them and...
Mindful Reminder – We are always in the present moment
Hi Everyone, When we start to practice Mindfulness, it's very easy to have the view that we need to try really hard to be mindful, to be present and aware of our senses. Actually, our whole life is only ever experienced through our available senses - there's no other...
Standing in my garden
Do you have routine things you have to do that you really don’t want to and that take up precious time? Every day I spend 15 to 20 minutes outside my garden supervising my cats (they are house cats scared to go out on their own!) I recently used to see this time as an...
Mindful Reminder – To worry or not to worry?
This is such a great message, however not always easy to experience! Many of us are well practiced in the art of worrying, which is simply engaging in and believing thoughts/images about the future that we DON'T want to happen! So, when you notice that...
Mindful Reminder – The body is a perfect anchor to be here, now!
Mindfulness practice helps us to realise that we are not our thoughts, we don't need to entertain them, take them seriously or believe them. Our thoughts about the past or the future are often unhelpful and if we believe them, we can easily feel upset, tense and...
8 Useful Facts that will help you to understand what Mindfulness is and start to Practise right now.
Have you ever found that after a busy day, you get into bed, feeling exhausted from living in this fast paced, high tech, crazy world, ready to sleep and then.... you're wide awake with a head full of thoughts about the past or the future, spinning around like a fast...
5 Simple Ways to be Kind to Yourself & Why it Really Works!
Being kind to yourself in everyday life is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Why wait for someone else to show their kindness and love to you? Below are 5 reasons why it pays to be kind to yourself and 5 ways to make that happen. Scroll to the bottom of...
6 Mindfulness Myth Busters to Aid Practice When You’re Feeling Disheartened
Feeling Disheartened about your Mindfulness Practice? Here are 6 Mindfulness Myth Busters that will help you to Practice Many people say that being mindful is the easiest thing in the world - it's so simple that even children and dogs are doing it all the time! Yet...