My concept has long been “Be better”, and it is addictive because it has driven me forwards in life. But with reflection “Be better” than who? And when? The answer is of course to be better than Me and Now.

It doesn’t take much to recognise that this striving is causing an inner turmoil.

Loving kindness (also known as Metta Bhavana) is a meditation practice that involves bringing to mind specific individuals, recognising that they, like all humans, experience difficulty in their life, and then one at a time wishing them well.

One of my favourite all time definitions of any word is this one of Love.“Love is learning the song in someone else's heart and playing it to them when they have forgotten.” How can this help us to love more fully?

Sitting still is something of an art form and it can be one of our greatest teachers and most powerful skills.

“Even a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” perhaps there is another journey that begins with a single raisin.

Our aim isn't to become more productive, more valuable or less lazy. It is to become more familiar and more welcoming to every part of our own human experience.

There is a belief going round that reality is reserved only for the day-to-day grind, and that fun and games, moments of relaxation or time with friends can only be counted as distraction or "not-real"

In truth what is happening in the present moment is reality. It is the thought-created baggage that is the distraction.

Many of us spend a lot of time trying to place our attention outside of our own mind and body because we don’t enjoy living with them . It can be a great relief to find a sense of respite and safety is still possible, even if it does take a great deal of care and practice and support from another person.

On the surface, a Mindfulness practice can look like a dedication to regular meditations. However sitting still and directing the mind is only one part of the experience. The other is the quality of presence that we bring into the meditation. One way of describing this is like the ‘tone of voice’ that you use with yourself. Other people may experience it as a quality of colour, or the physical presence they create.