Maggie Murray

21/01/2026

Today's weather is the hardest type of day for me to leave the house in Winter. Wet, grey and cold days were unbareable.

However, developing wisdom from mindfulness practices, gaining courage with compassionate responses inwards and looking at widening my perspective on our environment I can remind myself of the importance of rain and how it supports the beautiful nature I see around me.

This is something I can now celebrate that now offers me the confidence and motivation to leave the house on such a difficult day.

Affirmations can be so helpful to set the intention to be grateful for all weathers, seasons and experiences that can feel tough in the moment.

19/01/2026

I hadn't heard about the monks walking across the USA for peace, until a friend brought it up in a community group I attended at Saturday.

Then Joanna from kindly shared the link for us all to follow. I am absolutely loving watching the daily videos of the connections they are making with so many human beings along their way.

Exchanges of giving and receiving of hope, compassion, loving kindness, harmony and love.

We can all choose to be inspired by the courage to show up with such unconditional love they are offering in their connections, spreading the vibes of lets live in peace not live in hate.

I am showing up in solidarity for the walk for peace journey

07/01/2026

Learning about how my body responds and my mind automatically feels resistance to the seasonal change of Winter has been a focus of mine for many years now. So when the oppotunity to join Joanna and the community I felt much gratitude for another reflective space to gain more widom and insight. Thank you Joanna 🌳💚🌳

My body isn't fond of the cold weather as I get more joint pains and feel a sense of fatigue which brings a greater effort to enjoy going outside on cold wintery days.

So how I function in the Winter season can take a more intentional approach of noticing and reflecting on asking myself what is my body telling me I need right now.

Knowing I am not alone in facing the challenges of Winter and being with like minded people to connect with who also find Winter a struggle can help me to feel comfort. Together we are finding ways to soothe our nervous system, co-regulating, sharing ideas, empathy and wisdom.

It was enjoyable to catch up on week 1 of the Wintering Wellness course. Monday brought us snow so I choose to stay safe and not drive to the event in the evening. It can be really hard for me to want to go out on dark nights. I much prefer to stay home and get cosy hygge style. Much appreciation to Joanna for recorsing week 1 for those of us staying home on Monday evening.

Spending this afternoon choosing to focus on learning about wellness in Winter was very much welcomed from the reflective questions and journally, meditiation practices and learning about the nervous system.

Its brough much appreciation of calmness, clarity and compassion and even Peppa my elderly cat enjoyed her rest with me.

05/01/2026

Happy Wintering my lovely followers

A new year brings a short reflection on how wintering can be challenging and I do feel it too.

Connections are so important, along with awareness of our internal and external resources.

Noticing our shifts of moods, thoughts and reactions can be challenging, yet so helpful when you take the time to notice.

Developing wisdom with compassion to slow things down are kinder choices for a calmer and more content way of living.

I hope you find this short video offers you some self reflections.

Happy reflective wintering and discovering to you all 💚🌳💚

21/11/2025

A beautiful post by Joanna The Gentle Co I Can so relate to the challenges Winter brings me. What are your reflective thoughts of Winter?

18/11/2025

A little hello from me this morning

Taking a little break from working on my October accounts to check in and share a little thought or too!

Thank you to everyone for their kind messages, compassionate responses, cards and gifts while I have been off work recovering from an abdominal hysterectomy

Gentle steps into getting back to living in this new phase of life.

Modelling compassion and kindness

18/11/2025

Looking forward to being back in my happy place, our therapy room to share the space with my wonderful clients, supervisees and colleagues in the building. Met with a lovely welcome back hug 💚

28/10/2025

28/10/2025

I am delighted for my wonderful CFT mentor, coach and friend Dr Hayley D Quinn on the arrival of her book. Preorders are open on 18th November and I can't wait to purchase it. It’s here, the very first copy of Hayley's debut book From Self-Neglect to Self-Compassion: A compassionate guide to creating a thriving life.
I am honoured to have a little bit of my story features in Hayley's book 💜

08/10/2025

I am taking some leave of absence in October after my surgery on Monday.

Everything went well and I got back home recovering from the surgery. It will take as long as it takes to heal and gain strength to return to work.

I am being well cared for by family and friends

Thank you for all your supportive well wishes

There will be any mindfulness and meditation practices in my healing process as I know these support my nervous system.

Resting at home will be my priority focus and gentle walks to keep my body healing.

I got my hair cut to make showering easier in my recovery. It can be little changes that can be so helpful.

I have some new jigsaws ready for when I need some stimulation, however managing pain and discomfort, sleeping and working the general anaesthetic out my system are an important part of healing right now.

I will be back in touch when I am ready to return to work. Thank you for everyone's patience and understanding 🌳💚🌳

Thank you to all the supportive and dedicated staff in theatre and on Branston ward at Lincoln County Hospital for showing great care in their patients well being and recovery. Special thanks to staff nurse Julie for working so hard to discharge me safely so I could get home back to sleeping in my own bed

25/09/2025

Any counselling colleagues interesting in this opportunity with CASY to deliver training?

📢 WE ARE HIRING 📢
For our role of trainer. Please contact Pauline Renshaw- p.renshaw@casy.org.uk for more information.

23/09/2025

In such a busy world we live in, there isn't much focus in society on the value of making time for doing nothing.

From the perspective of supporting our nervous system, it's absolutely valued. The more time we rest contently, we heal and release, and we bring ease and gentleness to our bodies and minds.

So time doing nothing is never wasted when you understand and see the importance of resting and digesting in recovery of being busy.

My Big Panda 🐼 little dragon 🐉 cards are a useful guide for me intuitively in reminding me what is needed and I will choose to carve out little pockets of rest today between my client work 💚🌳💚