Category: Mindfulness

  • No one but you sets your standards

    No one but you sets your standards

    I love 🫶🏽 this one because it’s a reset & reminder to not gaf about others’ opinions, no matter how loud.

    In life we’re gonna encounter loud, quiet, pushy and all sorts of people. And if you spend time with them, you’re likely to be influenced in some way.

    Your standards are yours to maintain, change and set higher for yourself.

    In a way it’s so freeing when you think about it. We are in control, and who cares what the person next to or around you thinks. It’s not always that easy, and as humans we care. But we can aspire to filtering unnecessary influence.

    When you can reach this point where you know your standard limits so clearly, it becomes second nature in interactions to recognise the lines.

    Sure we also have rules and standards enforced on us by society, they’re hard to avoid and even those are sometimes best broken.

    The loud ones. You’re gonna bump up against people who think they know best, proclaim their level of cool or authority or talk the loudest.

    They’re likely the most insecure in the room.

    Insecurity maybe rooted in many things such as fear of peer pressure, embarrassment, jealousy, confusion or just lack of clear direction or experience. How those manifest in behaviours also reveals a person’s standards.

    But you set your own standards. You maintain them and when you waver, you are the one that decides how far into the grey zone you go.

    You, and you alone manage your standards.

    When we find ourselves too deep in the grey and warnings are going off, it’s our choice to continue or not and our limits and triggers will be different to the next person.

    Like anyone, I let my standards slip at times. I pull myself back and sometimes when doing so, realise I’ve let more than one standard slip against my values. This I think, is the constant effort of self discipline. We’re human, we’re gonna screw up, so correct course and move forward.

    Reset, remind yourself of your standards and values. And in doing so, free yourself from the external influence.

    Your standards are yours.

  • It’s probably not personal

    It’s probably not personal

    This is one of the more powerful lessons I’ve learnt over time when it comes to the behaviour of others and how we perceive, react or respond to it.

    If someone has done something you disagree with, don’t understand, makes you confused or left you questioning their behaviour or motivation, then take a pause and breathe through it.

    You might have intrusive thoughts such as, what are the possible reasons!? What are they thinking doing that?!

    The longer we dwell on it the more we worry. Learning to let it go is a powerful skill and understand that if it’s behaviour around you, without direct communication not a lot will be resolved. And from experience, it’s not easy to identify the reason why someone did something or acted in a certain way.

    Take a breath, give it some time and let it sit.

    It’s probably not personal. There’s likely another reason someone acted in a surprising way.

    And once it’s discussed, it often becomes clear there were reasons or circumstances we weren’t aware were a factor.

    It’s likely not personal.

    Holding this mindset is a great method of relieving ourselves of worry and personal blame when it’s unwarranted. Of course, if it is us! then take responsibility.

    Give people some time and space and the reasons may become clear.

    Be kind to yourself and let it go. It’s likely nothing to do with us or with communication, it will become clear.

  • Someday, the world will write your last goodbye

    Someday, the world will write your last goodbye

    It’s a fact of life. We all share the same destination. At some point in the future, the world will write you a last goodbye.

    Your family will be sitting together, wracking their brains amongst the grief and tears, trying to collect words onto paper that will best express who and how you were.

    You may have experienced the death of a loved one and been a part of this yourself already. It’s not an easy time.

    It will be the closure of your earthly life and people close to you will try their best to give you an amazing send off.

    What will they say? What will they write?

    • ”She was such a strong leader, changed the way I think, literally.”
    • “She always took my bloody tweezers!”
    • “He always made me smile. But he was soooo annoying!! 😂🤣😂”
    • “We laughed until we couldn’t anymore 🤣🤣”

    As humans we have one thing that seems to differentiate us from most other animals, we can think through time. Although my labs can recall where that rubbish was thrown outside by someone and sprint to it later (future planning!) lol.

    We know that in the future, we will meet a physical end and people will grieve. They will remember us and talk about us for a while. And then they won’t.

    I wonder what they’ll remember? What will remain of you and your life after your physical body has run its cycle? This seems to be great motivation to live the best life we can.

    It’s a miracle that we’re here in the first place. From the billions of factors that brought our parents together. From the one egg produced in ovulation and the millions of sperm that competed, you were chosen and created.

    You are literally, a miracle.

    Given the odds, and the limited time we have available in our lifetime, it’s a privilege to be alive. We’re not all born fully healthy and in a wonderful environment. But we have what we are born with, and why not make the best of it.

    One day that family meeting around the fire or table will happen and you will be the subject.

    Today is the day to start living really hard. We owe it to the people around us, our ancestors and the children coming after us.

  • Notice the in between moments of joy ✨

    Notice the in between moments of joy ✨

    The shhhh shooshing of the wind, the rustle of the leaves in the trees.

    Notice the branches swinging back into their natural place.

    The whistle of a bird and the pause while its friend considers its answer, then replies with cheekiness.

    Notice the pause before the answer. Then the flutter of the wings as they decide to move.

    The shadow plays on the wall or ground, fading in and out of focus.

    Notice how they run just like the wind.

    Pat a dog to see them respond with calm, appreciation for the small gift of attention.

    Notice the exhale after they flop onto the ground enjoying the moment.

    The quiet half-smile of your lover as you speak gently to them and safety fills their heart.

    Notice the upturned corners of their mouth, the joy of love.

    The way the petals of a sunflower wrap up together at night, bathing in moonlight.

    Notice the way they wait patiently for the sun’s warmth in the morning. Another day, let’s shine!

    These in between moments are what escape us in our busy lives. The details, the beauty. Noticing and appreciating these brings us back to the now and the joy of our life.

    These moments are a part of what makes living in this world so special. And they’re beautiful ✨


    Notice the in between.


  • Healers and angels ✨

    Healers and angels ✨

    One day, you may be fortunate enough to meet one. They come into your life, find your pieces that need work and help you put yourself back together.

    It may not even be intentional on their part. Some are just doing what they do and you happen to be in their vicinity. Or you see your own self-love reflected in them.

    The hard work is for us to do, but there are people who will come along and plant the seeds.

    They plant the thought, the idea or the possibility that things might be better. They’ll subtly become a part of your life and you may not even notice at first.

    And then one day you realise, you’ve met a healer or angel. And that piece of you that needed work, or you didn’t want to face, all of a sudden seems like it’s healing.

    It’s a rare thing and something to treasure. Accept the gifts with grace and return what you can.