When the art of ‘stillness’ is truly captured, it’s really another form of beauty therapy!

I’m always interested in the progress of our clients as they walk the walk of Stillness Meditation and we review this formally at certain times during their course.  But far from the formal assessment of individual progress is the appearance on people’s faces as they gradually begin to live calmly.

Very often at first meeting, the new client’s strain visibly shows.  When anxious, tense, stressed or depressed, the facial features appear tight, twitchy, nervous or sad.  Hands are restless.  Nails may be bitten down.  Legs are crossed and uncrossed and the eyes, often close to tears, are wide with apprehension.  After so many years’ observing the effects of ‘stress’, it’s just not possible to miss these things. Read more

For many years I’ve regularly responded by mail or email to the questions asked by people from all over the world.  Now I aim to have my blog serve a more general purpose.  So send me your questions and each month I’ll choose a topic to reply to.

This month I’m going to talk about set-backs.  By this I mean, a glitch in the progress towards anxiety relief.  One common question from those who read my books or come here for assistance is “I seem to be experiencing a set-back.  I was doing really well, I’m practicing my Stillness and now I feel I must be doing something wrong.  I don’t know who else to turn to for reassurance … and I’m losing faith in making a recovery … please help!

‘Set-backs’ when we’re undergoing change, occasionally come and go.  Maybe you are extra tired, perhaps some unpleasant event has triggered a response; maybe some old memories have surfaced – or perhaps you’ve picked up a cold or some other kind of bug.

These events are common to all people and can put extra stress on the whole ‘being’.  When these things happen of course, anxiety and one’s emotional state will also be affected, too.  This is transient anxiety.  Aim to let go of worrying about this as all people experience a rise and fall in anxiety levels from time to time.  But remember that you (me in the past) and others in a similar situation are inclined to be affected more readily in this way.  Think of it in this simple example: how easy it is to feel quite ‘down’ when the weather is dark and dreary!  Maybe not pleasant to experience – but at least you’ll know your emotions are alive and well. Read more