αλό μήνα (kaló mína) – Greek for happy new month! I love the Greek tradition of marking each new month and wishing the best to friends and family for the coming month. Each month brings the opportunity for a fresh start, a new beginning, as does each day and each moment.
I find it very useful to bring myself back into the moment as much as I can especially when I’m having a tough day which thankfully for me are rare, but Friday was one of them. I was not feeling well at all – physically, headaches, bad tummy and as a result, my mood was low also.
When we feel physically ill we often feel more emotionally vulnerable and it is important to mind ourselves even more at these times.
In Ireland later that day the Government announced their road map for lifting restrictions and I think it is positive that soon enough we should be able to gather in small groups with our friends if we continue to practise social distancing – magic! However, the news that schools will not be reopening until Sept/Oct hit my son hard; he is in sixth class in primary school and this is a pivotal year before making the transition into second level. The realisation that he would never again sit in the classroom with his friends was hard for him. For a young mind, this is a lot to try to process and make sense of.
These times are challenging for all of us and we have all been impacted in some way or other with the consequence that our mental health needs more care and attention than ever. Whatever way the current health crisis has affected you, please be aware that I am thinking of you and wishing you and your family the very best of health.
While you may have been restricted in your external world, your internal world is not restricted and you can let your mind explore as far as you wish; you can travel to the most exotic of locations all with the power of your imagination. The unrestricted mind is one that is free from compulsive thinking and able to imagine and visualise whatever you like.
A quiet, still mind is a powerful one without boundaries.
On the first Monday of every month, I have decided to share with you what I am reading and listening to. Now more than ever, we need recommendations to help us to keep our minds engaged and continually learning. See below…
I am delighted by the large influx of new subscribers to my limited FREE offer for the online programme, The Positive Habit and am truly grateful to those of you who have donated; it truly does help you to value the course. If you register for it please be sure to follow it as it will really help you. I continue re-listening to the hypnotherapy audios from the programme every single day and they really are helping to keep me calm and present. Please do spread the word far and wide to friends and family.
Fiona’s Top Memoir Recommendation for May ‘Bonus Time’ – Brian Pennie – Gill Books 2020
Written by my dear friend, Brian. Being honest, I found the first half a hard read and it really challenged me to leave my comfort zone. The first part brings you on a journey through Brian’s harrowing heroin addiction and sees him hit rock bottom. While I’ve heard some of the stories directly from Brian, reading them made them even more real. Incredibly, Brian managed to hold down a job for 17 years while using heroin – a real testament to his smartness. The book is superb, depressing and uplifting all at the same time. This is no mean feat. The second half is a much more digestible read and we get to see how Brian puts into action his newfound enlightened state. It is not too far from Eckhart Tolle’s own journey from the depths of despair to his state of an enlightened awareness. Honestly, I’m not just saying this because he is my friend – READ THIS BOOK!
Fiona’s Top Non-Fiction/Self Help Book Recommendation for May
‘The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (And Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did!)’ – Philippa Perry – Penguin Life
The title for this book really does sum it up. An excellent book for parents and indeed a lot of practical advice for all of our relationships. Now is an excellent time to examine yourself and why you behave the way you do in particular towards your children. Philippa Perry is a psychotherapist and her tone is both kind and practical.
This refreshing, judgement-free book will help you to:
- Understand how your own upbringing may affect your parenting
- Accept that you will make mistakes and learn what you can do about them
- Break negative cycles and patterns
- Handle your own and your child’s feelings
- Understand what different behaviours communicate
Fiona’s Top Podcast Recommendation for May
The podcast I am listening to at the moment is ‘Being Well’ by Dr Rick Hanson and Forest Hanson, a father and son team who bring sound and kind wisdom on how to best navigate your way through life.
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