I’ve been through a period recently when my projections have been harbingers of doom.

I’m continuing the theme from last week about accepting what happens just as it is, because I think this is such an important area.

Today I need a refresher course on acceptance of my life, just as it is.

This week I’m focusing on the important aspect of recovery from the long term effects of CSA (childhood sexual abuse) trauma, which in my case involved speaking out and being heard.

I have become a woman with a mission.

I’ve just faced a big fear in my life and given my first talk about my book ‘Wearing Red – One Woman’s Journey to Sanity.’

One of my favourite meditation practices, called ‘Tonglen’ focuses on awakening compassion within ourselves. It helps in developing compassion and learning how to apply it in everyday life. A form of taking in and sending out.

In my experience comparing ourselves with others damages our health and well-being.

The simple yet difficult act of acceptance is an essential requirement for change to take place.

The 12-step programme helped me recover from addiction and I still do my best to work that programme in my everyday life.

Last week I talked about accepting all the parts of ourselves. This involves facing our fears.

For a long time, I have despised huge chunks of myself and carried a fair dollop of shame about my subsequent actions, prior to my sobriety and solvency recovery.

Recently, I was asked what my experience is like living with the ever changing highs and lows of extreme mood swings.

It seems to me that there is always something in life that can trip us up. Just when we think we have things sorted, along comes the next challenge. There is always the next step to take.

I am currently feeling that rising panic of overwhelm.

Last week I wrote about gaining more confidence. Using positive affirmations can help by feeding our minds with more assertive instructions. I’ve been using them a lot to focus my mind and build resilience.

Our lives are affected by the choices we make. And our choices are in turn affected by the level of confidence we hold in our own abilities.

Our thoughts play an important role in what we believe about ourselves; what we feel and what we do. When we have a lot of unhelpful thoughts, we begin to believe they are true.

On the writing for wellbeing course that I am facilitating, I have been struck by how hard people find it to validate themselves and honour their own lives. So, how can we make this easier for ourselves?

I’m reading a book, at the moment, by a mental health specialist, Dr Pooja Lakshmin, called ‘Real Self Care.’ The title intrigued me, as I’ve read a lot of books on self care/cherishing, and I wondered how this one would be different.