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The power of four

A very odd thing happened last week. Within four days, on four separate occasions, quite accidentally four former clients approached me in random places for a brief conversation. The first was at an auction, the second while I was choosing fruit and veg, the third in a church and lo and behold the fourth – one who returned to recommence – “with commitment” she said – a new course in Stillness Meditation.

It was great to reconnect with those four people, spontaneously, unexpectedly and enthusiastically. Though in all cases we hadn’t seen each other for quite some time, the links were still there as well as the mutual exchanges surrounding the experience each had shared. After a brief chat, to each, I just had to ask: so have you continued to practice what you learned with us? Read more

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Conquering Fear

For me, October 2016 brings with it a great sense of satisfaction:  the new, fully revised and updated edition of my book In Stillness Conquer Fear will shortly be released and my hope is that it will help bring comfort and healing to many.  This achievement is very exciting because I now offer not only a personal recovery story, but over 30 years’ professional experience in working to assist others with stress and anxiety.

So here’s a little ‘teaser’ from Chapter 18 to capture your interest and to spread the word – anxiety does not have to be a lifelong companion.

Read more

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Disappointment

The word ‘disappointment’ is surrounded by a host of negative concepts, and therefore, negative energy.

We can feel disappointed when misunderstandings occur.  We can feel disappointed when hopes have been dashed.  We can feel disappointed when plans must change and life takes a turn beyond hopes or dreams. Read more

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Overwhelmed?

Sometimes a day comes along that seems to produce just too many things to do.  Yes, we all have regular tasks and responsibilities.  But sometimes a whole new bundle of duties seem to make their appearance all at the one time.  For me, this took place on a recent day when my diary was looking free enough for me to spend the morning finalising some fairly detailed written work.  Read more

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Managing times of change

Do you ever pause to consider that your life is like a story, unfolding day by day – or page by page if you were to read it literally.  How interesting is each person’s life!  And how little it matters that we might describe ourselves as ‘just an ordinary person’ when we recognise that each life is filled with precious moments and memories, coloured by times of change.

As each birthday is celebrated we can be sure that the preceding year has called for some new adaptation: friends come and go, family life changes, study is completed and work life shifts direction, illness and loss makes its mark and successes give cause for rejoicing.  But what happens when too many negative events collide?  And how do we respond to the collective change that is occurring all the time throughout our world?  Read more

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Under the table – what’s afoot?

Next time you’re waiting in a coffee shop to meet a friend, instead of pulling out your mobile or reaching for a well-thumbed magazine, take a moment to scan the room and observe what people are doing with their feet under the table.

This is a fascinating exercise in how to pick the most stressed person in the room – and ultimately, how to watch what we do with our own body. Read more

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How are you coping?

Living as we are in what is frequently referred to as the age of anxiety, it’s little wonder that when meeting new clients, their individual stories mirror those of today, those of before or those who come after.

Most commonly we hear of discomforts such as trembling, ‘butterflies’, overwhelm, apprehension and panic. Living, for a great many people feels as if they are constantly on the edge of some kind of catastrophe where the ever present ‘emergency’ reaction is accompanied by frustration, sadness, depressive feelings and regular tears. A constant urge to be coping ‘better’ is dominant. Read more

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Anxiety bytes #3

It is well over thirty years since I mastered anxiety and began to know what life was like without the constant presence of unsettling and sometimes terrifying symptoms, severely limiting and distressing my life.

When I took courage and told my success story all those years ago, I also emphasised that the key to my deliverance from the clutches of anxiety was a particular concept of meditation.  In this blog I want to re-emphasise that the elements of this meditative concept involve mental rest – the unique teaching of Ainslie Meares M.D.   This is a stress relief therapy now recognized as SMT® and one that I have authentically adhered to for many years within my work at the SMT Centre in Melbourne.

Read more

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More Anxiety Bytes

At its peak, anxiety produces symptoms that become apparent as an awareness of dis-ease.  Traces of physical and mental unrest emerge, feelings first noticeable in physical exhaustion and perhaps erratic conduct.  Sensing this, the mind becomes distressed, feeling strained and drained.  If these disturbances are not addressed in a satisfactory way, the slippery slope to psychosomatic illness is not too far away.  For some people that state of being converts to a range of illnesses such as asthma, eczema, stomach problems or high blood pressure. Read more

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Anxiety Bytes

Over many years my signature book, In Stillness Conquer Fear, has supported the recovery of many thousands of anxious people.

If you are seeking anxiety relief and haven’t previously read my story, here are a few bytes from the book to offer encouragement and a starting point for change: Read more

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