Glorious news: Practitioner at the ACT of Living, Northcote

Posted by tess May 30, 2016 Uncategorized acceptance, ACT of Living, coaching, Compassion, mentoring, mindfulness Leave a Comment

Since early this year I have been lucky enough to have been practicing out of a beautiful space in Northcote and sharing the space with a range of practitioners in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). It was just over a year ago that I wandered past the building looking in and having a fleeting thought that […]

From away-ness to awareness like a whack to the head

Posted by tess Apr 15, 2016 Uncategorized awareness, Compassion, consciousness, grief, loving kindness, mind body soul, mindful living, mindfulness, peace, sadness, self-compassion 2 Comments

For around five years I have been doing what I can to incorporate a more mindful and conscious presence into my life. This occurred like a whack to the head, rather than like a beautiful light changing moment. One day I was running around, not giving a shit about myself or how my actions […]

The most important thing you can do to free yourself from negative self-judgement

Posted by tess Oct 15, 2015 Uncategorized Compassion, fear, Healing, love, loveoverfear, mindfulness, recovery, self-compassion, self-judgement, self-love 2 Comments

Last week an incident occurred when I was teaching and I slipped into fight/flight/freeze mode. I froze on the spot and couldn’t hear what people were saying, and didn’t know how to respond. This has a tendency to happen to me when I notice a threat to my environment. Tara Brach explains it in the following […]

What to do when you’re feeling blah

Posted by tess Oct 9, 2015 Uncategorized acceptance, affirmations, Compassion, creativity, emotion, feelings, mindfulness, pain, transformation Leave a Comment

Lately I have been feeling blah. Yes, that’s right, BLAH I went away on a terrific holiday and since coming back I have been marking lots of essays and haven’t had much time for my business or for writing and this always makes me feel blah. I continue to make time for meditation and exercise, […]

Dear Martina, with love: a letter from a hospital bed

Posted by tess Feb 25, 2015 Uncategorized Compassion, empathy, Healing, letter, love, love letter, pain 3 Comments

Dear Martina, You lie across from me, high on your hospital bed, your delicate and pale frame awash against the bright white sheets. I feel compelled to watch as my eyes align with yours. Your husband arrives early every morning, his cap positioned neatly on his head, and a bag in one hand. He sits loyally by your side […]

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle”

Posted by tess Mar 22, 2014 Creative thought Compassion, happiness, judgement, kindness, loving kindness, mindfulness, spirituality 2 Comments

When I was a kid I thought adults had their shit together. Little did I know that adults are just human; each one with their own story. I often look back on my high school years with disdain. Yet there is no reason for it. I had good teachers, friends, was involved in school […]

ˈjentl

Posted by tess Sep 8, 2012 Creative thought Compassion, fear, friends, intimacy, kindness, love, loving kindness, vulnerability Leave a Comment

gen·tle /ˈjentl/ : Mild in temperament or behaviour; kind or tender There are people in this world who are truly gentle and it is a quality that takes my breath away. Gentleness seems to come from deep within an individual and is exhibited in a level of calmness and confidence that only gentle folk can […]

Could compassion be the answer when dealing with the prison population?

Posted by tess Aug 2, 2012 Uncategorized Compassion, connection, empathy, Healing, kindness, love, loving kindness, prisons 2 Comments

I am employed in various positions, both paid and unpaid, in which I am involved in some way with the criminal justice system. One of my positions involves conducting interviews with prisoners and their families on several different projects. When I explain to others what I do, I typically get two responses – both associated […]