I learnt a big lesson about pain and suffering this week. Pain - both physical and emotional - is unavoidable in life, because we have a body. Emotional pain - in the form of sadness, grief, fear, anger or a messy combination of all these darker feelings - is damned uncomfortable but it’s actually nothing to be afraid of. If you are prepared to turn towards the pain with great compassion, to … [Read more...] about I hurt, therefore I am telling a story
compassion
Why Einstein is the gift that keeps on giving
I find it fascinating that, more than 50 years after his death, Einstein is still the name we associate with genius. I’m sure this is partly because no one has disproved his theory of relativity but also because he was a very different kind of scientist to the largely reductionist types we see today. In fact, he thought of himself as religious. Reading some of his quotes this morning I realise … [Read more...] about Why Einstein is the gift that keeps on giving
Embrace your beautiful imperfection
I’ve had the honour of being part of three really special, authentic conversations today, and one theme that has recurred in these conversations has been that of self-acceptance. In my experience, the path to the authentic self can only be followed by accepting all of your other selves first - the ones you identify with, the ones you reject, the ones you project and the ones you disown. The … [Read more...] about Embrace your beautiful imperfection
Is happiness a skill you can learn?
Happiness. Everyone wants it. Some get it, others don’t. The Dalai Lama says it’s the main purpose of life. But what is happiness? How do you define it? Happiness, it seems, means something different to everyone. However, we all agree that it would be a good idea to experience more of it. To me, happiness is a profound felt-sense of being at peace with myself and the world. To you, it might be … [Read more...] about Is happiness a skill you can learn?
Neptune and our deep need for connection
This month, the planet Neptune moved into the sign of Pisces, where it will stay for the next 13 years. The significance of this will not be lost on anyone who is interested in astrology - as I have been for many years. If you are receptive to the language, astrologers have demonstrated time and again that the movement of the outer planets affects us all, and when they change sign it heralds a … [Read more...] about Neptune and our deep need for connection
Do good, feel good
Random acts of kindness. They seem to be all over the place at the moment. You might have noticed them on the Central Line recently in the form of little red figures holding hands. They are part of Acts of Kindness, a project by artist Michael Landy that celebrates everyday generosity and compassion on the Tube. If you have a story about an act of kindness on the Underground, you can … [Read more...] about Do good, feel good