I’ve always been quite a practical person – able to fix a blown fuse or repair a piece of broken china, or organise a kitchen to work well for the cook. And when I think about it, this actually pervades my approach to personal and professional change and stress transformation. As soon as I started specialising in stress and resilience for instance, ... Read On
Stripping things back to the essentials
For me, June has been a month of enjoying the simplicities of life; enjoying a thermos of fresh ginger tea on cold mornings, lighting candles in the early wintry evenings. With all the rain we’ve had here, I’ve been chasing the sun on the days it has appeared and soaking it up. I’m feeling like my solar battery has been filled up again. Sunshine is ... Read On
Worn Out? Stressed? It Could be Covid Stress.
If you’ve not been feeling quite yourself lately, feeling low, stuck in a lot of stress, or have lost your motivation or mojo, welcome to humanity. You’re not alone. And it could be Covid stress or some form of the ‘Covid blues’. We’re in a pandemic. Life has changed. And it’s affecting people in many different ways. Numerous people I’ve spoken ... Read On
Hiring a coach is an act of courage.
Gentlemen, this one is for you. Yes, I offer coaching for men, and at least half my coaching clients are male – business owners, directors, leaders and professionals. One of them was telling me yesterday about two recent conversations with male friends of his about their challenges around stress and mental health. He was feeling really good ... Read On
What’s your idea of an ideal week?
I have Wednesday’s off. With the odd exception, Wednesday is a completely non-work day for me. I’m a big fan of the four day week. It’s a shift I’ve seen a number of clients make over the years. I have a number of clients who have gone from a very strict 45-hour week running 8am to 5pm or thereabouts, to flexing their hours between work and ... Read On
Want to start or refresh a meditation practice?
Meditation has become known as one of the most effective ways to relieve stress, find more peace of mind and build mental resilience. It’s also a doorway to spiritual growth for many seekers. For someone wanting to simply make a start, it can feel a little daunting. Where do I start? What kind of meditation should I do? How do I sit for? When ... Read On
Re-Valuing What Matters to Us and Enrich our Lives
There are endless angles we could look at our present situation from, and one that has been present for me is how this is waking us up freshly to what really matters. Just one street down from me is a native forest which I am constantly grateful for. It’s full of walking tracks and during a typical week I walk down there a few times. I know I ... Read On
Free Online Class – Settling Your Nervous System
45-minute Online Class on Settling Your Nervous System in Unsettling Times SIGN UP NOW I don’t know about you, but back in March 2020 in the midst of lockdown I had what was probably the most emotionally variable week of my life. Our nervous systems each have their own patterns and nuances. My nervous system tends towards over-stimulation than ... Read On
A Great Life is Built on Brave Moments
I was talking to an old friend of mine the other day who I’ve known since we were kids. In the last couple of years he has gone from being a full-time primary school teacher, to teaching three days a week plus a bit of sports coaching. His stress levels have plummeted, his energy has sky rocketed and he’s living a lifestyle with his family that ... Read On
Resilience is an inside job: Steve Gurney Interview
Last month as part of my 90-day Resilience for Leaders programme, I caught up with the ever-energetic Steve Gurney to talk resilience: what it is, how it applies to life and performance, and what it takes to win against the odds. Steve, one of New Zealand’s most respected adventure athletes, inventor, speaker and author, speaks candidly here about ... Read On