Conscious Mind

Exploring the “inner you”, how we are linked to each other and the universe. What people are saying about our consciousness – articles, views, discussions

Do you choose to live a life or a living?

Life is full of choices. You are given the free will to make your own choices. Your choices affect how your life unfolds.

Of course for our own well-being, we all need a safe and comfortable place to live, food on the table and clothes to wear. Once you have those, what choices do you make on where to spend your time and energy?

Do you choose the extra overtime for the cash? Or perhaps to do those evening emails to help you climb the corporate greasy pole?

Are you choosing to live a life or a living? read more

By Alison Wem, ago

Fear is in the air: What hope is there for us?

When fear is all around you as it feels to be at the moment, it is easy to inadvertently absorb it.

What can you do?

You are not defined by others’ actions but rather by how you respond. You may not be able to control your circumstances, but you can control your reaction. I would like to think I chose hope over fear. No matter what is happening, I would always hope;

  • tomorrow will be a better day than today
  • compassion for others will prevail
  • good decisions triumph over bad ones

When I want to remind myself of the power of hope to our individual survival, I reread the book;

Man’s Search for Meaning: the classic tribute to hope from the Holocaust read more

By Alison Wem, ago

Silence: does it help calm our brains and give well-being?

Many people do not value silence. I have found it to be comforting, nourishing and cosy.

The noisy world is drowning out our creativity and our inner connection. Noise effects our brains causing elevated levels of stress hormones even when we are sleeping. When I was a busy, working Mum most of my day was with other people and their noise. Being on my own in silence was refreshing.

In 2011, the World Health Organisation (WHO) concluded that the 340 million residents of Western Europe (about the population of the United States), were losing a million years of healthy life every year, due to noise. read more

By Alison Wem, ago

Soul Centred Consciousness: Liberation from Within

by Jeremy Turner-Welch

The way in which we locate solutions to our inner problems can drastically affect our daily lives.

The more these solutions are located outside yourself, the more your sense of self-worth and confidence becomes linked to external factors and the approval of others. For then you may believe: “if they praise me, I am likeable”, “if I get this job, I am talented”, or “if I avoid relationships, I won’t be hurt again.” This can cause you to employ apologetic, avoidant, defensive or domineering behaviours to control the outside world simply to maintain a positive self-image and belief that you are ‘good enough’. Sadly, this often leads to feeling anxious, fearful, frustrated or overwhelmed. read more

By Jeremy Turner-Welch, ago

Rumi’s Reflection Journal: join Alison Wem on her journey as she experiences the Covid pandemic

Many of us feel constrained by the attempts of our governments to control the virus – lockdowns, curfews, isolation from our loved ones.

We are never really alone. Going within and reflecting opens up a whole new world. While meditation calms us, I have found having something to reflect on and to sense my own feelings, is a constructive practice that helps me to re-connect with the wisdom of my soul.

To help me with my reflections on Rumi’s poetry, I have chosen to use Paper Trail’s book – Rumi’s Reflection Journal. It gives me individual Rumi quotes to consider. Thank you Paper Trail. read more

By Alison Wem, ago