Phew we made it through a long, dull January and while February has started with as much dullness and drizzle, I have seen the first daffodils, seen the snowdrops and see the tulip sprouts. So we move forward towards Spring. There is undoubtedly a lot going on in your life, managing work, retirement, chores, kids, grandkids, parents, home improvements, pain, injury, death and disease. One thing is certain, that nothing is certain. In the midst of the busyness it can be hard to stop, to check...

Mindfulness helps me cope with the old conditioned doubt that arises most days. If you’ve ever felt a wave of hesitation over something you know  you’re perfectly capable of — making a decision, speaking up, choosing a direction — you’re not alone. That’s not present‑moment wisdom talking. That’s old, conditioned doubt doing what it learned to do decades ago. It’s like having a tiny, overprotective librarian in your mind whispering, “Shhh… are you sure?” even when you’re just trying to live...

The Urge to Fix Ourselves and Others In both my personal and professional life, I often encounter the dilemma of wanting to fix things—ourselves, others, or our circumstances. It seems to be an intrinsic part of the human condition to strive for improvement, to continuously seek ways to fix what we perceive as broken. This desire, however, can inadvertently lead us to feel ashamed or inadequate for not measuring up to an imagined standard of being “fixed.”     The Paradox of Self-Improvement...