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]
Is it time for a digital holiday?
As Easter approaches I'm diving into a week-long digital holiday. I haven’t actually done a proper digital holiday for a couple of years, but my whole being has been screaming for it, and it seems like a very good time to switch off and unplug. Being in nature is really all I’m in the mood for right now, and in amongst a bit of wet weather, I’ll be ... [Read On]
Our unresolved stuff can be a sneaky little energy drain
Do you recall the sensation of finally getting something off your chest or resolving a situation with a friend? Of how much of a relief it was and how much lighter you felt afterwards? Isn’t it funny how often it’s only with retrospect that we realise how much that situation was taking up space within us? How heavy it was on our shoulders? This ... [Read On]
When life feels out of our control it’s time to get IN-powered
So much of what is going on right now has us feeling at the mercy of external circumstances and other people. Have you been feeling that too? Much of the government rhetoric and policies - and mainstream media messaging - this year has fostered fear, uncertainty and disempowerment. And continues to do so. For many, our sense of control and ... [Read On]
Are you being compassionate enough with yourself right now?
Wow, it’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through the penultimate month of the year. And what a situation we find ourselves in. I’m feeling very aware of the multiple stressors that people are facing right now, and that they are not only many but also varied, especially for those in lockdown areas or those being severely affected by mandates ... [Read On]
Start With You Means Having Sovereignty Over Yourself
When I rebranded my business to Start With You back in 2015, it was after a lot of exploring and soul-searching, primarily about why I do what I do and what it’s really about. (I can highly recommend Simon Sinek’s book “Start With Why” and his online resources to help with this process, by the way. Oh, and it wasn’t until the following day after ... [Read On]
These ain’t normal times, peeps (watch out for subliminal stress)
This week, one of the coach directories I belong to, Get Coached, posted a poignant message: You are not ‘working from home’. You are at home, during a crisis, trying to work. While I’m not a fan of dramatic words like ‘crisis’, it’s hard to argue with it right now. We all have a lot on our minds. There’s a lot going on, a fair amount ... [Read On]
I don’t believe in stress management
Although I specialise in stress and resilience, among other things, I actually don’t believe in managing stress or stress management. That’s a bit of a mind-bender for some, but this nuance in semantics is actually pretty important. These terms presuppose we’re going to have stress and it needs to be managed, which is buying into the paradigm ... [Read On]
Sometimes the practical tools are just not enough
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]