The silly school

“A day without laughter is a day wasted”.  Charlie Chaplin

Pupils at Honiton Community College in Devon were asked by their teachers to be filmed offering tips to the next new intake of students.

Unbeknown to the children the teachers can be seen waving props around and dancing in the background. Traditionally pupils play tricks on the staff at the end of term so to see the tables being turned really made me smile.

I think the children have learnt one valuable lesson – not to take life too seriously – a little bit of silliness is good for the soul.

Watch the Youtube here.

Gaining clarity when exhausted

“Always take the time to do nothing at all”.

The thing about living with chronic pain is that it can make you feel so frickin tired. I have been more active than usual this weekend which has increased my pain levels and left me feeling totally wiped out.

There were times in the not too distant past that this would have sent me spiraling down the path of mild anxiety. How could I possibly get everything done that ‘needed’ doing while feeling so exhausted? I would be jumping from task to task without sufficient energy and concentration to fully complete anything and subsequently feel frustrated at how little I was achieving. 

Today I take a more structured approach which has really helped me prioritise and see that although it is nice to clear tasks when they need doing, very few are actually urgent enough to warrant the feelings of guilt if they aren’t dealt with straight away.

I now keep an ongoing to-do list on my phone and this simple step has really helped me minimise the feeling of overwhelm. Every night before I go to bed it is satisfying to remove anything that I have completed. Even if I think I haven't achieved anything useful there is usually something I have done to reduce my list. I then add any new tasks to one of three sections; priority, nice if time and non-urgent.

The calmness and clarity this routine brings has also helped me sleep better as I am going to bed with a clear mind and not waking up in the night thinking of things that need doing that I had forgotten about.

Today I looked at my to-do list and thought bleuggghhh but a quick scan revealed that there is nothing on it that can’t wait so I shall, without recriminations, have a gentle, relaxed day, absolutely stress free. 

Ahoy there Comfort Zone

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”. Neale Donald Walsch

Earlier this year I decided to train as meditation teacher with Sandy Newbigging who Yoga Magazine hails as “one of the best meditation teachers around’. 

I am passionate about meditation, and having trained with Sandy a couple of years previously in the Mind Detox Method I knew that Mind Calm Meditation would fit beautifully into my practice. Both use astonishingly simple but life changing techniques that I have benefited from on a personal level and was eager to be able to share these. 

I have spent the early part of the year completing the coursework, case studies and exam and then came the attendance week. (Pause for dramatic effect). Dum, dum, dummm.

Knowing that this course is aimed at people wanting to teach groups I knew that it would entail vast amounts of public speaking. I had previously believed that I would rather gauge my eyeballs out than stand up and talk to a group, and, with a week of doing just this in the pipeline I had deliberated long and hard about whether to attend.

My desire to spread the love and have others join me on the peace path outweighed my sheer terror and with trepidation I packed up, hugged my children like I might never see them again and headed off with a heavy heart.

When I got to the course venue I realised I was so far out of my comfort zone I couldn’t even see it. But you know what? Contrary to the voices in my head informing me of a million possible outcomes I didn’t faint, vomit or indeed die. 

In terms of personal growth this course was invaluable. In stepping out of my comfort zone I have expanded into a place of quiet confidence. Have I conquered my biggest fear? Who knows? I have three public talks booked in the next few weeks and I will use the techniques I have learnt through this course to enable me to detach completely from the voices in my head telling me I can’t. Umm I think I have just proved that I can thank you.

I am optimistic that I will rise to each challenge as it presents itself and slowly the unknown and frightening will transmute into exciting and exhilarating before settling into the familiar.

For me, as always, it’s the knowing. The reassuring knowing that I have a choice. I could have chosen not to do this and that would have been ok. But I did do it and that was ok too. I am now happy to remain on the periphery of my comfort zone while I wait for the next challenge to show itself, to which I will say “Bring it on” and jump in feet first.

To find out more about Mind Detox, Mind Calm or to book a coaching session with me (also available via Skype), contact me.