So, What is Fear?

I have been beset by feelings of anxiety over the last few weeks. My recent blogs have described how my mindfulness and compassion meditation practice have helped me. They have enabled me to turn towards and experience the anxiety. They have enabled me to look after myself, in my meditation practice and in my daily…

The Hardest Part

On a recent retreat a well-intentioned participant informed me that my drive system was overactive. She was referring to the three-circle model of Prof. Paul Gilbert which is part of our Level 2 Compassion training. This model postulates three psychological systems: a threat system, which triggers the fight, flight, freeze response when we feel threatened;…

random-acts-of-mindfulness

Random Acts of Mindfulness

I have found myself travelling a lot over this past few weeks. Some of my journeys have been challenging, in various ways. During these challenging times I have been very grateful for my mindfulness practice. Interesting I have found that my practice has not only for my own wellbeing but, inadvertently, benefited others too. In…

exciting times

Exciting Times

It is early Sunday morning and I am awake early in my cozy room at Samye Ling Tibetan centre. It is before the start of our second day of this MSc Studies in Mindfulness weekend. The first year students are beginning their Compassion training. The second year students are learning research skills as well as…