When they say Don’t I know you?
say no.

When they invite you to the party
remember what parties are like
before answering.
Someone is telling you in a loud voice
they once wrote a poem.
Greasy sausage balls on a paper plate.
Then reply.

If they say We should get together
say why?

It’s not that you don’t love them anymore.
You’re trying to remember something
too important to forget.
Trees. The monastery bell at twilight.
Tell them you have a new project.
It will never be finished.

When someone recognizes you in a grocery store
nod briefly and become a cabbage.
When someone you haven’t seen in ten years
appears at the door,
don’t start singing him all your new songs.
You will never catch up.

Walk around feeling like a leaf.
Know you could tumble any second.
Then decide what to do with your time.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Week 2: Mindfulness, Paying Attention and More on Self-Compassion

Thank you for joining Week 2 of The Daisy Garland Mindfulness sessions.

This week, we started to look at some of the practical benefits of developing a mindfulness practice, one of which is the ability to improve our focus and attention. 

Many of us experience increasing levels of distraction and an inability to concentrate on any one thing for very long. Exposed to anxiety-creating headlines, worrying about loved ones or simply trying to keep your head when all about you are at risk of losing theirs, it’s no wonder many of us feel unable to focus. So how could mindfulness help?

Mindfulness is often described as a particular way of paying attention: On purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally (with kindness to yourself). Although the definition is simple, putting this into practice in daily life is often a challenge. So how might developing mindfulness help us to focus and pay attention? In essence,...

The Stop Practice

Stress is an inevitable part of life. But stress itself is not the problem - it’s how we relate to it that counts. 

The stress response (‘fight, flight, freeze’) is critical to our survival. In days gone by, it might have saved us from the mouth of a sabre-toothed tiger. These days, while certain threats have disappeared, others are on the rise. Our stress response is triggered constantly. It may be triggered by an update on the news, the temporary loss of a mobile phone or the resounding ping of an incoming email. When we are worried, anxious or fretting about something, this is when the stress response activates. Over time, if we are not able to find a way of slowing down and normalising the bodily systems involved in stress, we can start to suffer from problems such as high blood pressure, muscle tension, anxiety, insomnia and digestive problems.

Creating space during the day to leave the worried mind behind and come into the present...

• BLOG: The STOP Practice: https://www.gillianhiggins.co.uk/blog/stop-for-a-moment
• The Driven-Doing State of Mind by Gillian Higgins: https://www.gillianhiggins.co.uk/blog/the-driven-doing-state-of-mind
• The Being Mode of Mind by Gillian Higgins: https://www.gillianhiggins.co.uk/blog/the-being-mode-of-mind
• AUDIO: Everyday Mindfulness with Jon Kabat-Zinn: https://www.mindful.org/everyday-mindfulness-with-jon-kabat-zinn/
• VIDEO: The Difference between Self-Compassion and Self-Esteem by Kristen Neff: https://youtu.be/IvtZBUSplr4 (19 mins) 

• BOOK: When Things Fall Apart - Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chodron: https://www.amazon.co.uk/When-Things-Fall-Apart-Difficult/dp/0007183518

PS: Join me for 21 Days of Mindfulness on Instagram @gilliankhiggins

PPS: Find more mindfulness resources and meditations at www.gillianhiggins.co.uk

New course coming in July 2021.

This 6-week mindfulness course tailored for lawyers consists of a 1-hour live weekly session (via Zoom) with tutor Gillian Higgins. The course is accompanied by reading materials, practical hints, tips and audio-guided meditations. 

To obtain more information about the course topics and/or reserve your class, please email Gillian at [email protected] 

Session times: 8-9am or 6-7pm live session via Zoom. 

Class size: Groups of 10-12 from a law firm or chambers. 

Cost:  Details provided on application. 

On this day, tens of thousands of people across the globe come together to start conversations around epilepsy, raise awareness of the condition and fundraise to make a difference to the lives of those affected.

For the past few months, I have had the pleasure of assisting Sara Garland, CEO of The Daisy Garland, a national charity which supports parents of children with drug-resistant epilepsy. Sara’s innovative work in this field led her to introduce a mindfulness programme for parents and carers.

Each week, parents have come together in our drop-in sessions to learn how mindfulness can encourage us to pause, take stock, take a moment for ourselves and bring self-compassion to the most difficult of situations.

Listening to stories, experiences and the ways in which mindfulness is helping parents and carers, even in small ways, has been both humbling and enlightening.

Given the impact of the pandemic and the incredible tireless work of The Daisy Garland, supporting...