As I step Into the next stage of my life I have much opportunity to reflect on the meaning and value of the unique – and really quite extraordinary – relationships we have in the space we call “psychotherapy”. Over the past two months, I’ve had the honour of listening to outpourings of gratitude from my clients as we review the work we have done together, and say good-bye. It has been tremendously moving.

Thankfully, I was able to remember not to deflect the appreciations (through embarrassment or a mis-placed idea that “this is not about me” – which might in some circumstances be an appropriate reason to re-steer the direction of a counselling session). For – we now know – expressing gratitude is one of the most powerful tools we have for developing contentment and joy in the moments of our lives.

Furthermore, I have been able to step aside from taking too much personal credit/responsibility for my clients’ learnings, and instead to view the broader curve of learning and progress that we are all part of – like a river of humanity, collectively struggling toward wisdom. I have learnt a tremendous amount of valuable life skills doing this work; and were it not for my teachers, mentors, clients and students, I could not have discovered the half of it.

Commonly known as “retirement”, I am in a transition from a more active working role to a quieter, more leisurely phase of life. In the wisdom traditions, this is considered a time for releasing our strivings for impact on our external world, and instead taking more care of the inner terrain of the self. As a psychologist and yoga teacher I have spent my entire five decades of adult life very interested in the inner world; and yet there is much more to learn, I am now finding. 

Maybe I can share some of these learnings with you from time to time, even though I will no longer be meeting with clients to listen deeply to their experiences. But I like to think I might send out occasional emails, write blogs, record guided practices, continue to post useful bits and pieces on facebook. And – who knows?! – maybe even write that book! So watch this space!!!

😌💚🌻

One resource I have found valuable recently is Kaira Jewell Lingo’s little course she calls “We Are Made For These Times”. She has also written a book by the same name (which I have not read – but if you would like to read it, you can read an extract here). Her inspiration was seeing the global relevance of her own experience of a personal major life transition. Because at one level we have seen some big upheavals of life as we know it in recent times; and at another level, all is in flux the entire time whether noticed or not.

Kaira’s course is made up of ten short talks, in each of which she shares some of her own life experiences of a big change and how she was able to draw upon wisdom teachings from her teacher Thich Nhat Hanh and others from a variety of traditions. She then guides her listener in a short experiential practice relevant to the theme of that session, and weaves in other lovely jewels such as her charming little songs.

You can take yourself through the ten sessions here on Insight Timer. (You would need to create an account on Insight Timer to hear the entire course, but I can recommend that – and the basic membership is free, though I think you would need to pay something for the course.) Or you might prefer to download the Plum Village App, where you can listen to the course for free (go to the Mediations tab then you will see “We Were Made For These Times”), sending donations through as you are so inspired.

😌💚🌻

So… the Mindwise Psychology consulting rooms have now closed. As I drove off for the last time, on a quiet Sunday evening in late Spring, I reflected that the Plane trees have grown much bigger over the time I have been there, and that the next occupant would surely enjoy them as I have done. Rather than dwell in a sense of loss, I mentally wished my successor well, saying to myself “May they love the view as much as we have done; may they prosper and flourish, perhaps absorbing a sense of the caring, the careful listening, the expressions of vulnerability and humanity that have filled these rooms for the past ten years…”

😌💚🌻

Over time, the Mindwise website will be transformed to reflect its new purpose of providing on-line resources that support the development of wisdom and skilful living. Stay in touch! 💕

As I step Into the next stage of my life I have much opportunity to reflect on the meaning and value of the unique – and really quite extraordinary – relationships we have in the space we call “psychotherapy”.

Over the past two months, I’ve had the honour of listening to outpourings of gratitude from my clients as we review the work we have done together, and say good-bye. It has been remarkably moving. And I was able to remember not to deflect the appreciations (through embarrassment or a mis-placed idea that “this is not about me” – which might in some circumstances be an appropriate reason to re-steer the direction of a counselling session). For – we now know – expressing gratitude is one of the most powerful tools we have for developing contentment and joy in the moments of our lives.

Furthermore, I have been able to step aside from taking too much personal credit/responsibility for my clients’ learnings, and instead to view the broader curve of learning and progress that we are all part of – like a river of humanity, collectively struggling toward wisdom. I have learnt a tremendous amount of valuable life skills doing this work; and were it not for my teachers, mentors, clients and students, I could not have discovered the half of it.

Commonly known as “retirement”, I am in a transition from a more active working role to a quieter, more leisurely phase of life. In the wisdom traditions, this is considered a time for releasing our strivings for impact on our external world, and instead taking more care of the inner terrain of the self. As a psychologist and yoga teacher I have spent my entire five decades of adult life very interested in the inner world; and yet there is much more to learn, I am now finding. 

Maybe I can share some of these learnings with you from time to time, even though I will no longer be meeting with clients to listen deeply to their experiences. But I like to think I might send out occasional emails, write blogs, record guided practices, continue to post useful bits and pieces on facebook. And – who knows?! – maybe even write that book! So watch this space!!!

😌💚🌻

One resource I have found valuable recently is Kaira Jewell Lingo’s little course she calls “We Are Made For These Times”. She has also written a book by the same name (which I have not read – but if you would like to read it, you can read an extract here). Her inspiration was seeing the global relevance of her own experience of a personal major life transition. Because at one level we have seen some big upheavals of life as we know it in recent times; and at another level, all is in flux the entire time whether noticed or not.

Kaira’s course is made up of ten short talks, in each of which she shares some of her own life experiences of a big change and how she was able to draw upon wisdom teachings from her teacher Thich Nhat Hanh and others from a variety of traditions. She then guides her listener in a short experiential practice relevant to the theme of that session, and weaves in other lovely jewels such as her charming little songs.

You can take yourself through the ten sessions here on Insight Timer. (You would need to create an account on Insight Timer to hear the entire course, but I can recommend that – and the basic membership is free, though I think you would need to pay something for the course.) Or you might prefer to download the Plum Village App, where you can listen to the course for free (go to the Mediations tab then you will see “We Were Made For These Times”), sending donations through as you are so inspired.

😌💚🌻

So… the Mindwise Psychology consulting rooms have now closed. As I drove off for the last time, on a quiet Sunday evening in late Spring, I reflected that the Plane trees have grown much bigger over the time I have been there, and that the next occupant would surely enjoy them as I have done. Rather than dwell in a sense of loss, I mentally wished my successor well, saying to myself “May they love the view as much as we have done; may they prosper and flourish, perhaps absorbing a sense of the caring, the careful listening, the expressions of vulnerability and humanity that have filled these rooms for the past ten years…”

😌💚🌻

Over time, the Mindwise website will be transformed to reflect its new purpose of providing on-line resources that support the development of wisdom and skilful living. Stay in touch! 💕