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Translated by Coleman Barks This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearin[...]

  "Many people think that the point in life is to solve their problems and be happy.  But happiness is usually a fleeting sensation, and you never get rid of problems. Your purpose in life may be to become more who you are and more engaged with the people and the life around you, to really live your life.” - Thomas Moore Freud suggested that the mind seeks pleasure and a[...]

Happy New Year! I'm posting this a day or so early as most of us, myself included, make resolutions on the New Year. I'm not normally a big fan of New Year resolutions, as while about 60% of us make them, only about 10% of the resolutions we make stick.  Partly this is because it's something we do because everyone else is, rather than because we are ready to make changes.  P[...]

Happiness is something we all pursue, especially over the Christmas season. The modern fount of all wisdom, Wikipedia, defines happiness as "a mental or emotional state of well-being defined by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy".  If I was looking for a picture to illustrate this then Jessica the cat lying before the fire might fit well. H[...]

I'm taking a break over Christmas, from December 24th through to January 2nd.  Apologies if you try to contact me during that time and I am slow to respond.  Wishing you all a good Christmas season and, hopefully, some calm and restful time.[...]

Modern life can often be stressful. If it is stressful over a long period it can lead to fatigue, burnout, health and relationship problems. Without proper self-care, rest, relaxation and time, even the most resilient of us will reach a stage where we fall apart. The most common cause of long term stress is working too hard. Our culture promotes this by valuing ‘high achieve[...]

You may be reading this because you are thinking about killing yourself. You may not understand where these thoughts come from, or it may be you feel you are trapped in a life that has become intolerable and suicide feels like the best solution. Either way these thoughts, feelings and urges are hard to talk about and even harder to live with. Don't take them literally.  Suic[...]

On Saturday had a brilliant day doing a fundraiser for The Brooke charity for working horses and donkeys, while showcasing the new premises in Chisbury.  Thanks to everyone who came along! http://quiescencewellbeing.co.uk/open-day-raises-358-for-the-brooke/  [...]

Talking with Greg Donaldson about the impact of early childhood and trauma. https://youtu.be/gKz4CFKUj08[...]

An article discussing narcissism from a psychospiritual perspective Source: Narcissism: A Psychospiritual Perspective | The Psychosynthesis Trust[...]

The Saturday meditation group won't be meeting on the 16th and 23rd of April, but will be back on the 30th April.  On the 30th we'll hopefully be in our new premises, snug and warm whatever the weather![...]

Building work has started on the premises I share with Lorna of Quiescence Wellbeing.  The builders should be done by mid April, when the building will be better insulated, heated and generally more comfortable.  It's going to be a great location for counselling and life coaching in the area.  More news as the building work develops! [...]

The Saturday meditation group is not meeting on Saturday 12th and 19th of March. We are meeting 26th March during Easter, but in Hungerford rather than Chisbury. This is because of the building works on our premises, which are expected to run for 4 weeks from 21st March. During that time we will hold the group in Hungerford – contact me or Lorna Benbow for details.[...]