Mindful Monday

This meditation accompanies our Guide and Podcast No 27 on Setting Boundaries.  Today’s meditation is called Managing and respecting boundaries. Something different today, I am including a visual guided meditation to assist you find a way to understand and respect the boundaries of others, and to help define personal boundaries that other people will respect. This is a sitting practice. 

A boundary is a limit defining you in relationship to someone or to something. Boundaries can be physical such as a step away from someone and help you to create more space between you and others where you might feel perhaps safer. They can be emotional, and these help you to identify emotions, feelings, needs and requirements that acknowledge your difference to others. Without boundaries we lose ourselves. Setting and maintaining boundaries might not come naturally and you might feel guilty. But healthy boundaries contribute to your self-care, healthy relationships and greater control over your life. 

This meditation accompanies our 4 October Guide and Podcast No 26 on Understanding burnout.  This meditation is called Understanding burnout. It provides you with the opportunity to  zoom in and out to what is relevant in the present moment. It helps with developing closer awareness to what is occurring in this moment. This meditation can be done anytime and it a good sitting practice. 

Presently there is much talk about burnout – with COVID, uncertainty and juggling work/home/work it’s on the increase. But what exactly is burnout? It is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when one feels overwhelmed, emotionally drained and unable to meet constant demands. Research has identified some factors that play a major role. These factors are deeply linked to basic emotional needs like belonging, purpose, recognition, and autonomy. In fact, when those needs are not met you may experience stress. When stress is not managed for long periods of time then burnout can occur. It’s a fine line between excessive stress and burnout. 

Spring is coming and for many it means the emergence from the cold days of winter into the warmth and freshness of a new season.  As the weather changes, so does our perspective. Springtime, in particular, is a wonderful time to become more aware of the growth and life that surrounds us, the boost of fresh air and longer hours of daylight can inspire you. The opportunity to clear old habits that no longer serve you, to boost your natural energy and awaken your inner spark as you launch into spring. It’s also an opportunity to nourish your mindfulness practices. 

This meditation accompanies our 30 August Guide and Podcast No 25 on Preparing for Spring.  This meditation is called Connecting with Nature. This meditation offers an opportunity to notice areas of rest in the body to help you relax and renew or to focus on the movement of the breath as it’s our natural place of release. This meditation can be done anytime and it’s a good sitting practice. 

You and I are connected through these words you hear. Whilst you may not agree with them, we’re connected by a shared intention of deepening our understanding in some way. Your mind and my mind are choosing to focus on the same words. Many people have contributed to these words. Through this vast and complex web of connections, we directly and indirectly impact each other, for better or for worse. When we see that our self-interest is intrinsically tied to others, we’re able to connect, reflect, speak our truth, be heard, consider different perspectives, and work together. 

This meditation accompanies our 23 August Guide and Podcast No 24 on Maintaining Connections.  This meditation is called Increasing connection. It will help you develop a deeper sense of connection - to the present moment, yourself, your family, friends, colleagues, and all living beings in the world. This meditation can be done anytime and it’s a good sitting practice. 

We easily recognise our anxiety when it shows up as anxious thoughts or an attack triggered by something. But anxiety is less noticeable when it’s our constant companion, part of our regular thoughts and constant background noise. Then says Judson Brewer, it’s most likely it has become a habit. Anxiety hides in our habits. It hides in our bodies and we learn to disconnect from our feelings through a range of different behaviours. He says that mindfulness and curiosity can help us weed out unhelpful habits and create the space for well-being to flourish. 

This meditation accompanies our 16 August Guide and Podcast No 23 on Working with Anxiety.  This meditation is called Putting space between you and your anxiety and provides the opportunity to create some space around feelings of anxiety so that you can explore the experience directly, bringing curiosity to it calmly and without being carried away by it.