This One Too

30/05/2026

"The brain may be less the body's sole commander than something closer to its audience..."

A beautifully written piece on how the brain draws on information from the body to inform decisions and actions.

On the vagus nerve and the body speaking first

23/05/2026

When a feeling elicits some big physical reactions, 'sitting with' it may feel impossible.

This helpful cheat-sheet identifies each stage of sitting with our feelings. And a great reminder that no feeling lasts forever.

17/05/2026

Mindfulness is more than noticing what is going on around you.

It also refers to noticing what is going on within you. Emotions are valuable signals...once we take the time to notice our emotional world, we have a better chance of understanding what is happening and why.

09/05/2026

I've recently discovered the term 'glimmer' - these are the opposite of triggers, they are moments that bring joy and satisfaction.

We may build a glimmer into our daily or weekly routine, or they may arise organically out of the blue.

After some recent food-related illness, I recently found a glimmer in being able to eat plain wholesome food. For me, it was more than just eating. In that moment, I felt safe with food in a way I hadn't in days. It was nourishment for my body but also my soul.

Feel free to drop your glimmers in the comments 🪄

01/05/2026

Have you experienced caregiving fatigue?

This has been called compassion fatigue, however Tania Singer at the Max Planck Institute found that too much empathy can lead to caregiving fatigue.

In 2014, Singer and colleagues found only through a compassionate – rather than empathic –response that participants felt capable of witnessing confronting footage without feeling overwhelmed by it.

The difference here is subtle but distinct: compassion embraces others suffering with tenderness, empathy elicits our own emotional response to others’ suffering.

French Buddhist monk and study participant Matthieu Ricard describes it best here:

22 likes. "The Difference Between Empathy and Compassion by Matthieu Ricard"

25/04/2026

“Ugh! I thought I dealt with this.”

It's really common to have to deal with an issue multiple times. Not because we aren't capable of handling it properly the first time, but because healing isn't linear.

As we heal, we become more capable of processing our troubles more deeply. So, we may revisit an issue a few times before feeling truly at peace with it.

The next time this happens to you, be gentle with yourself. There is no deficiency. Instead, the resurfacing shows your ability to engage more deeply.

18/04/2026

Is your to-do list obscuring your ability to live meaningfully?

Let me introduce you to the Delmore Effect: the tendency to be specific about lower-priority goals, while being vague about higher-priority goals.

So named for American poet and writer Delmore Schwartz (1913-1966, pictured below) who died before completing, or even starting, some of his biggest passion projects.

When passion projects come with emotional baggage (imposter syndrome, anxiety etc.) it can be easy to push them aside for the quick and easy wins (who doesn't love a clean bathroom!?)

If you can relate to this, perhaps it's time for some kind (but honest!) self-talk. Or maybe you need to reach out for some help. These could be the first steps towards something really special. 🩷

11/04/2026

I was introduced to mindful self-compassion in 2014 during a time of immense upheaval. While not a complex idea, it felt incredibly foreign - uncomfortable even - to be kind to myself. I had been conditioned to think we live our best lives when we're striving.

But while striving for some things is vital to our wellbeing, striving for worthiness simply isn't necessary. I didn't know it then of course. I was reactive, doubtful, anxious and unable to give myself what I needed most - gentle companionship.

I still have my moments of all these things, but I am much more grounded than ever before. Striving is tempered with trust - in the timing, the process, the lesson - and most of all, myself.

Mindful self-compassion isn't a panacea. But as a regular practice, it can help us all live with more ease.

04/04/2026

Mindfulness doesn't have to mean sitting on the meditation cushion for an hour each day. It can be as simple as noticing a sensation or an external event. Using our senses helps us to move from judgement to awareness. And that's all mindfulness is - simple, unadulterated awareness.

Take some time today and notice what you can see/hear/touch/smell/taste.

28/03/2026

Our inner critic exists to protect our place in the world. To survive, we must belong to a group that will keep us safe.

However, our groups, systems and structures can and do harm us, even while they offer a place for us to belong.

For example, employment may offer stability and security, but often at the expense of adequate time for rest or caregiving commitments.

In those moments, it can be easy for our inner critic to identify all our shortcomings, including unfair comparisons.

The next time your inner critic starts noting all the things you're not doing (or doing well), offer yourself some kindness and remember that our 'success' is inextricably linked to our place in these systems and structures.

We do the best we can with what we have. And no one can ask more of us than that - not even ourselves.