The Reward is the Journey

I wouldn't say that it keeps me awake at night, but I am aware of a low level hum of a concern that I have been sitting with for a while now...    To become a mindfulness teacher I undertook one of the most rigorous trainings I could have stumbled across (and which, truth be told, I probably rather underestimated when first applying).    I was given fair warning at my interview.  Sat in front of me were three individuals whose names I had been familiar with for several years, whose thoughts and opinions I had read and respected.  Ascertaining what cognitions were around for me at that particular moment was none too tricky.  And naming my feelings would have come very easily there and then.     It had been a while since I sat in a panel interview situation and I can't recall ever jumping for joy on discovering that such a scenario would feature in any recruitment process.  I was daunted.  But the...

This week I have been giving particular thought to the role of resilience in stress reduction, and the benefits of a mindfulness practice in the development or enhancement of resilience. I was delighted to have an opportunity to present some of my ideas to in-house lawyers at the BBC on Wednesday and inspired by some initial research have given the subject a little more thought, formulating some of this theory into a (hopefully) digestible form for a 'Staying Mindful' workshop I held this afternoon for individuals seeking to refresh their mindfulness practice.   Were I to introduce myself and my work, I would say that I am interested in the reduction and/or alleviation of suffering.  This is a common thread across the different contexts I move between, as a psychotherapist and as a mindfulness teacher.    I have, I think, developed something of an understanding of the territory of depression and, collating the evidence gathered both from a pe...

  It's been a long time coming.  But it's done now.  Yesterday evening I made my debut at the Lido.  My first outdoor swimming experience of the year.  Somehow, my routine has seemingly not permitted me to spend nearly enough time exercising outdoors.    I have, I know, been a tad busy...    Yesterday was great.  I swam just under 2k which was, in fact, probably a little more than 2k.  Swimming lengths of 91m (that's 100 yards, in old money) in a pool without lane ropes means I likely clocked up quite a bit more as, I now realise, I struggle to swim in a straight line.    Keeping on the straight and narrow has, historically, been something of a challenge.    These days, I like to think I do it better.   Until I'm in a pool in which I can't see from one end to the other (for all the swimming gizmos and gadgetry I do not, yet, have prescription goggles so must remain chronically short ...

I was pleased to offer her a seat.  My eyes could barely leave the pair of them.  Rather out of place - on the busy tube, crowded full of commuters - thought I...   Grandmother and granddaughter.  Grandmother visiting granddaughter who has not long arrived in London - I thought...   They were, I could see, equally enthusiastic to see one another.   It was beautiful. They were beautiful.   Grandmother could not resist but remark on granddaughter's dress.  A little too short not to be wearing tights.   Granddaughter (managing well in her skyscraper high heels) only smiles in response.   The love between them so apparent I feel I could reach out and touch it.   It made my journey.  It made my day.  It will stay with me a while longer.        Art on the Tube - Central Line Series - Michael Landy's project 'Acts of Kindness'     ...