Current Highlights:
- I achieved my goal of running the Nice marathon in under 3.15 - came in at 3.14, with Fi one minute ahead of me! See my ultra diary for more details. -
I've been invited to take part in the Lakeland 100 mile race next July, and am writing an online book about the experience. - My most recent podcast interview was with Karl Greenwood, Stunt Rider and Hypnotherapist! Listen here. |
Welcome to my November newsletter.
 As I sit here on a rainy Sunday morning, I
reflect that it was only two weeks ago that I was in sunny Nice spending my
Sunday morning with Fi running from Nice to Cannes. We ran well and the journey
flowed and unfolded as journeys do and we arrived where we had planned at about
the time we had anticipated! Fi was a minute ahead of me, I saw her head
bobbing along in front of me and it gave me a chance to really honour the work
we have put in over the past nine months and appreciate what we had done,
whilst I was still running along.
And now we are only just over a month from Christmas - with
the winter miles ahead - especially as I have committed to run the Lakeland 100
miles in July, but that is the joy of a goal, it draws you to it and the gifts
along the way are a treat and so now, more than ever, it is necessary for us to
stay conscious of ourselves so that the festive season really is one of joy and
connection rather than an extra stress in an already busy life!
And to do this, of course, the answer is
simple! Stay connected to yourself.
This can feel challenging of course, as
Christmas asks not only that we do more, with shopping and cooking and visiting
as well as still engaging in the many other aspects of our lives, but we often spend
more time with the very people that can activate our unresolved pain,
disappointments and frustrations - and without awareness that shadow is ever
present and can take over whole gatherings!
Two useful tips are to remind yourself that
'there is no-one to blame' - by taking full responsibility for ourselves then
it is far easier to gain clarity in a situation and in the end enjoy it more.
If something is irritating you, then reflect on what it is to do with you. As
Carl Jung said 'Everything that irritates us about another can lead us to a
better understanding about ourselves'.
And the other is to breathe! Breathing
fully is more important than eating - although eating is a good thing to do
too! But fully expanding our lungs and accessing that deeply meditative place
within will allow you to stay centred and have the opportunity to press 'pause'
before reacting to situations.
Meditation on the move through walking and
running can be even more powerful as the breathing is deeper, and when you are
running or walking with intention, then your breathing naturally becomes much
deeper and it starts massaging the centre from where meditative energy is
released.
The
more you find that still place inside that is always there, it becomes far
easier to recognise it and live your life from this place.
I hope you
enjoy this month's newsletter!
Julia
|
