If these cooler months here in New Zealand have you slowing down and feeling like hibernating then you’re not alone, and you are sensing exactly what your wondrous body and Spirit likely desires at this time. Think of the bear hibernating for the whole winter and it’s easy to recognise what our body might be craving: rest, quiet, solitude. ... [Read On]
Personal and professional growth sometimes takes a lot of blimmin’ courage
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about courage and transformation… When it comes to both personal and professional development, I notice some people can be quite afraid of what they’re going to find out about themselves, of what they may have to confront. Or they’re afraid of dealing with tough emotions that are lurking but have been conveniently ... [Read On]
Summer Book Reviews – Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment And Underlying Meaning Of Everyday Words by David Whyte
Consolations By David Whyte Since I was a teenager, I’ve had a small pile of books that are my ‘bedside books’. They live in my bedside table or my book-bag when I travel, and they are my go-to's when I want to read something light, nourishing or inspiring. Currently the pile includes the Sufi Book of Life, The Pilgrim of Tinker Creek by Annie ... [Read On]
The Art of Resting and the 7 Types of Rest
I first explored the phenomena of rest after a bout of poor health and burnout about 10 years ago. I recall reading David Whyte’s wonderful words at a yoga retreat - To rest is to give up on the already exhausted will as the prime motivator of endeavor, with its endless outward need to reward itself through established goals. To rest is to give ... [Read On]
How do you feel about celebrating your birthday?
As my birthday rolls around this year, I’ve been thinking about how people feel about their birthday arriving and whether they treat it like a celebration or not. I have friends who feel it’s nothing special and prefer to ignore it, others who acknowledge it but don’t like being made a fuss of, and then others who love an excuse to take the day ... [Read On]
How to really get the juice out of gratitude
I’ll never forget the first time I saw the beautiful images of frozen water crystals in Masaru Emoto’s book, The Hidden Messages in Water. The one for ‘love and appreciation’ was so stunning I think it’s been etched on my visual cortex forever. Anytime I think of this it reminds me how powerful the act of doing gratitude is. It has an energy and ... [Read On]
Hope is always there, even when it feels lost
I’ve lost hope before. When I’ve been ill. Alone. Broke. Sad. Angry. Grieving. I realised recently that as I made my way through those times and came out the other side, even though I may have given up hope at times, it was still there. It's really not easy to see when you're in the thick of it. Maybe you've given up. Perhaps you're in ... [Read On]
Comfort Can Kill Your Spirit
I’ve been super inspired by a number of clients recently who have opted out of their current jobs because of poor leadership, limited opportunities, or a crappy culture. They’ve defined their ideal role or next step and then gone and got it. So good! This is on the back of thinking a lot lately about how attached we can become to the comfort of ... [Read On]
When was the last time you were kind to yourself?
And why does it even matter? Can you recall the last time you were kind to yourself? Was it so recently, even today, that it immediately comes to mind? Or are you searching through your memory banks to see if you can find something? And what do I mean by kindness? I’m talking about treating yourself kindly in the same small and big ways you ... [Read On]
Whole Happy Well
I’ve been thinking a lot a lot lately about how many of our patterns and behaviours are driven by a sense of needing to be available for others and to ‘perform’. Historically my motivation for getting a good night's sleep was so that I could work hard (usually for someone else). I was motivated to eat healthily and keep my weight at a good ... [Read On]