How much value do you place on your worrying? What I mean by this is, how much do you feel you can effect in life by worrying? Many people believe that it’s their job and duty to worry. They wear their concern like a uniform.
Continue readingOne of the biggest challenges of modern life is how to juggle our work with our family commitments. Whilst some parents choose to stay home with their kids (and hats off to them!), most of us have to work or choose to work AND raise our kids. So, how can you manage this in order to feel like you’re winning at both? For me it comes down to three things – drop the guilt,…
Continue readingLet me tell you about a client of mine who I worked with several years ago… James* was a straight-A student who couldn’t get out of bed or do any studying. He was also taking painkillers by the handful, drinking every day and had stopped eating. Having been predicted a first class degree in his first and second years at university, he now risked being thrown off his course.
Continue readingI’ve been thinking about the strategies we employ to deal with our feelings and how so many of these strategies backfire.
Continue readingAt my most recent Food For Thought session we looked at our relationships…
Continue readingIf there’s one thing I’ve come to terms with and accepted in recent years it’s that the only certainty in life is uncertainty. For years I tried to control every aspect of my life and it was a bit like trying to peg down a tent in high winds. Because my life can’t be pegged down and neither can yours!
Continue readingHow easy do you find it to allow yourself to be vulnerable? If you’re like most people the answer to that question is probably “not very.” I’m of the opinion that one of our greatest problems as a race is our inability to be vulnerable because it leads to mask wearing, isolation and anxiety.
Continue readingI was chatting to someone recently over coffee about body image and how we can all get caught up in comparing ourselves to others all the time. And, when we compare ourselves we are either engaging in pride (my body is better than theirs) or fear (their body is better than mine). Neither is healthy, neither is loving.
Continue readingWhether you’re a new mum or a seasoned parent of university leavers there is one thing that will poison your parenting like nothing else and that’s competitive child rearing. I first noticed this phenomenon when Beth, my first child, was about 4-months old and some of my new-mum peers starting competing to see whose child would hold their head steady first. Seriously! Then the race to weaning began swiftly followed by a competition to…
Continue readingToday, be grateful. Whatever you have be thankful you have it. Whatever you don’t have be thankful too (when you eventually get it you’ll realise why you had to wait). Be grateful for those you love. Send warmth to those you struggle with (they are likely teaching you something about yourself). Write a list of ten things you are grateful for and get on with your day. Live to the best of your ability today…
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