Walking Alongside, Not Fixing

Over the last nine months, I’ve been on a journey through an Introduction to Counselling course. At its heart, it’s taught me something simple, yet deeply powerful - how to walk alongside someone as they face life’s challenges.

Not to fix.

Not to rescue.

But to trust that they already hold their own answers.

That my role is to be there… to hold, to support, and to offer an attuned presence.

It’s that feeling we all recognise when it happens.

When you leave time with someone and think, “Wow… I felt really seen. Really heard. Really understood.”

There’s something profoundly healing in that kind of connection.

⸻

Sitting With, Instead of Solving

If I’m honest, one of the biggest challenges has been sitting with the discomfort of caring deeply about someone… and not stepping in with advice, reassurance or solutions.

Everything in us can want to make it better. To ease it. To fix it.

But I’ve been learning that presence - true presence - is often far more powerful than any answer.

And that’s taken practice, and I'm still learning!

One thing that has supported me through this is bringing loving kindness meditation into my daily life.

⸻

A Practice of Giving and Receiving

Loving kindness meditation has become a quiet anchor for me.

It allows me to gently send out the care and compassion I feel for others, without needing to act on it or fix anything. Just offering it, freely.

And just as importantly, it reminds me to receive that same care myself.

Because we can’t pour from an empty cup.

Through this practice, I’ve started to notice a shift…

A warmth.

A grounding.

A sense of connection, not just to individuals, but to something wider, more collective.

And within that, a quiet feeling of empowerment. Like I’ve offered something meaningful, simply by being present and sending love energetically.

⸻

Carrying It Into My Work

This way of being has naturally found its way into my treatments.

Right at the end of a massage, as I gently ground my client, I often take a moment to send affirmations their way.

A quiet offering. A soft closing.

⸻

If You’d Like to Try It

If this speaks to you, there are lots of beautiful, free loving kindness meditations available on the Insight Timer app.

And if you’d ever like to be included in one of my own, you’re always welcome to send me a message. You don't need to give details, just let me know that you would like to be held in this way.

So, on that note...

May you be well

May you be at ease

May you be happy

May you be surrounded by love

Warm wishes,Liz ✨