Thomas Hobbes wrote that earlier forms of human existence were characterised by “continual fear and danger of violent death, and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” Without a doubt, the human brain developed in times when threats to life abounded and survival was a real issue. Like other organisms, humans evolved … Read more
What might be the relationship between awe and mindfulness and well-being? Mindfulness is a quality of the human mind experienced by everyone reading this article. We may not call it “mindfulness,” and it may be fleeting rather than continuous, but we all have moments of being completely present with our immediate experience, without the usual … Read more
Eating is such a basic part of life. It can bring us joy, pleasure and connection. It can also bring angst, shame and distress. Our early ancestors evolved in times of scarcity and under harsh conditions. Getting enough calories to survive was much more challenging than driving to the local Macca’s. As a result, we … Read more
Much of my working life has been dedicated to responding to injustice – different forms of oppression and discrimination. As the disability discrimination solicitor in Western Australia I took action to support clients with a disability to enjoy the same access and opportunities that I had. As a volunteer in Guatemala, I worked on literacy … Read more
Being a lawyer has its challenges. My first career was in law and looking back I wish that mindfulness had been part of the curriculum at law school. Lawyers are expected to know things. They are expected to be able to articulate an argument clearly, both in writing and orally. Clients expect them to have … Read more
Last week I was on my way to Radio Fremantle to be interviewed about mindfulness. I was due to arrive at 3:50 pm. Somewhat unusually, I had left in plenty of time. Several kilometres north of Fremantle, I hit a snarled traffic jam. For over an hour I slowly inched my way into Fremantle, across … Read more
It is quite remarkable to see the growing enthusiasm for mindfulness in the last five years (Australia is a little behind the UK and US). This embrace has been in no small part due to one particular program – the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program. The MBSR was developed at the Medical School of the … Read more
“You can be whatever you want!” Really? The messages we have been given … Read more
Life is difficult to quote M. Scott Peck. Those diffculties come in many shapes and forms. To name a few: difficulties meeting our basic needs (food, shelter, love etc) difficulties meeting our wants (bigger, better, more stuff) difficulties responding to uncertainty and change difficulties of illness, ageing and death difficulties from being excluded/rejected difficulties caused … Read more
Last Wednesday, in the middle of the night with a fierce thunderstorm in full flight, a middle-aged man leaves the safety of his home in a Perth suburb. He runs through the storm, wakes the occupants of a nearby house to tell them that their house is on fire. He risks his own safety for … Read more