Why Does Self-Love Feel So Difficult? Firstly, "self-love” feels uncomfortable and even a bit scary. As children, we were taught to put others first, criticise ourselves into action, or to measure our worth by productivity and achievement. That old pattern:...
These words from the song 'Shine' by Take That might be simple, but they have a lot of meaning for me and most of my clients who are familiar with the inner voice that criticises, pushes, and tells us we’re not good enough. I've heard it suggested that being hard on...
Have you ever noticed how old stories can keep you stuck? Maybe you find yourself replaying the same beliefs or feeling the same feelings from years ago, even though so much in your life has changed since then. It’s as if part of you is still living in the past,...
Why Ruminating Isn’t Thinking Do you ever find yourself replaying conversations, worrying about what you should have said, or searching for the “right” answer? It feels like thinking, but it isn’t. Ruminating or overthinking is your brain’s attempt to avoid an emotion...
Do you ever feel like you’re carrying something heavy…but you can’t quite put your finger on what it is? When you feel low or anxious for “no reason,” it’s usually because you’ve been pushing down your emotions for a very long time, sometimes for years. Maybe even...
When life feels heavy with lots of mixed up feelings, you can end up stuck in a spiral of negative thinking. Your inner critic pipes up, your thoughts are racing or you just can't think straight. Maybe you even find yourself zoning out a bit. Sounds familiar? Here is...
Found yourself replaying a conversation over and over in your head, wondering if you said the wrong thing or what people would think about it? Maybe you’ve held yourself back from doing something because you were worried what other people might think about you? It’s a...
We all want to feel better don't we? But here’s the thing: we can’t just choose to feel the “good” emotions and ignore the difficult ones. Feeling calmer, happier, and more at peace comes from feeling all our emotions, even the ones we’d rather avoid. Why Avoiding...
We all have moments when our emotions feel overwhelming and like they have a life of their own. Whether it’s stress, anxiety, or frustration, learning how to regulate your emotions can make a huge difference, but most of us have not been taught how to do that. It...
Because our world seems to be moving faster and faster these days, finding calm right now is not just a luxury—it’s an absolute must for our nervous system and mental well-being! And whilst we can't eliminate stress completely, we can develop some daily habits that...
Do you often feel like you’re not doing enough, being enough, or achieving enough? Many of us are our own harshest critics, holding ourselves to impossible standards while offering kindness and patience to everyone else. If this sounds familiar, you might need some...
When you experience anxiety or overwhelm, your nervous system is overloaded and trying to cope with stress. The good news is that you can learn to regulate your nervous system by increasing your with self-awareness and some simple reset techniques. Here’s how: Step 1...
Anxiety can feel overwhelming, but the good news is that there are natural ways to reduce it and regain control of your emotions. Here are five natural ways to reduce anxiety: 1) Practice Mindful Breathing When anxiety strikes, our breathing often becomes quicker and...
Let’s face it—most people think that keeping busy will make anxiety go away, right? But here’s the truth: keeping busy is not the answer to anxiety. It doesn't make it disappear; it actually makes it worse. Whilst avoidance can provide some temporary relief, in the...
If you're anything like me, you were not taught the true role of emotions. You've probably heard the same words as me all your life: "stop crying", "don't be weak", "get over it" and "you're too sensitive"! The Stiff Upper Lip This old fashioned stiff upper lip...
"Emotions are a critical source of information for learning" Joseph E. LeDoux Emotions serve as vital signals, helping us recognise what is dangerous, what is unfair, or what we need. Think of emotions like the warning lights on your car's dashboard They alert...