Anxiety and panic attacks used to be a part of my daily (and nightly) reality. I felt like I was fighting a constant battle in my own mind and body that was impossible to express in words. But there is one specific question that has helped me immensely since I have begun to ask it. It’s such a simple question, but sometimes the simplest introspective questions have the biggest effect on our mindset when we answer them with honesty, self-compassion and courage.
I recently realised something unpleasant about myself, something that I could so easily have minimised until the dissonance in my mind faded, or explained away by rationalising it with a thousand excuses. But unless you face unpleasant realisations about yourself, you can't define them and find ways to improve the way you engage with yourself and the world around you, and you can't address the underlying motivations driving you to act against your values. I was a content caterpillar.
If you’re even a little bit like me - in other words a very determined individual - you’re no stranger to taking on too much, trying to please everyone, and feeling the need to prove yourself in some way. And if so, you’ve also experienced your fair share of crashes when burnout hits and you are physically, mentally and emotionally incapable of continuing on in the way you were.
“Don’t talk to strangers!” For some of us, this grim warning given by so many grown-ups during our childhood years seems to have gotten itself lodged firmly in our adult brains. But have you ever asked yourself what exactly you’re afraid of?
We all need different types of “filling” at different times, and learning to be mindful of that is a huge step towards a more balanced existence.
“Rebranding” is simply choosing better wording for a goal, challenge or situation. This helps you see things from a completely new perspective that better serves you and empowers you to take action.
Not all BAD things are ALL bad. Do your best to find the unexpected little upsides when things don’t quite go your way.
Setting an intention for the day helps you realise that even when circumstances aren’t the best, and people let you down, you still have control over your own thoughts and actions.
Until recently I would have never considered myself a brave person. To me, bravery meant being fearless, and I was definitely the polar opposite of fearless. But as I learned to think about and approach my fears differently, I started to feel ready to face one of the big ones… many-eyed wriggly things with eight legs. The opportunity presented itself to squash (figuratively – no spiders were harmed that day) my fear on an animal sanctuary tour early last year. To the immense surprise of everyone who knows me (not to mention my own surprise) I held big, scary, hairy tarantula! These are the lessons she taught me…
Sunflowers are incredible to look at and to touch, but what if they could speak? I think they would have some really wonderful life advice to impart…
Portal to Change 