Seasonal reflections.
As we approach the end of July l am left pondering what opportunities 2026 have provided me so far.
I gently settle into my chair at my desk that overlooks the back garden outside and placing my hand on my heart l take a few mindful breaths and ask, ‘what am l learning this year and what have l still to understand before the year leaves me?’.
You see how l speak to myself is my first piece of learning this year that has been challenged and redirected towards a more mindful approach. 2026 has taught me that self-compassion is central to having a rewarding and gentle life within, l am more aware of my self-critic and although it exists, it only lives as an old friend would, one that l rarely make contact with, one that l realise no longer helps me and where l am going. You see a long time ago l listened to it on a daily basis thinking it was there to help me fix any daily issues and protect me. But after a while l learned that it was only saying the same old scripts and it never really found a solution, it just reminded me continuously and with despair of what was wrong with me and my life. So, l took leave of my relationship with it and found myself turning towards my self-compassion within. For me, compassion is core to finding peace when life gets tricky and joy when life feels overwhelming.
It is inevitable that we all feel days when life fills us with anger, sadness, fear and despair, days where hope becomes depleted and we feel like a sinking ship. But to further hurt yourself with an inner dialogue filled with self-criticism and doubt only serves to fog your mind and place you on a repeated cycle of ruminations and inner conflict, never moving forward.
So today l accept that things will arise most days, some things feel bad and worrying and others more neutral or pleasing, but either way l have enough compassion to allow these events to unfold and now quietly, and without rush l allow myself to see what the event is without fear of hurting myself further or blurring my conception of it with emotion and irrational thoughts. Instead, l place my hand on my heart, l calmly say ‘this is a difficult moment, but l have gotten through many events before with grace, with steadiness and with the knowledge that l am stronger than l believe. Many people go through something similar, and maybe today l will just start with my breath and afterwards l will reach out and talk if needed, l will nourish myself with healthy food and at some point today l will carve some time where l can go for a walk or sit outside’.
After repeating this l begin to feel the alarm clock in my mind settling, my actions become more steady and focused. My emotions feel less negative and more neutral. By taking care of my self and giving myself a moment to be compassionate to my own welfare allows my next step to be clearer and more aligned with what really is happening without overreacting or being overwhelmed.
So as l ponder the second half of the year l intend to continue this practice like a muscle that needs to be strengthened as being critical to our self only strengthens the alarm within us that there is indeed something wrong with us.
If you feel you could benefit from starting a mindfulness course, please do find a local accredited course near you or email me at [email protected] as l will be starting an online MBLC group in early autumn, which supports you to live more mindfully. The course is 2 hours every week and lasts 8 weeks and has been designed by the Mindfulness Association.
I wish you a gentle day ahead,
Colette.
English