Hey lovely Reader
This week’s episode was recorded from my bed. A little virus caught up with me after the retreat, just as a friend’s visit fell through... and I found myself with space to attend to what I needed.
There was a time I may well have turned that space into a problem, or pushed on through regardless. This time I let myself receive it.
Lying there, watching the rain fall on the autumn leaves, I found myself thinking about the bravery it takes to turn toward ourselves with love. I think there is a lot more to explore - I became tired as I was recording so I chose to rest rather than dig deeper. Perhaps there's another episode here in the offing?
One thing that arose as I was reflecting was what I witnessed at The Weekend of No-Requirements. In the very act of turning toward one another, each person seemed to simultaneously turn toward themselves.
This feels like such a beautiful phenomenon to me.
It sparked a question about how we can turn toward ourselves with kindness. And from there an invitation to reflect on:
What's a tiny moment when you chose yourself courageously?
Maybe you did it with the fierceness of the Lion, maybe the quietude of the Butterfly; remembering neither is 'better' or braver than the other.
Go straight to the episode or just search Everyday Compassion with Henny Flynn (the new show name).
It’s a shorter episode, and there’s no video this week (for obvious reasons). As ever, thank you for being here, for reading and listening, and if that question sparks something for you, I would love to listen in return.
May we all be safe, well and happy. May we all honour the Lion and the Butterfly within us.
With love
PS: This Autumn continues to offer its abundance... here are a few gentle notes about what’s coming up:
- The Nervous System at Work - a four-week short course with my dear colleague Grace Loveday. Thursday lunchtimes, 75 minutes, beginning 5 November
- IMMERSE information session - a free hour to hear more, ask questions and perhaps share a gentle practice together.
- IMMERSE - my year-long small-group programme, the new cohort begins 20 November
- Book Launch Sunday 1 November, 2pm - for everyday compassion (365 days of ordinary kindness). If you’re anywhere near Presteigne, you’d be so welcome. Just press reply to join us.
If you prefer reading to listening, this week comes with a Field Note. It begins...
Inner Wisdom of the Group
Turning toward each other, turning toward ourselves
I’ve been resting, recovering from a little virus that caught up with me after The Weekend of No-Requirements. And as I’ve lain here watching the rain fall on the autumn leaves, I keep returning to something I witnessed during those days together.
It felt as though we’d stepped into a portal of kindness and attention, care and connection. People listened deeply. Truths were spoken as they rose, as they asked to be spoken.
And I watched each person there turn toward themselves in the very same moment that they turned toward each other.