December 2019 – Time to relax, reflect, and reach out to friends, family, and neighbours with warmth and compassion and look ahead to new beginnings in 2020! New classes, courses and retreats to enjoy early 2020!
Hello and welcome to my December newsletter 2019
“Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”
Winston Churchill
Welcome to my final news offering of 2019. As I look forward to sharing much with you in the New Year, I am also reflecting back of 2019 with gratitude and all that has been achieved, overcome, and learnt with life’s inevitable challenges and Joys.
I began by looking at my New Year’s goals from January 1 and saw that I had not achieved as much as I set out to this year. However, the mindful self- compassion practice has taught me to take stock and re-balance by focusing on what I have achieved, and the ideas that will come to fruition in the New year.
I hope this year has given you much joy and much compassion if not. As we come to the end of another year and look forward to a time of festivity and new beginnings for the next decade, Winston Churchill’s comment gives us much to reflect on- to keep going, to persevere with dreams and goals, especially those that feel out of reach.
As I reflect back over this year I continue to be grateful for all that has come my way so far this year-especially the challenges which provided ‘silver linings’ with unexpected learning. Quite often in the face of adversity we don’t see the potential for growth and involvement. However, as we move through challenges and overcome them, it is a good idea to acknowledge that as an achievement and to reflect back with a compassionate heart for the suffering you may have endured and some warmth for the strengths you tapped into.
As we prepare ourselves for the festive season , it’s good to remember some tips I have offered over the years that have worked for me:
Here are some tips for compassion for yourself and those around you this season
- Love is the best gift to share this Christmas – be it through giving a helping hand to those around us or just contacting old friends, relatives we rarely see, and making new friends.
- Kindness and compassion for self and others releases a powerful and important chemical called oxytocin that promotes our health and well-being.
- The Practice of mindfulness and meditation help ease our way through the winter months and the festive season- calming the busy mind and helping to bring a sense of emotional wellbeing.
- Consider getting rid of all old unwanted habits such as smoking, excess alcohol intake, and thinking about what is important and valuable…you!
- Plan your festive time to reduce the pressure-write your lists and stick to them; set a monetary budget per person on gifts.
- Communicate- let people know you have a budget, particularly children. This helps to reduce expectations, moving away from the material towards sharing- your love and affection for those around you, and extra time with friends and family.
- Communicate-take time to get in touch with old friends, you may be wonderfully surprised at how they can enrich your life now.
- Get enough sleep- this gives you more energy and boosts the immune system at this busy time. If you have difficulty sleeping – wind down an hour earlier than normal; give yourself permission to let go of all thoughts of things that need to be done – you will achieve more the following day.
- Plan in some relaxation time- perhaps a warm aromatherapy bath at the end of the day – Lavender and Chamomile are particularly relaxing.
- Balance assertiveness with compassion- Say no gently to any unrealistic demands of those around and delegate your Christmas workload.
- Plan in some de-cluttering time- physically and emotionally to make room for new ideas, New Year goals, and of course Christmas gifts!
- Begin letting go of old unwanted habits now by changing energy wasting negative thoughts such as “I can’t…”to “ I can –enjoy health and well-being, I can cope well as I can plan well” “ I will achieve”
- Take things slowly and avoid excess- eating and drinking in moderation is always important, and doing it slowly allows the body to absorb nutrients and flush out toxins much more efficiently- thus reducing the intake of extra calories and the stress of putting extra pounds on!
Now, a look ahead at my New Year offerings for 2020
January 18 a New Year day retreat “Setting our intentions and goals.
Mindful self-compassion – a New year retreat for setting our goals and intentions
A unique and uplifting day of mindfulness, self-compassion, guided reflection and practice, and deep relaxation, and good company. An introduction to Mindful self-compassion.
Saturday January 18 2020
Venue: Disley Quaker meeting House
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: £55.00 payable by cash/cheque/via bacs in advance of the day.
A special bonus! – spreading the word about the benefits of Mindful self-compassion and retreats
I am offering £5 off for anyone who brings a friend paying full price for the day and – if you introduce 2 or more friends who book on and attend you will get a 50% discount for the day you attend with your friends.
Also, £20 of the full price of this workshop will be deducted from the spring Mindful self-compassion programme when you sign up on the day!
For further information and to book a place
Tel: 07753 957371 or Email me
The dates are confirmed for the 2020 Mindful self-compassion courses and you can find full details and download the application form here.
New relaxation class in Knutsford starts on January 8 2020
Willersley Mindful self-compassion weekend retreats for 2020
These weekends provide a wonderful opportunity to practice self-care and compassion and take some time for you to replenish and rejuvenate and strengthen your relationship with yourself.
This is a beautiful and popular weekend and I am looking forward to delivering this special retreat again next year in April 24-26 and October 9-11.
Early booking is recommended as I only have limited spaces so get in touch ASAP and note that just a £50 (non-refundable) deposit secures your place
Here’s some feedback from the 2019 Autumn retreat on my retreat page:
The Mindful Self Compassion programme 2020 dates now published!
It is good to remember and be drawn to the fact that in amidst the pain and suffering there is always light and enduring beauty when we look mindfully and with gratitude for all that we love that surrounds us in each present moment, all that we accomplish, and all that this precious human life we are given can enjoy.
All MSC courses will now take place in Mid Cheshire and South East Cheshire.
The original ‘six weekly gathering‘ will continue to be held at Disley Quaker meeting in East Cheshire which borders with the High peak. Other gatherings will take place in South Cheshire also as the year progresses.
For more information about this empowering programme take a look here
NB: Places are limited get in touch here to learn more and get the application form. You can also download the application form here
Individual support
As always, do get in touch if you are looking for support and help. My clinics in Knutsford, Poynton, and Macclesfield are open and I welcome you.
In my private practice I teach mindfulness based compassion focused- approaches alongside psychotherapy and cognitive counselling to bringing about change and improving quality of life and I have the privilege of seeing huge change and success from these approaches. So do get in touch or call me on 07753 957371 if you would like help with anxiety issues, low mood, or other issues you feel I may be able to help you with.
Corporate and Community well-being
This year I have continued to focus on corporate and community well-being as I continue with teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion programme.
Anxiety UK!
I am really enjoying my role as chair of the board of trustees on the board for Anxiety UK. I look forward to supporting AUK and the wonderful staff and board as we move into a very special year next year! I will be offering more discounted courses and retreats to AUK members! and I will be keeping you posted on all the news from AUK HQ!
Anxiety UK is a national registered charity formed in 1970, by someone living with agoraphobia, for those affected by anxiety, stress, and anxiety- based depression.
To read more please Click Here »
As you know, I have the enormous privilege of being the chair of the board of trustees for the UK’s leading and multiple award- winning anxiety charity. So I continue to offer workshops in support of AUK at their HQ and I was thrilled to be offering the Mindful Self Compassion course this Autumn with discount for Anxiety UK therapists and staff, and AUK partners.
I am honoured to continue my links with my esteemed colleague Karin Sieger who is supporting me with a page on her excellent website. She is the UKs leading psychotherapy blogger and I recommend you have a look at her excellent blogs! I particularly want to draw your attention to Karin’s recent newsletter and her section
“The grief collection”
online shopping page
My online shopping page is a new venture and I hope to update it regularly adding items of interest and enjoyment. At the moment I have CDs and downloads available. I will also be uploading videos and downloads in a free resource section as I get my new website fully up and running, so watch this space!
Wishing you all well and happy, as we journey through December towards the close of 2019, wherever your path may lead.
Thank you so much for your continued support and as I continue to develop my programmes and offerings.