Self soothing means soothing or calming yourself when faced with a scary or difficult or even just mildly uncomfortable situation and is a great skill to have in your tool kit. Times you need to draw on these skills is when you notice perhaps beginning to feel a little anxious; a tightening in your chest or stomach; breathing quickens; heart rate goes up/pulse races; you may feel hot or flushed; start to fidget; lose your temper – the symptoms vary but essentially your brain has received a message that you are in an unsafe situation and it is starting to react.
Read moreFlooded by the Dalai Lama
I have been away from my office for a week working and playing elsewhere. On my desk I have the most delightful desk calendar – Insight from the Dalai Lama. Every day I tear off a new page to reveal more words of wisdom to reflect on throughout my day. But after being away from my office for a while I have to tear off a week’s worth to catch up – add those days to the other days where I just haven’t been able to throw away the quotation as I might need it sometime soon, and my desk is starting to look like I am literally flooded in the wisdom of the Dalai Lama.
In an attempt to tidy my desk I share with you now some of my favourites:
“Just as a large vessel is filled by drops of water, even minor negatives will harm you later”
“The immediate benefit of practicing compassion is actually experienced by the practitioner”
“The period of greatest gain in knowledge and experience is the most difficult period in one’s life”
“You can meditate while driving or walking, while on a bus or train, and even while taking a shower”
“Our thought is like water running in every direction. But just as water when channelized becomes powerful, so it is with our minds”
Have a happy week.
Catriona xx