It’s my Birthday today, and I am so excited because I found a little present in our house this week – a little surprise from our resident bonsai tree: flower buds! The tree turned from autumnal leaves to new buds around Christmas, but it was its first year in our house, so we weren’t sure if it would bloom (it is a blooming type, though). And here they are, little flowers on the way, coming soon!
Self-kindness is the part that responds to our self-judgement. It’s the voice that says: “It’s okay to feel this way.” Notice how you feel when others say that to you and when you say it to yourself. Yes: practice in front of the mirror; why not? If affirmations work for you, this could be one of them.
As we become evermore connected and immersed in the digital world, it’s important to take steps to ensure our digital wellbeing. Digital wellbeing is the practice of managing our digital habits, activities and use of technology in a way that promotes health, wellbeing and happiness.
Compassionate journalling is a form of awakening, practising and nurturing our inner accepting, comforting, supporting self.
We can already have a compassionate voice and practice it – we just mainly use it for others while we can remain critical of ourselves.
So maybe notice if you are using a compassionate voice already and how you could possibly direct it towards your inner self too?
As we enter the new year, here’s an idea: why not swap all the resolutions for a soft intention to improve our digital wellbeing? We have prepared a few simple ideas to inspire you to improve how you use digital technologies for your wellbeing this year.
In a small act of resistance against the January trends pushing for resolutions, health improvements and habit hacking, we have decided to look at self-compassion this month. This month we are exploring the power of an inner compassionate voice for softer healing. Join us!
It’s winter. We are taking this time to rest. Our allotment is resting, too. Very few plants are still busy, so my options to admire growing Nature are limited. As I focus more on heavier jobs (improving soil, tidying up messy branches, maintaining the shed and greenhouse), I can still admire the borage. Our white and blue borage plants are everywhere, and I cannot get enough of their fluffy flowers. In Nature, spikes usually signal danger, yet those little bushy plants feel more like a fluffy carpet. They look stunning and work as a marvellous addition to any meal. I love freezing them in ice cubes for summer mocktails. Borage is a plant to grow if you want a whole sensory experience.
As we approach the last day of the year, we have a perfect opportunity to reflect on our previous twelve months. One way to reminiscence is to think of the essential inspirations that shaped us, so here is a list of my top book recommendations.
Nostalgia gives us hope and inspires us to look forward to the future – what initially may sound like a paradox – looking back to move forward – is incredibly important. If we move forward without reflection, we continue walking almost blindly into the next year, next phase, and next commitment. We leave the memories behind and forget the opportunity for learning, growth and a better understanding of who we are and what we need to heal, be well, and thrive. We wish you a healing 2023!