Welcome

Mettā, or loving-kindness, is a fantastic approach for addressing the feelings of isolation and division that so many of us experience today. While its roots are in ancient Buddhism, the way we understand and practice mettā now focuses on creating warm connections, expressing empathy, and promoting goodwill towards ourselves and others. This contemporary perspective emphasizes practical methods to enhance our well-being, improve our relationships, and foster a more compassionate, connected world. Ultimately, it’s a path available to everyone, helping us find inner peace and positively engage with our communities.

How mindfulness helps our mental wellbeing

Becoming more aware of the present moment can help us enjoy the world around us more and understand ourselves better.

When we become more aware of the present moment, we begin to experience fresh things that we have been taking for granted.

Mindfulness also allows us to become more aware of the stream of thoughts and feelings that we experience, and to see how we can become entangled in that stream in ways that are not helpful.

This lets us stand back from our thoughts and start to see their patterns. Gradually, we can train ourselves to notice when our thoughts are taking over and realise that thoughts are simply "mental events" that do not have to control us.

Mindfulness can help us deal with issues more productively. We can ask: "Is trying to solve this by brooding about it helpful, or am I just getting caught up in my thoughts?"

Awareness of this kind may also help us notice signs of stress or anxiety earlier and deal with them better.

Mindfulness-based therapies are recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a way to treat less severe depression.

NICE also recommends that employers make mindfulness available to all employees, to support mental wellbeing at work.