Necessary and sufficient alignment

In the company of others, if you want to progress without untoward difficulty, have meaningful conversation, or pleasantly share life’s journey, there needs to be some alignment. That’s not to say everyone wants the same results, or that they’re in agreement – only that there’s sufficient shared direction and common ground that a mutually good result is possible. If there isn’t sufficient alignment there, take … Continue reading Necessary and sufficient alignment

From that ember, we rebuild the fire

I’ve fallen in love with this song. I find it soothing and energising. Perhaps oddly, at the same time. My favourite part: “As if in each of usThere once was a fireAnd for some of usThere seem as if there are only ashes nowBut when we dig in the ashesWe find one emberAnd very gently we fan that ember… blow on it… it gets brighterAnd … Continue reading From that ember, we rebuild the fire

Life is a staircase, and you’re climbing

“When you’re convinced you’re stuck, when you’re convinced there’s no way forward, just remember: there’s a staircase you’re not seeing. Trust it’s there, right in front of you, and that it leads to exciting new places. Have the courage to believe in this one thing you can’t see.“ Quoting Neil Pastiche’s book ‘You Are Awesome’, this is a reminder that the dots get joined up … Continue reading Life is a staircase, and you’re climbing

Dilemmas, and that one tidy solution

Once it’s clear that you face a dilemma, rather than merely a problem, you’ve got to stop hoping for a comfortable solution. A new piece of information might land that simplifies things. Maybe an overlooked route will open up that changes things. Scrutiny of the variables could tip the scales convincingly. If you feel stuck with the dilemma after lots of careful thought though, you … Continue reading Dilemmas, and that one tidy solution

Nothing beats kindness, said the horse

A friend sent me the book ‘The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse’ – I really appreciated the gesture. “Nothing beats kindness,” said the horse. “It sits quietly beyond all things.” It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, it can be approached with kindness and made the better for it. Even when someone falls short – especially when someone falls short. Being kind isn’t … Continue reading Nothing beats kindness, said the horse

Keep going and create space

“Sometimes the hardest thing to do is simply making the decision to keep going. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is simply making the decision to continue to breathe, continue to move, continue to function, continue to operate.” Not because something better is definitely coming, but because it creates the space for something better to arrive. Kindly, keep going. ps. Quote from ‘You Are Awesome’ … Continue reading Keep going and create space

The choice to be happy

In lots of places I read about how we can choose to be happy. My experience, confirmed by therapists, is that it’s not so simple. What we can do daily though, is make choices that lead to a more content state. We can disengage from unhelpful thinking. Acknowledge patterns and move toward better ones. Recognise possibility and seize opportunity. For those who’ve long been in … Continue reading The choice to be happy