A patient said the other day, “I just get so anxious, what is wrong with me? Why am I like this?” and burst into tears. A common complaint of our clients with anxiety and depression is that they beat themselves up over and over again. Their minds are filled with self-critical thoughts.

One of the benefits of writing a blog is that it provides the opportunity for the mind to wander. We focus a lot on mindfulness and paying attention moment by moment, however that is not to discount those times where we daydream or just let our thoughts drift to whatever happens to show up.

I was musing on the meaning of the two major holidays this past weekend. Easter is the day when Christ is said to have risen from the dead. The themes surrounding the holiday are rebirth, spring, joy, color and furry animals. Passover commemorates the freeing of the Jews who were enslaved in Egypt. Passover is also a spring holiday and according to tradition, it does not begin until the barley is ripe.

As I was mindlessly flipping through apps on my phone, I came across this article.  Oh the irony.  As a clinician I whole-heartedly believe in the positive impact that mindfulness can and does have in my life and in the lives of many of my clients.  As a teacher of mindfulness practice one might assume that I can often be found in the lotus position, with an open stance, my awareness honed in on my breath.  Not the case.