I particularly love number 8 - "In five years, will this even matter?"

I love this quote from Maya Angelou. It was hard to choose as she was a wise woman with a gift for words and has left the world so many inspirational quotations. Thank you to Artwell Art Therapy for the image.

Some wise words to put some perspective on the week. This also takes me back to uni days when I, along with so many others, had a copy of this on my wall along with Kipling's 'If'. Ahhhh, what would I say to my younger self if I could?

Thinking of making changes? To help with motivation try to picture your life in 6 months, 1 year...even 5 years time. Time passes anyway... Thank you, Daniel G Amen, MD.

Just be. Just be you. Just be you with your talents, gifts and flaws - like us all.

“Finish each day before you begin the next, and interpose a solid wall of sleep between the two.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson It’s so important to empty our minds before we go to sleep - to release all our thoughts, plans, worries and concerns so that we can have a deep and restorative sleep. This guided meditation is meant to help you achieve just that. Whether you are prone to insomnia, sleep problems or not, this restful guided meditation will help you experience the beauty and wonder of the sea as you drift off, so that you can have a peaceful, relaxing and refreshing sleep.

An absolutely fascinating clip of two monkeys being rewarded with either cucumber or grapes. What happens when cucumber monkey sees s/he is not getting the same as grape monkey? After spending much of my life working with children and hearing the refrain "it's not fair!" this certainly resonates and has got me thinking about how us adults accept inequality...or do we challenge it and how?

Are you feeling brave? Looking at counselling websites could be seen as brave...as a start...for wanting change. That doesn't seem comfortable or easy to me, hence being brave. Dipping your toe into the world of therapy can be life changing - exciting, revealing, sometimes painful, honest. A way forward...

Ever wondered why it is so hard to break an addiction? Having just recently attended a fascinating training event on Sex Addiction run by Paula Hall, I was very impressed with her explanation of how our brains work aka the neuroscience of addiction. February may be the time people think of romance but I thought I'd share her mind map for sex and porn addiction particularly now opportunity can be regarded as a key factor in addiction. I also think the road to Brighton metaphor works well for other addictions too.

Have you thought why you are attracted to some people but others send you running in the opposite direction? Your own unique love map will hold the answers! But where does that come from? Well, the answer is in your past. The School of Life explains clearly how our relationship template develops and, once we become aware of the bits that aren't so good for us, what we could change so we not only attract less destructive partners but become better partners too.

I find this very powerful. Listening to the words as Harry moves. Watching his movements along with his colour choices. Linking words with movement and colour. Shyness can be crippling. Coming out of your shell - when you feel safe to do so - and being you releases the suppressed enery and allows for more authentic living. Bullying can be behind shyness and can leave lasting damage. When we become aware of this then, perhaps, it is easier to begin healing.

Having self-compassion is not the same as being selfish or self centred. Acknowledge your pain, your failure, your difficulty. It is part of the human journey. It will lessen, it will pass and it will teach...in time. What kindness would you give your friend suffering as you are now? Be that friend to yourself. If we cannot look after ourselves, we will not be strong enough to look after others.