Where I live, the sun is shining and the birds are singing. This brings me much joy and lots of gratitude. So that is the theme for today’s session.

What are you grateful for? How ever big or small it may be? Are you grateful for the sun? For your home? Your kids? The chair that you are sitting on? The coffee you have to drink? The pen that helps capture your ideas.

Think of 3 things that you are grateful for today. Without judgement. Smile inwardly in appreciation.

Carry this feeling into the wonderful week ahead.

#mindfulmonday #gratitude #keepsmiling

I’m back from a wonderful two weeks in Croatia. I can highly recommend it as a holiday destination. The waters are so crystal clear and warm.

Holidays are a well-earned and often much needed break from day-to-day life. A chance to disconnect from activities that we may be doing mindLESSly.

When we get back from holiday it’s a great time to set new goals, challenges and new healthy habits. Use the energy of the holiday to motivate you forward. A chance to ease slowly back into the flow of life.

Today’s meditation is both grounding and energising. I hope it sets you up well for the week ahead.

#mindfulmonday #easeandflow #healthyhabits

We are halfway through 2024! Can you believe it? The summer season is beginning and the weather has its moments of glory!

As I prepare to take 2 weeks off I am being mindful that I need a good break from everything, so I am making sure that I have all I need in place to take the time off and let go of the day to day tasks. This can be really hard to do as a business owner, but it is so important to allow ourselves to recharge in this way.

Which brings me to the title of today’s Mindful Monday – letting go and being. Letting go of everything when we are on holiday and enjoying being fully present and in the moment – seeing the beauty of nature and life around us. When we take time to do this we can access the most incredible creative places in our heads. When we come back we feel fully recharged, invigorated and inspired.

Enjoy the meditation and I look forward to joining you again in a few weeks time!

#mindfulmonday #beinginthenow #lettinggo #summerholiday

One of the attitudes that we bring to mindfulness is the art of non-striving.

This can be a challenging concept if you are goal-oriented like me!

Surely we need to strive for a goal to have success and happiness?

It’s taken me a long time to really get and implement the art of non-striving, particularly when it comes to my business. I want my business to be successful so that I can reach and impact as many people as possible, so how does letting things be the way they are help me reach that goal?

The most important benefit of non-striving is that it has no stress or anxiety attached to it. When we trust that things will unfold as they are meant to, things automatically become a lot easier.

In today’s meditation I take the art of non-striving to our breath.

I hope you enjoy it!

Have a wonderful Mindful Monday!

#mindfulmonday #nonstriving #gowiththeflow #justbe

Thoughts are just mental events. They are not reality, yet we often find ourselves believing them, and following them as if they are the TRUTH. They ARE NOT.

Imagine your thoughts as if they are buses pulling into and out of a bus station. You get to choose which buses you get on, which you don’t and when you hop off.

Practicing mindfulness helps give us the space to see thoughts for what they are. In that space we get to choose our response. We can choose when any action is aligned with our “end destination” or our values. And we get to choose NOT to follow unwelcome thoughts too.

In this short meditation I guide you through this process. This is something that is easy to continue practicing on your own too.

Have a wonderful Mindful week!

#mindfulmonday #noticingthoughts #thoughtsarenotreality

It’s Loneliness Week! In today’s Monday Mindfulness I talk about the difference between being alone and being lonely. If you feel alone then I can help with that! We can all develop the skills to be comfortable with our own company. If we aren’t then there are generally reasons for that that coaching can explore.

Think about those that you know that might be feeling lonely this week. What acts of kindness could you give to show others; those you know, as well as strangers, that we all deserve to be loved.

I end with a short mindful meditation to radiate LOVE and KINDNESS into the world.

Have a wonderful week!

#mindfulmonday #lonelinessawarenessweek #lonely #lovingkindness #dontbealone

Today’s inspiration comes from Rumi’s poem called The Guest House.

What happens when we welcome all thoughts, positive or negative? If we choose to sit with them for a moment, what opens up? Are we able to let go of anything in doing so?

This is an incredibly powerful tool when we use it gently and with kindness and self-compassion.

I’d love to hear how you get on with it.

Have a wonderful Mindful week.

#mindfulmonday #theguesthouse #rumi #awarenessofthoughts

It’s a bank holiday today in the UK and I have a POWER tool to share with you. Not one of the DIY-type tools, but rather a tool that you can use if you are feeling any tension, stress or conflict with those around you (both at home and at work).

P is for PAUSE – stop and breathe

O is for OBSERVE – note your thoughts, feelings and emotions. And then those of the other person

W is for WONDER – why might you be responding in this way? Why might the other person be responding in this way? How might the environment be influencing your responses

E is for EXLORE – armed with the knowledge from the previous steps, decide on the best course of action, making sure it comes from a place of love.

R is for REFLECT or REVIEW – how well did you handle the situation? How was it different? What could you learn for another time? Celebrate taking a different course of action

Enjoy using this POWERful tool. It’s really incredible and I would love to hear how you get on with it.

Happy Mindful (Bank Holiday) Monday!

#mindfulmonday #powerofthepause #powertool #BankHolidayWeekend

A few week’s ago I spoke about how our bodies are great communicators of when we need to stop and slow down. Sometimes the signals it sends us are like a slap in the face and we have no choice to stop. But our bodies are also communicating to use every moment. When we slow down and connect with the sensations in our bodies, these sensations become great early warning signals of how we can look after ourselves.

Today I observe a stiffness in my back so this morning I gentle loosened it up, but I also recognise that my body is asking me for some more stretching – yoga class here I come!

Join me for the Breathing Space Mediation, a short meditation that can be used throughout the day, that brings our awareness to our bodies in the moment, to our breath and then to our bodies as a whole. It’s a great way to recentre ourselves in the middle of a busy day. Give it a go!

Have a wonderful Mindful Monday!

#breathingspacemeditation  #awarenessofbody #mindfulmonday #slowdown

In celebration of Mental Health Awareness Week and its theme of movement, today I share a Mindful Movement practice that you need very little space to do. It beautifully shows how when we bring our awareness to the activities and tasks that we do unconsciously day-to-day how brilliant our minds are. This simple exercise helps bring you into the present moment, leaving you feeling calm and clear headed for whatever comes next. It’s super easy to do each time you get up for a break.

#mindfulmonday #mindfulmovement #mentalhealthawarenessweek #mentalfitness #resilience

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

Last week I started an 8-week Mindfulness for Life course as part of a condition for a Masters in Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) that I am going to be starting in October (exciting!). When I was asked what I wanted out of the course I said that I wanted to bring a Beginner’s Mind to the course.

Beginner’s Mind is one of the attitudes or foundations that we bring to mindfulness. It’s about being present in each practice as if it were the first time that you have done it. It’s having that childlike curiosity. It’s trying to notice things that we haven’t noticed before. It’s a great way to keep a practice “fresh”.

As you follow this session see if you can also bring a Beginner’s Mind to it. What do you notice? I’d love to hear!

Have a wonderful Mindful (Bank Holiday) Monday!

#mindfulmonday #beginnersmind #MBCT #MBCT-L #MindfulnessForLife

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

There are so many things in this life that we can be grateful for. Whether they are big or small. We can turn anything that feels slightly “hard” into something to be grateful for. It’s cold this morning, and I am grateful that I get to wear my fleecy jacket on my dog walk. I am grateful to hear the birds sing. I am grateful for the hot shower…. acknowledging and expressing what we are grateful for helps move us into a more positive mindset which helps us see the day differently and also attracts more positive things to us.

Enjoy the short meditation and be grateful for this moment today. Notice how differently you feel afterwards.

Thank you for joining me and have a wonderful week.

Happy Mindful Monday!

#mindfulmonday #gratitude #breathwork

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

Today I share a story that I love about non-judgement. Such a simple story with such a powerful message. The world goes on around us. We have no control over many of the events that happen. They just happen. Most of the time we pass judgement on these events, classifying them as “good” or “bad” – but what if they just were? And we could accept them just as they are? This would remove much of the stress and anxiety that we feel on a daily basis.

Today and this week, observe how you respond to the events that happen around you as they unfold. If you weren’t to judge them, how would that alter your perspective?

And finally, this week’s Shine Your Light coaching card is #24 – Creativity lies in each of us. How could you be creative for 5 minutes each day this week?

Check in on Wednesday for an episode exploring this in the Shine Your Light Podcast.

Have a wonderfully mindful Monday!

#mindfulmonday #nonjudgement #creativity

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

We get so caught up in our lives that we often forget that our bodies are an incredible warning system. They let us know when we need to slow down, take a break and put ourselves first for a bit.

Today is one of those days for me. In fact the last few days have been, so I thought it was important to share that message in today’s mindfulness session. My body lets me know I need to slow down when I get headaches or cold sores or I am so tired that only an early night will help!

One of my Positive Intelligence Saboteurs is Restless. This means that I find it particularly difficult to stop and do nothing. Mindfulness has helped a lot. This weekend I knew I needed to stop so I took to the sofa… and then my Restless said “So Claire, what can you do while you are on the sofa to make it worthwhile? How about you take your laptop…”

NO NO NO!

Honour your body and honour the signs it gives you. And if you are unsure, slowing down or stopping will ALWAYS help.

So today it’s ESSENTIAL tasks only. Yes this counts as one of those!

Have a wonderful mindful Monday!

#mindfulmonday #listentoyourbody #coldcores #colds #headaches

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

We lead such busy lives. They can leave us feeling exhausted, overwhelmed with all that we need to do.

Teaching ourselves to pause is the single most powerful tool that I have ever learnt. It takes time for it to become habit, but it’s worth the dedication to master it.

When we pause, it’s like being in a scene from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or The Matrix, where the action stops and we have the time and space to assess the situation, our reaction, our thoughts, feelings and emotions. And then that time and space gives us the power to choose the best response in that moment.

Join me today to pause for a moment before your busy day starts. Observe the power and change of perspective that it gives you.

Have a mindful Monday.

#mindfulmonday #mindfulness #powerofthepause

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

Before I started recording this session I drew one of the cards from my Shine Your Light coaching cards: Card 2 – Childlike Joy.

In today’s meditation we take a step back to when we were younger and experienced childlike joy when we were absorbed in activities that we loved. We observe and notice where in our bodies we experienced that joy and we remember that we have access to that joy still as adults.

What one thing could you do today that will bring you childlike joy?

#mindfulmonday #shineyourlight #childlikejoy

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

What is the full moon shining its light on?

The moon shone brightly when I went to bed last night. The official time of the full moon was 7am today.

What is the light of the moon shining on in your life at the moment? Is it showing you something that you need to be aware of? Where in your body do you feel it and what one small action can you take today in relation to it?

Equally, how does your light shine at its brightest? Where do you feel that in your body when you are shining brightly? And what is one thing that you could do today to let others know how brightly your light shines.

Today I drew the “Bring awareness to your negative thoughts” card from my coaching cards. So this is the card that I will be working on this week. Perfectly selected at random with Easter holidays and social engagements upcoming!

Have a wonderful week and let me know how you get on!

#mindfulmonday #fullmoon #shineyourlight

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

This morning’s mindful session was inspired by a conversation I had with my daughter when I dropped her at the train station this morning. We were talking about her upcoming Duke of Edinburgh expedition and she said she was really looking forward to it. She knows it’s going to be exhausting. But YOLO!

YO what I say! You Only Live Once!

So that is the theme of today’s meditation.

What are you holding back from doing that falls into the YOLO category? What is stopping you from doing it? What excuses are you making? Where in your body do you feel that resistance?

And what would it be like to do that one thing that you have dreamed of doing? What would that feel like?

Finally what one teeny tiny action step could you take right now that would move to closer to doing it?

Have a wonderful #mindfulmonday

#yolo #youonlyliveonce #unfulfilleddreams #mindfulmonday #mindfulness

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

We move through our day judging ourselves, others or the situations that we find ourselves in. What would it be like if we could let go of the judgement and just accept every moment for what it is? It would allow us to be present in each moment. It would give us the space to see that even our being here is a miracle or an incredible set of circumstances. And that is worth celebrating!

Join me in this session for a powerful short story that helps get this point across really well.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this story and how you can use it to enjoy each moment today.

Have a wonderful #mindfulmonday

#lettinggo #judgement #nonattachment #bepresent

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

What are you attached to?

In today’s short mindful session we consider what we might be attached to in our live and what that might say about how we feel about ourselves.

Nothing in this world is permanent. Everything is always changing. So being attached sets us up for disappointment.

It’s fine to enjoy the company of our loved ones. To have beautiful objects around us. But it’s important to enjoy them in the moment for what they are, in the knowledge that nothing lasts. This is how we can lead a full, present life of love, fun and freedom.

So what are you attached to?

What would you find it hard to “give up”?

What might that say about what you believe about yourself or your life?

Have a wonderful #mindfulmonday

#attachment #bepresent #lawofimpermanence

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

Grounded Interconnectedness

What does that even mean? The words just came to me. Inspired by a Forest Bathing session with Tansy from Tansy in the Wild yesterday.

Trees are a great source of inspiration for mindfulness. When we imagine that we too have roots coming from the soles of our feet drilling down into the ground, ensuring that we have a solid foundation. This gives us a feeling of being grounded that takes us out of our heads. Then we imagine all the different roots networks under the ground connecting all the trees and plants together. They communicate with each other this way, passing on vital information about the environment. How different is this really from the way that humans connect? It isn’t really we just forget as we get caught up in our day-to-day lives.

This grounded interconnectedness inspires me to be grateful for all of those around me that support me.

Who does it remind you to be grateful for?

#mindfulness #gratitude #interconnectedness

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

Each moment passes leaving behind the past and moving into an infinite number of future possibilities. Today I remember the passing of a dear friend, who I only knew briefly, yet she touched a special place in my heart. We celebrate her life at her funeral this morning.

When I did my 10 day Vipassana I learnt that life is a series of moments. Even death is the passing of one moment into the next. We have no way of knowing what the next moment will bring, so embrace the present moment for all its beauty and love. Our loved ones that have passed leave memories and their energy remains for us to connect with.

So today, lean into your fears. Embrace love. Be in the moment.

And above all LOVE YOURSELF!

#loveyourself #bepresent #mindfulness

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

Often we are so absorbed in our lives that we don’t hear the sounds around us. When we take a moment to observe the sounds we hear the beautiful music of life. The different tones, pitches and rhythm of sounds come together to make a unique soundtrack for that moment.

Mindfulness of sounds takes us beyond the breath, expanding our awareness so that we can use sounds or breath to ring us back from our wandering minds.

This is a fabulously calming mindfulness practice and one that you can try on your next walk outside too!

Enjoy and keep shining! 💫

#mindfulmonday #mindfulnessofsounds #musicoflife

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

One of the attitudes that we bring to Mindfulness is a Beginner’s Mind. I love this attitude because it carries a child-like feeling of curiosity. No matter how much meditation we have done, we are all beginners. There is always something for us to learn—another step to take on the path forward. In today’s meditation, we bring a beginner’s mind to our breath.

Enjoy and have a wonderful week. Keep shining! 💫

#mindfulmonday #beginnersmind #mindfulnessofbreath

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

Something that I’ve had a light shone on this week, that I wanted to share with you is how we can understand something at a rational level, in our heads, but that doesn’t mean to say that deep down our heart and our gut are aligned. The opposite can be true as well. We have a gut feeling, but our head says the opposite. Or we are emotionally attached to an outcome (our heart) and our heads are saying “No way”.

If you ever find yourself in this situation then a short mindfulness practice is the perfect way to get everything aligned.

Join me and let’s have a go now.

#mindfulness #headheartgut #intuition

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

Do you ever have a week where your mind feels busier than usual? So full it might burst?

You may be juggling many different things or worried about how something might turn out. Our minds can get caught up in a vicious circle of these thoughts, but there is an easy way to quiet things down… you guess it right!

Join me for a few minutes of mindful breathing and notice the difference it makes.

This one is super short – so you have time!

#mindfulmonday #busymind #breathwork 

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

It’s a cold start to the day where I live and the mornings are still so dark. Many of us struggle with this winter period and end up not being able to quick put our finger on why we feel so lacking in energy.

My tips to you are to:

• Accept that the winter is like this and reframe the winter as a time to look within , rethink, regroup and prioritise everything that is going on in your life
• Wrap up warm. I love to have a few layers to keep me warm
• Get a hot water bottle – sitting with one on my lap is the best thing ever!
• Light a scented candle, make the lighting in your space feel warm and cozy
• Tap into how you feel and if you have a lot to do, start with the things that you find the easiest and are the most motivated to do!

I hope you enjoy today’s short meditation. Have a listen! I am sure it will help start your week well.

#winterblues #mindfulmonday #keepwarm

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

It’s a new year and a great time to reflect on the past year and the year ahead. Time can feel like it passes too quickly, yet mindfulness gives us a beautiful tool to connect with the present moment and to enjoy it for what it is. In today’s meditation we connect with our breath to enjoy the present moment. Enjoy! #mindfulmoment #connectwiththebreath #bepresent

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

So that’s an interesting title for a meditation that just popped into my head!

Maybe the upcoming Christmas celebrations with family fill you with stress and anxiety. Or you may well be excited!

But most of us feel some overwhelmed at this time of year (although I admit less so this year for me – mainly due to the meditation and overcoming self-sabotage that I have been working on)

So today’s short meditation is to help you connect in with those feelings of being overwhelmed or frustrated so you have a way to be more at peace with things being the way they are.

I hope you find it useful.

Have a wonderfully mindful day. 🙂

#mindfulchristmas #overwhelm #selfsabotage

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

#mindfulchristmas #overwhelm #selfsabotage

As we enter December it’s easy to get caught up in the give, give, giving. But how often do you pay attention to the art of receiving? Receiving a gift, whether you like it or not for the intention that was behind it. Or receiving a compliment without dismissing or belittling it? Instead respond with a simple Thank You and a smile. Give it a try this week.

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

#mindfulmonday #mindfulness #giftofreceiving #compliments 

It’s full moon today – if we can even see her through the rain! Weather aside she’s there and we can feel her energy. The full moon shines at her brightest, highlighting the things that we need to address in our lives. So as we sit in this meditation let’s consider what we have to let go of as we move into the longest days of the year.

Enjoy! And have a mindful Monday.

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

#mindfulmonday #mindfulness  #fullmoon #lettinggo

Many of us find comfort in knowing how the day ahead will be, but in reality can we really know what is going to happen today? And if it doesn’t go to plan how do we respond to that?

There was a time when I would have felt some stress or anxiety when things didn’t go to plan. But having practiced mindfulness daily for over 3 years now it’s interesting to observe how I respond to a change in circumstance.

So when my daughter’s minibus was quite late this morning I was super calm, not frustrated. I considered how it was going to impact the rest of the morning – it didn’t – and sat in the car having a lovely chat with my daughter. No stress in the slightest.

Life happens. We can’t control the events around us but we can choose how we respond to them.

Enjoy and have a great start to your week.

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

#mindfulmonday #mindfulness  #unexpectedevents #chooseyourresponse

I have been reflecting this morning on how intertwined patience and presence are. It seems obvious when I write it, but I really felt it today.

Of course, being patient without being present is pretty much impossible.

When we are in the moment events unfold naturally – just like the delicate opening of a beautiful flower. And that happens in its own time.

Join me for a short reflection and meditation on where we can be more present and patient today.

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

#mindfulmonday #mindfulwalking #mindfulness #patience #presense

By the time we are two years old walking is something that we don’t even think about.

Our brains process each of the movements required to walk without falling over unconsciously. Mindful walking is a great way to reconnect with the body and have an appreciation for the beautiful movements that help us walk.

Enjoy!

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

#mindfulmonday #mindfulwalking #mindfulness

What is it about being present and why is it so important and so powerful?

When we are present we let go of the ruminations of the past and put aside the anxieties of the future. The present moment becomes the most important thing that there is. Give it a go and join me in this meditation. 

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

#mindfulness #beingpresent #powerofpresense #anxiety

Spend 5 minutes before you start your day connecting with your breath. Then use your breath to set an intention for the week – who you get to be, what you get to create. Release any beliefs or resistance around that intention on the exhale.

This is a great way to mindfully start the week with great intentions.

Join my Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/50921… or subscribe to my YouTube Channel here:    / @reachingmybest  

In this morning’s mindfulness session, I talk about the importance of listening to our bodies. Yesterday I was feeling extreme tiredness. I could have spent the day doing my weekend chores. But I listened to my body and chose to spend most of the day on the sofa looking after myself. That combined with an early night and I feel so much better this morning.

Listen to the video for a short three-breath meditation that you can use to bring a moment of calm into your day!

Have you ever had thoughts about whether thoughts are facts? Where do thoughts come from? What forms our thoughts? Most of the actions that we take in life are directed by the thoughts that we have. So what happens when we put a little bit of space between ourselves and our thoughts.

Join me in this mindfulness session to find out more.