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  • THE HINDSIGHT OF TIME. THE GREATEST GIFT WHEN LOOKING BACK AT ADVERSITY

    As I once again prepare for the launch of my latest book “The Pay it Forward Series: Notes to My Younger Self” volume 4 in collaboration with imperfectly perfect, I am reminded the power that comes with the hindsight of time.

    When we are in the throes of adversity, it can be so difficult to create a positive sense of meaning.

    Why?

    Because in that moment you are in a state of survival, drawing on all your reserves of resiliency to navigate the experience you find yourself in. In that moment it is near on impossible to see the golden nuggets, the lesson learnt, the wisdom and aspiration that can be drawn from this experience.

    In that moment you are immersed in the feelings, processing your actions, thoughts and behaviours. But with the hindsight of time, you can not only look with fresh eyes and create a new sense of meaning from what happened, but you can also start to join the dots.

    Discovering how that one experience has left a positive impact on your life, giving you a wisdom and knowledge that you wouldn´t have had unless you had navigated this journey. Whether that knowledge is establishing new boundaries, finding a new career, or knowing what not to look for in a relationship, it will have positively contributed to your life in some way

    So today, grab a journal and pen and sit and explore your pivotal moments of adversity with a new lens.

    Ask yourself the following questions:

    What lessons did I learn from this experience?
    Who did I become because of it?
    What path did I take that I wouldn´t have taken otherwise?
    What words of advice would I have loved to have heard during that time?

    We all get to decide what sense of meaning we give any situation, so now with the hindsight of time, how can this experience be a positive lesson?

    With our 12 new, courageous authors sharing words of wisdom, knowledge and inspiration, I invite you to pre-order your copy of our new book The Pay it Forward Series: Notes to My Younger Self Volume 4 which is released on the 30th November by clicking this link:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pay-Forward-Notes-Younger-Self-ebook/dp/B0BL3VL414

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  • Is Positivity Killing People’s Spirit

    As a positive psychologist you would think I would be all over being “Positive” in times of adversity, but in this new world where everything “normal” is quickly disappearing and being replaced with new rules and regulations is positivity actually doing more harm than good?

    I recently went live on Facebook to talk about the varying emotions both myself and my family were going through and was met with a tidal wave of support and admiration.

    Why?

    Because people wanted validation, permission and acceptance to feel whatever they damn well feel in this unknown space, without judgement or opinion.

    They didn´t want to hear “Just think positive, everything is going to be ok”, they wanted to know that they were not alone in their feelings of fear, pain, anger, confusion and anxiousness. That even a positive psychologist can experience the full spectrum of emotions without shame or embarrassment.

    In fact it´s not my place or anyone else´s for that matter, to tell people how to feel, and for many it´s individuals honesty that is keeping them sane.

    The honesty to remove the mask of “I´m fine, nothing to see here” and be open about the fact that some days, I am revelling in the peace and gratitude of slowing down, while other days I am ready to rip people´s head off, as the introvert in me is craving some space for herself.

    In times of adversity all emotions matter.

    Fear is what has been keeping many safe, respecting the boundaries of distance and staying at home. Anger is what has propelled people into action to get stuff done, to sort things through, to release and let go what no longer serves. Confusion has brought about clarity, as to the lives we wish to lead moving forward. Being selfish has allowed, many for the first time, to put their own needs ahead of others and know the importance of filling up their bucket first.

    Peace has allowed for the slowing down and acceptance of a new way of living, and gratitude has expanded our love for the simple things in life that have been so overlooked in the past by us, as we have been speeding through life at a thousand miles an hour.

    All emotions are good.

    Without the darkness how can we revel in the light?

    Without sorrow, how can we know the pure joy of happiness?

    Without restrictions, how can we know and respect freedom?

    The trick is not to stay in those lower vibrational emotions for too long.

    The understanding of what is triggering our emotions, can provide coping strategies and opportunities for growth. Being present with our emotions and rather than fighting against them, asking questions of ourselves, can provide clarity. The seeking out of help and support as and when is needed, can provide new levels of friendship and further bolster our resilience.

    Whatever emotion you are feeling at the moment, know that all is ok. Ride the emotional rollercoaster wherever it might take you and know that in the acceptance and understanding is the knowledge to carry on.

     

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  • An Epidemic Sweeping the Globe

    There is an epidemic sweeping the nation, seeping into households across the globe, those households that look like everything is rosy but inside there is a feeling of emptiness permeating and spreading from one generation of women to the next.

    This epidemic for many can often be sparked in childhood by some well meaning adult with a throwaway comment that might have been given in all innocence but over the years has been festering and growing until it becomes all consuming.

    Showing up in all areas of your life, you can see it start to take hold and even start to affect your children. The need for it, seems to be all consuming and no matter what you do or implement it’s never enough.

    So, what am I taking about…. I am talking perfection.

    Now before you switch off and disengage take a moment just to read on as there maybe parts that register with you…

    Perfection is a crippling disease that starts off with little changes here and there and can escalate to controlling every aspect of your life, in line with an unrealistic image you feel you should portray.

    The yard stick you use to beat yourself with is judgement, judgement by others but worse yet judgement from yourself, you know the one, that internal monkey chatter that pushes and pushes, past exhaustion, past a need to prove yourself, to a point that often feels like no return.

    In those quiet moments when fear rises from the pit of your stomach you ask the question “How can I step off this ever speeding conveyor belt?”, that to everyone else looks like smooth sailing but under the surface your feet, like the swans gliding across the water are frantically trying to keep you afloat as you gasp for each breath as the panic and anxiety attack start to kick in.

    Even though sometimes it feels like you are barely keeping it together, to the outside world you step out with a confident spring in your step and comments of there she goes “that confident, perfect woman who has it all”.

    So, let’s dive into what “all” really means….

    Since that well meaning comment was given when you were young you have had a dream, a dream of how life should be. With no bends, adaptation or movement you have pursued this mercilessly like a sniper gun fixed to its target.

    To the outside world you are an overachiever, simply able to turn your hand to everything and anything and come up smelling of roses, but they don’t know the truth, you hide that deep inside stuffed in a box under lock and key. The truth is that the plate spinning, sacrifice making, empty feeling inside cannot be filled that no matter what you achieved.

    The feeling of imposter syndrome of not really having it together sees you tighten the reins even further until you can hardly breathe, tied up in knots restricted by all those things in life that others say should bring you joy.

    The house, the holidays, the relationships, the career, the money, the children, the private school, the cars but even these aren’t enough to fill that empty void that often times feels like a cavern deep inside so let´s go shopping …..

    I say this rather flippantly but I don’t mean to ridicule your pain but again to the outside world this would seem amazing. Beautiful holidays, gorgeous new clothes, handbags and treatments and make up…. each one bringing the possibility of filling that gap only to discover the Joy is short lived

    So, like an adrenaline junkie you try other things, sex, alcohol, bigger house, prescription drugs the list is endless but each time the numbing and the quietening is short lived.

    The pressure to maintain the image of perfection invades every aspect of your being until it is suffocating and starts to influence all aspects of your life: relationships, weight, friendships, career, sex life…. yes now things have gotten real.

    But how do you jump off that ever spinning cycle of abuse, how do you let the front down, without feeling that you have lost all credibility, well ladies at this point you normally don’t need to do anything because the universe steps in.

    As your health takes a turn for the worst, or your relationships self implode or you burn out, or you unravel in spectacular style with something so simple and trivial like opening the fridge to realise there is no milk for your coffee and you fall to the floor crying uncontrollably….

    This is where your world feels like it is starting to fall apart but I have a little secret for you ladies this is where life starts falling together, this is where the last 10,20,30,40 years of perfection starts to slip away.

    The conditioning, the busyness, the berating, making way for the peace, the acceptance, the love, the support, the permission to be you, without the pretense, without the control, without the mask, without the perfection.

    I would love to tell you that at this stage you will experience immediate recovery but like many of these things practise is key, self-compassion is key and the understanding that one step at a time is all that is being asked of you right now because although you thought that your perfection mattered to everyone else, they are so wrapped up in holding their own perfection together that they won’t notice until one day, they ask you what is different about you, what new face cream that you are using because you are glowing and seem to have a peace about you that they so desperately are seeking in their lives and in that moment you can tell them about your recovery from perfectionist to being simply you and the release that comes with letting it all go.

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