What do Ruby Wax and Goldie Hawn have in common … apart from being American and famous?

Both these stars personally regularly practise mindfulness, sing its praises and have written books on the subject. They tell how it has helped them and how it can help others.

Goldie Hawn set up the Hawn Foundation for children in America where they have something called the ‘MindUp’ program. They teach kids how to take charge of their own anxious feelings and let negative emotions go. With Wendy Holden she has written ‘10 Mindful Minutes’: Giving our children – and ourselves – the skills to reduce stress and anxiety for healthier, happier lives

‘A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled’ by Ruby Wax, described as ‘hilarious as it is useful’ was published by Penguin at the end of 2016.  .She also began the idea of ‘Frazzled Cafes’ – spaces for safe and anonymous conversations for the frazzled – due to launch in April this year.

Mindfulness is a good thing for many reasons. Here are just a few!

It can encourage a change of perspective; away from a frenetic need to be constantly doing and achieving and more towards a sense of being aware of the present moment.

We can value things that are, or can be, present in our life if we open our eyes to them.

We can stop for a while and observe our inner thoughts and feelings from a more detached viewpoint.

We can, with practice, let unhelpful thoughts go with our breathing … almost like watching something passing by rather than getting caught up in them.

How about getting all these benefits and adding something extra?

I believe that the state of meditation is very similar to the state of hypnosis … actually perhaps exactly the same state as hypnosis … but hypnotherapists use the power of suggestion to increase the speed and ease of getting the specific results you want. In this state we seem to become more receptive to suggestion … just as long as the suggestions are worded positively and in line with what you want. In other words, NOT lots of negative DON’Ts but positive DO’s instead!

SO … in my sleep meditation for example I include suggestions that when you notice unwanted thoughts and feelings you can just let them go with your breathing … and … as you let those thoughts go … you can begin to notice feelings of calm and peace … and as you begin to feel more calm and peaceful it becomes easier and easier to let unwanted thoughts and feelings go … and as you do this it simply feels natural that … as you are resting calmly and patiently you will drift off to sleep calmly and peacefully

Check out the sample of my ‘Peaceful sleep the mindfulness way’. Lots of people tell me that they haven’t yet heard the end as they drift off to sleep while they listen!