Strain of lockdown – 6 tips for Survival

Exploring spiritual questions podcast

By Stephen Russell-Lacy. Listen to this podcast episode Social distancing rules in Britain, like around the world, mean all non-essential travel and public gatherings have to stop. People can only leave home for exercise, to shop for essential items, for attending medical care, or when their work cannot be done at home. Being on top of … Continue reading Strain of lockdown – 6 tips for Survival

Coronavirus anxiety – How to reduce it?

Exploring spiritual questions podcast

By Stephen Russell-Lacy. Listen to this podcast episode A lot of people can’t help wondering, ‘What if I get the coronavirus and am bedbound?’ ‘Who will do what is needed?’ ‘What if the economy doesn’t recover?’ ‘Will I have a livelihood?’ No sure answers are possible. No-one knows how long the pandemic will last and how … Continue reading Coronavirus anxiety – How to reduce it?

Non-striving in mindfulness – A paradox?

non-striving

By Stephen Russell-Lacy. According to mindfulness meditation we should adopt the outlook of ‘non-striving’ to deal with stress. But how can non-striving be a goal if we are encouraged not to strive for it? Stress and non-striving A part of my body might feel uncomfortable. For example churning in the stomach, a tense forehead, or … Continue reading Non-striving in mindfulness – A paradox?

Challenging situations – How to respond spiritually?

challenging

Life can be a pain. You may have to deal with difficult people, stressful circumstances, conflicting ideals, and ethical dilemmas. Feeling tested by a life that is challenging is not pleasant to experience but rather unsettling. People often struggle inwardly when they are obliged to face their own human limitations I would suggest that you … Continue reading Challenging situations – How to respond spiritually?

Pet cats – What can we learn from them?

pet

My wife and I have a pet cat. We have got to know him quite well – his eating, relaxing, communication, play, and so on. Animals live on an entirely natural level and I realise it would be a mistake to attribute human emotions to them. But is there anything we can learn from our … Continue reading Pet cats – What can we learn from them?

Plant growth – A lesson in spirituality?

plant

My wife and I have recently taken on an organic allotment plot to try our hand at vegetable and fruit growing. From what I have so far learned, I have been wondering whether plant growth might have something to teach us about the human side of life. What might be the deeper lessons in nature … Continue reading Plant growth – A lesson in spirituality?

Patience – how to feel less frustrated?

patience

You wait for the mouse but it doesn’t appear. You make a phone call but there is no answer. You’ve hurt your foot and can’t get on with some activity. It seems that having to suffer some delay, difficulty or discomfort is a common event in everyday life. Who doesn’t feel irritated by the frustrations … Continue reading Patience – how to feel less frustrated?

Stress – How to find lasting relief?

stress

Do you hear yourself saying I don’t have the time – to do all my job requires, spend quality time with the children, to relax with my partner, fix the car, weed the flower bed and mow the lawn, etc. Feeling under pressure most of the time is not good for your health. If you … Continue reading Stress – How to find lasting relief?

The pace of life — How to reduce it?

Pace of life

Do you long for a break from the merry-go-round of deadlines, things that must be done, demands from relatives, children, and the job? Do you often feel that you never having enough time in the day to fit everything in? Is part of the problem that we tend to assume that our well-being depends on filling every moment with some thing? That being less economically active not only stops us getting on in life but also leads to boredom and not keeping up with others? Perhaps this assumption is right, but don’t we sometimes take it a bit too far?

Sense of calm – How does prayer help?

sense of calm

When I was considerably younger than I am today, I used to think I was lucky; fortunate not to often get het up, upset or worried like individuals I noticed around me. Then I met the real world – the demanding boss, the troublesome colleague, the awkward neighbour – and I realised I could get as emotional as the next person. I do feel irritated when things go wrong; I do get angry when people are inconsiderate; I do find myself nervous in unfamiliar social situations.

We get so immersed in the hectic daily round that we forget those past occasions – perhaps infrequent and brief ones – when we actually felt content with life, and there was a sense of inner peace; when the meaning of life seemed clear. Only when we concentrate hard do we vaguely recall having had that state of mind – when the stress of everyday life was forgotten, when we were becalmed in what had been a stormy sea, and when we sensed a harmony with everything around.