Tuesday 10 December 2019

Embracing Your Mistakes


Have you ever done something that you really regretted?


I know I have — sometimes it's been stupid little things that are harmless but left me feeling embarrassed or silly and sometimes it's been a major, disastrous thing that's had a big impact on my life and/or someone else!

And then there's just the everyday stuff like putting the dishwasher tablet in the washing machine or forgetting to get the dinner out the freezer, or a particular common one of mine, leaving my straightening irons on!

No matter how amazingly organised, clever or dynamic we think we are, we do all in fact make mistakes, unfortunately though sometimes the aftermath of them has the potential to completely rock your world, and not in a good way - BUT only if you let it.

Today I'm taking about how you can embrace your mistakes so you feel less weighed down by their impact and more positive about moving forward and getting on with your life, sound good? Let's dive in!

First and foremost there's one thing you need to do right away that's crucial for your wellbeing and your ability to bounce back from what's happened and that's to simply forgive yourself! Even for those silly little mistakes that no one but you really knows or cares about, because you can't embrace the situation and grow if you're being hard on yourself.

Now this first step might be hard for many people so here's a little mantra for you to use when you find yourself writing those negative stories in your head and being your worst inner critic...

I am allowed to be wrong, I am still learning and deserve to be loved.


Even if you don't believe it at first keep saying it until you feel it because it's true, we are actually allowed to get things wrong. Just because we did something that made us feel negative it doesn't mean we're a bad person. Remember we're always learning and that's how we come know what is right for us. Holding yourself up to this idea of being perfect will only break you down and force you into a miserable life of always trying to achieve something or be someone that's unrealistic.

For extra forgiveness inspiration you could start a little journal, google famous people who have made mistakes and bounced back or ask your friends and family to share their biggest mistake and ask them what their best take away lesson was from that situation.

Now it's your turn to figure out what your lesson should be. 


Sometimes the lesson is obvious - you should have gone to bed earlier, you need to ask permission, you must take caution - these lessons can be applied to so many different scenarios and normally ones that we're kind of aware of already but need a reminder from time to time.

Other mistakes we make can be harder to find the lesson in, especially if we had good intentions in our actions or are confused by the outcome. These are the ones to take time with, step back and take stock and reflect of your actions, and possibly the actions of others too.

If you're struggling to find some answers here are a few ways that could help:

  • Talk the situation over with someone you trust — make sure this person is someone who cares about your best interest and will not judge you or your situation. You will instantly feel better just for sharing what you are going through and they may have some ideas about how to manage your feelings and understand your why's. 

  • Read and research - I've often found myself getting clearer on a situation when I've actively gone out and found books, articles or online posts that are connected to my mistake. Reading, or listening (podcasts!) to something specifically related to what I'm going through gives me an alternative perspective. This also helps me to feel less alone, especially if the wisdom being imparted is from someone who has also made the same mistake.

  • Write it out — set a timer for 5 minutes and scribble down every thought, idea, word or feeling that comes into your head associated with your situation. The idea here is to let your mind wonder so when the words start to flow you can capture them on paper and reflect on what comes up.

A word of warning here though, these idea could leave you feeling vulnerable and potentially make you feel worse, sometimes the mistakes we make are painful in many different ways. To get the best out of them is to do them at a time when you’re not distracted by other life things, try them in an environment you feel relaxed and comfortable in and make sure you have something positive planned to do straight after, all this really helps you to be optimistic and learn about what’s happened with a positive manner - Remember to use your mantra or positive affirmation too!

Now there’s one more thing I want you to take on board, maybe this is the most important lesson to learn when we make any mistake - they don't define you, as the quote says you make mistakes, they do not make you!






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Friday 22 November 2019

Winter Wellbeing: Taking care of yourself this season


Tis the season to get those woolies down from the loft, over indulge yourself, people please and battle with dried out, lack lustre skin to name but a few!


Winter is finally upon us and it's a season filled with mixed emotions; festive fun and January blues, reflecting over the last 12 months and trying to feel positive about the year ahead. Plus the weather — those cold, miserable, rainy days coupled with dark mornings, as well as evenings with not much sunlight is enough to make us all feel mixed about the next few months ahead.

Lately I've noticed how many people I've spoken to that have confessed that they get really down in the winter months, especially once the clocks have changed. The Royal College of Psychiatrists state on their website that 3 in every 100 people will suffer with Seasonal Affective Disorder, this is when your mood and behaviour changes in relation to a change in the season and starts to disrupt your day to day life in a negative way (for more information and advice on this you can visit here and here for support).

For a lot of us who don't suffer as seriously but just need a little seasonal boost, putting our wellbeing front and centre can make all the difference and there are a few simple ways to put some self care rituals into place.


Plan to Succeed!
If you're somebody who puts everyone else's wellbeing first, or maybe your winter calendar is super hectic then planning in some time for you really works. Using a diary - paper or digital - really works! You can still buy 2019/20 academic ones in the shops right now or maybe treat yourself to a new one for the new year! I schedule in chunks of time on a monthly basis in my diary for personal self care and then pop on some smaller, positive things on my weekly to-do list, like taking a bath childfree and uninterrupted! Batch cooking some healthy, warming soup, planning in an afternoon to catch up with a friend or blocking out time for any early night! This is what works for me but you need to figure out what activities or practices work for you!

A family affair!
Do you know what makes prioritising wellbeing and self care easier? When you get other in on the act! Talking to your family, or friends/colleagues about what your priorities are really helps. Let them know what they can do to support you and don't forget to encourage them to think about theirs and offer some support to help them too.

Create a Bucket List!
A simple wellbeing hack is to create a seasonal bucket list of all the things you want to do that you know will make you feel good. You can do this just for yourself or get others involved, and you can theme it too, you can choose to make it a low budget one, an outdoorsy one, a festive one, a food related one, a new thing every day one, whatever you fancy! You can write it out in a journal if you have one, you can keep it private or share it with the world, you can even print it out, laminate in and put it on the kitchen cupboard, hell you can even make a Pinterest board out of it!! Get creative as you like but remember to keep feel good, positive wellbeing at the centre of it and make it achievable too so you feel motivated and inspired to keep ticking activities of the list!

So are you feeling more inspired to take care of your wellbeing this season now? Because you are really worth investing in! If you want EVEN MORE inspiration, tips and ideas on taking care of yourself this season then take a look at my Winter Wellbeing Workbook here.




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Monday 11 November 2019

5 Podcasts to boost your wellbeing


It took me a little while to start listening to podcasts but once I did I really got into them in a big way!

On my favourites list I have a whole array of different types shows — business, astrology, creative to name a few but the ones that really soothe my soul are the podcasts based around personal growth and wellbeing.

These are my little audio life savers, each presenter has something honest, authentic and valuable to bring into my world, giving me food for thought or wisdom to ponder over. All parts are my life get covered from parenting, to relationships, to healthy eating and beauty, and so much more. No matter what your wellbeing focus in on one of these is bound to tick that box.

So here are my top 5 podcasts to boost your wellbeing:

Alison Perry - Not Another Mummy Podcast
Although you may not instantly associate a parenting podcast with your wellbeing Alison doesn't really focus on the everyday bits like weaning or sleep routines. In the past she's recorded shows on mindful drinking, body confidence and maternal mental health. I love too that the shows that are more child centred as a bit different like breastfeeding an older child, getting your child into STEM and raising a child with a disability. Her guests are fun, fresh and insightful, the kind of people you'd love to have a chat with over coffee. Even though I'm a mum I'm not one for listening to parenting based podcast but Alison's is so much more than just about being a mummy!

Adrienne Herbert - Power Hour
This podcast really is an hour of powerful talk and captivating conversation. Adrienne has featured some big names on her podcast including a few of my favourites like Suzy Reading and Sarah Wilson and her thoughts and insights on cultivating positivity in your life are real game changers, I especially like her episode back in September about the 5 Pillars of High Performance.

Nicola Elliot - The NEOM No BS Guide to Wellbeing

So far this podcast only has 6 episodes available but they are all worth downloading. Focusing in on some big wellbeing issues like sleep, anxiety and feeling energised, Nicola interviews some amazing guests who are experts in these fields like Chloe Brotheridge and Madeline Shaw. For me this is a lovely podcast to curl up to with a blanket and a mug of something hot — a perfect winter wellbeing audio boost!

TED Talks Daily
If you're a fan of watching of watching TED Talks then you'll love listening to them too! This is a great podcast to listen to when you're in the shower or commuting to work, easy listening but leaves you with something to think about too. If you're new to TED Talks they cover a massively wide range of topics from medical to business to relationships and world affairs and everything in between. Every speaker has spent time working, studying or researching in their chosen subject or topic and have amazing insights to share. I find TED Talks are a great way to expand or challenge the way I think about myself and the world around me and a great listen for anyone who loves self development.

The Goop Podcast
Ok, I have to admit I'm a bgt fan of Gwyneth Paltrows anyway! I've been getting my regular Goop email updates into my inbox for a few years now and my dream would be to go to the annual In Goop Health festival, and now that there's one in London it may just be even more possible! This podcast is packed full of self care and wellbeing inspiration and covers so much from privilege to feeling fear to sex and relationships to money to health and then some! Past guests have included Michelle Pfeiffer and Jasmine Hemsley to name a few and will have you wanting binge listen to them all, one after another!

I would love to know which one you like, and if you have any wellbeing podcast recommendations! Just share on the comments below or head on over and join in the conversation on Instagram or Facebook.
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Monday 4 November 2019

HER WISDOM - CHLOE CILIBERTO


Well, I am so happy to finally be bringing a new woman of wisdom to this series, it's been a while since I've featured someone here. Today I'm introducing you to Chloe Ciliberto, a small business owner, social media manger, blogger and mother of two!

Chloe and I bonded on Instagram last year when we were both pregnant and expecting our boys around the same time. While Chloe was in labour with her baby she decided to set up her own business helping women grow their small business and that's what she literally did then and there - I know, she's pretty inspiring right?!

I'm such a massive fan of Bump to Business and have been taking on boar and implementing all of Chloe's advice over the last 6 months, it's been so exciting to watch her business grow too! She's so full of wisdom and is incredibly authentic and down to earth and I know you will love her too!

How do you begin your day? What are the first 3 things you do to get your day started?
I love mornings! I’m such a morning person! My mornings usually begin with being climbed all over by my two little ones. It’s usually 5.30am and they always have so much energy.

I always try to start the day with the same routine. My youngest still isn’t sleeping through the night and lack of sleep does make me so grumpy. I’ve tried to combat this by creating a routine that helps me to show up with the best energy for the day, no matter how little shut eye I’ve had.

The first thing I do is get my littlest dressed and set up with toys. Then I get straight into doing a meditation to help me de-stress before the day even begins. I then follow this by some intense exercise. This really helps to wake me up! 

After exercising, it’s coffee and breakfast time. We usually all have breakfast together and this is when I get my journal out and do some gratitude and affirmations. This routine has honestly changed my mindset for the better. It makes me feel grounded, happy and also so ready to seize the day. 

Share your favourite piece of wisdom and why it means something to you.
Get comfortable being uncomfortable! 

I am so in love with this phrase at the moment. I think it’s such a good piece of wisdom to live by. Especially if you are trying to grow a business! I’ve realised a lot in the last year, that the uncomfortable thing is usually the thing that is going to help you to grow. 

I’ve been trying to live by this for the past year and pushing myself outside of my comfort zone has honestly changed my life!

What is your go-to thing of comfort when it all gets too much?
A walk by the sea! I seriously love a good a walk to decompress. I do put a lot of pressure on myself (I’m the girl who decided to build a business alongside full time work and a new baby - oh dear) and everyday I have to take some time out, otherwise I get really overwhelmed. 

I think time out from work, technology, the busy-ness of life etc is super important for anyone though. It’s so nice just to re-ground yourself. I usually take time out around the school run time. We always try and pop out to the beach or we go to a coast path somewhere for some fresh air. It always re-charges me straight away.

Who are the women that inspire you?
I am so inspired by women who are starting their own online business from home and who are paving the way for other women to do the same. There seems to be a real movement of women supporting women at the moment and I am all for it!

I would share some of those women but my list would be way too long!

How do you see yourself and what makes up your sense of identity?
I see myself as someone who is always trying to inspire others to reach their true potential.  I have such a strong desire to help others (I’m an INFJ on the Myers Briggs test which is so fitting) and to show people what is possible for them.

I also see myself as someone who is very health conscious, family centred and I definitely put self-growth and personal development at the top of the agenda. 

Do you have a favourite dish or recipe that makes you feel good or gives you a much needed boost?
A smoothie bowl always makes me feel so good! I am obsessed with smoothie bowls. They’re not only delicious but they always give me such a surge of energy. I try to change them up a lot, but my favourite is a berry bowls topped with lots of seeds and nuts. 

What does confidence mean to you, what builds yours? 
Confidence to me means being unapologetically you. It means showing up as your true authentic self and not caring what others think! 

As someone who has always struggled with being introverted, shy and very self-conscious, confidence is really something I’ve had to work on a lot. 

I’ve spent a lot of time in the last couple of years trying to get comfortable in my own skin and trying to feel happy in myself. I mentioned above about ‘getting comfortable with being uncomfortable’. Pushing myself outside of my comfort zone and trying new things has really helped me to build confidence. 

What's challenging you right now?
Mum guilt! Oh my, it can be so tough trying to build a business while raising kids can’ it? I honestly have so much respect for anyone who does it. I created myself a daily balance planner which has definitely helped me so much with the Mum guilt. I’m now super intentional with my time and I make sure that both of my littles get a lot of 1:1 time with me. But, I don’t think it matters what you do. Mum guilt seems to always be hovering nearby!

Tell us more about your latest or next project.
I’ve just released a new mini course called ‘The Perfect Pitch and Pricing’ guide and the feedback on it so far has been amazing!

I know so many bloggers and freelancers who struggle to both pitch for work and who also struggle to price themselves. 

I have years of experience working in both blogging and freelancing and pitching is one of my favourite things to do! I have been so lucky to have landed some amazing projects, clients and campaigns and I do put it all down to pitching. 

The pitching part of the course shares with you a step-by-step guide on how to create the perfect pitch every time. It also shares ‘ready made’ pitching templates that you can edit to fit exactly what you need. 

I also really wanted to include a pricing guide as part of the course. Money seems to be a bit of a taboo subject in the freelancing/blogging world and unfortunately it’s also very common for freelancers and bloggers to undercharge for their services. 

I was someone who was undercharging for way too long too and by undercharging you end up feeling really undervalued and you often end up having to take on so much more work just to get by. 

18 months ago I ended up tripling my rates and it made such a huge difference to my life. I really wanted to include this section of the course so both freelancers and bloggers can see exactly how much they should and can charge for their services! I hope that this part of the course is not only really helpful, but also so empowering!

You can connect with Chloe on Instagram or check out her lifestyle blog and business website.
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Monday 21 October 2019

Simple hacks for when you don't feel motivated


We can have all the best intentions towards a situation in our life but if we feel tired, lost our confidence or get easily distracted, we can soon see our motivation levels quickly drop.

Then what happens next is we get caught up in the vicious circle of feeling like a failure and feelings of guilt and unworthiness rise up, so it's just easier not bother sometime right?

Wrong!

Even if it seems impossible you can do something to shift your mindset because motivation can sometimes be like a snow ball effect and even a small gesture can be all it takes to see a change — you don't have to do everything but always do something!

And if you're stuck for inspiration I have you covered, here is a list of easy actionable ideas to pick from:

- Set a timer for 5 minutes and commit to doing something until the timer goes off and if you don't feel like doing it any more then give yourself permission to stop, most of the time when we get stuck into a task we find the motivation to keep going.

- Write in your journal about how you feel, by jotting down why you feel the way you do you can easily unpick the reasons behind your lack of motivation and clear away any barriers that are stopping you - and if you don't have a journal maybe this can be a good time to start!

- Reward yourself! Just like we would a child sometimes giving ourselves a reward for getting things done can be very motivating, you can get as creative or fancy as you like with this after all you know what will best motivate you to get started!

- Plan it in, this works by scheduling the task in and it works best by doing it at the start of the day. Have you ever heard of the phrase eating the frog? This means to get something over and done with straight away so it's completed, if you you do this at the start of every morning or evening it will soon become a positive habit - imagine how much you will achieve after a week, month or year?

- Simply ask for help and you can do this by reaching out to someone who can be there to shared the load or find yourself an accountability partner, this is someone who has your permission to gently check up on you, encourages you to get things done and is your all round cheerleader, and you can return the favour by doing the same back for them!

So hopefully there's something here that feels achievable, even if you just take tiny steps. Investing in our mindset, even when the change feels hard and uncomfortable, is a really big way to take care of our wellbeing, you might not think you can do it and you might feel that your lack of motivation will always get in the way but remember you just haven't found a way to overcome it yet. And now you have some new ideas and hacks to help you grow!

I'd love to know which ones you try out or work for you - leave a comment below, or you can email me at 365pearlsofwisdom@gmail.com or chat with me on Instagram!
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Monday 14 October 2019

3 Crystals for Getting Cosy With



I feel like our wellbeing needs some extra care and attention once the autumn really kicks because it can be hard to feel positive and full of life when the rain is thrashing down, the temperature get's chilly and the nights get longer.

One of my favourite things to do to feel good when the season shifts is to create a little hub of warmth and cosiness in my home, where I can relax, feel comforted and full of vitality and taking the time to energise our space like this is a brilliant way to look after ourselves.

Now there are many trends about that inspire us to cultivate this kind of atmosphere in our homes but have you thought about using crystals to transform your living space into comforting corners of cosiness? Well, in this post I'm going to help you do just that!


In the bedroom - Carnelian

This crystal is a little fire cracker, it's great for invoking a more passionate side so if you're looking to get more cosy in the bedroom Carnelian is your go-to crystal for this! Alternatively you may want to create a more chilled out space here instead, many people like to use their bedroom as a place to meditate and Carnelian is great for this too. With immune boosting, vitality building and detoxifying properties this crystal can give you that inner fiery glow.

Bonus - Pair it with Rose Quartz for an extra sizzle in your love life or with Moonstone for a real boost to your fertility!


In the bathroom - Smoky Quartz

When the world gets too much and you need to hunker down and close yourself off to the bad vibes circling their way around you then it's Smoky Quartz to the rescue — run a bath, light your favourite candle and get cosy with this crystal. Protecting you from the outside Smoky Quartz moves negativity energy out and elevates your mood, grounding you back to a place of comfort where you can feel soothed and relaxed.

Bonus - Pair it with Emerald for an extra vitality kick to your bubble bath or pop in Fluorite for an anti-inflammatory soother as you soak away the day.


In the living room - Orange Calcite

Imagine getting snuggly on the sofa under your favourite blanket, fire crackling away and a mug of hot chocolate in hand? Thats exactly the vibe Orange Calcite can bring into your living room, it's healing soft energy opens your heart ready to receive radiance and amplify your wellbeing. It's a powerful cleanser too and can support you to ward off colds and sooth an upset stomach.

Bonus - Pair it with Amethyst for added calm and relaxation or Selenite as an extra energy cleanser and to balance out those disruptive electrical charges from your TV and PC.

So, no matter where you feel like getting cosy in your house, there's a perfect crystal to grab and use to create that feeling instantly — which one will you try?

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Friday 30 August 2019

4 ways you can learn, grow, thrive this month


September is right around the corner and I have to say that it is one of my favourite months of the year, not only because it's my birthday month but because to me it feels like a fresh start, even more than January does and last year I wrote a post all about how September is the perfect month to set new intentions and start new self care rituals  you can read more here.

A new season is about to unfold and I've been thinking lots about transitioning into this new month these last few weeks. September my last full month of maternity leave and I want to get the best out of it. Of course every new month has the potential to be a fresh start for us all and if you're ready to do the same here are some simple ideas on how you can learn, grow and thrive this month.

Look after your skin

Never have I been so aware of the impact of the changing seasons on my skin. I'm now taking better care of my skin than I ever have done before, like drinking more water, especially because I'm breastfeeding so my body is more dehydrated. I'm also using sun screen on my face everyday and trying to do at home facials at the weekends - not easy with a small baby!

Now that September is here and the weather is changing I figured my skin care routine may need a change to so I asked Jade the founder of Nalla Skin care to share some advice and here's what she said:

"As your skin begins to adapt to a new season, this is certainly a new challenge for your skin. 
So here are some tips for your Autumn skin:

1. Firstly shorten your showers. Dry skin makes your body do overtime trying to produce oil. You don’t want your skin to be too oily either. 
2. Find a moisturiser that protects and soothes your skin through the colder months. 
3. Using a night cream through the autumn and winter will help retain moisture. 
4. Avocado and calendula oils is a favourite of ours at Nalla for moisture. 
5. If you suffer from eczema prone skin. It’s important to know that many of us over heat our homes in Autumn and Winter. If you become overheated this becomes a trigger for you to begin itching.  So try to keep your skin cool it will help a great deal. "

De-clutter your wardrobe

Of course September signals a new seasonal wardrobe too, away go the sun dresses, shorts and flip flops and out come the cosy knits and scarfs! For me I'm still transitioning back into my post pregnancy clothes, I have loads of bit from my maternity wardrobe that I no longer need, some pieces that are staples while I'm still breast feeding and a now that my postnatal body is going back to my usual size I need to sort out what isn't fitting any more and get out my old clothes that do! 

Rachel from Please Organise Me has shared with me some great ideas about how to make a start with sorting out a new wardrobe for a new season, here's what she said:

"I would use the change in weather to look at all your summer clothes see what you have and haven’t worn. Get rid of anything you haven’t used to make room for your autumn wardrobe. Store everything in vacuum pack bags to protect from moths and make more room. Ensure everything is labelled too so it’s easy to find. Also look at accessories and also make up. Try to enjoy this transition. Look at swimwear as it tends to get knackered pretty quickly. Also use end of season sale to replace anything."


Easy Self Care moments

September is a time where day to day routines change for so many of us, back to school, back to work, a new fresh start, even the weather starts to transition into a different seasonal rhythm. It can be an exciting time but all this change can be scary - maybe you're starting a new job? Maybe you have a child starting school? Perhaps you're stopping something too that seems a little overwhelming or a big change in your life, what ever it may be for you making time for some easy self care is essential to transition this season of change in your life.

A great way to access self care that feels quick and simple is through an app and it's something I like to do all the time. Two self care apps I'm loving and using a lot right now are Clementine and Nourish.

Clementine has loads of great hypnotherapy tracks that you can listen to at any time that focus on stress, sleep problems, body image and confidence. Nourish is a great one for mums who have just had a baby, dealing with the toddler years or are transitioning into having a child at school and is full of self care moments and practices based around the mind, breath and body that you use whenever you need them.

Rethink your routine

Whether your day to day is governed by the school term or not things just feel different once the summer is over and September rolls in. The mornings are darker and the light is fading in the evenings too, the weather changes as the temperature drops and so do our needs. A shake up in routine is often a great way to step into a new season and reflect on what's working and what isn't. Jemma from Unconditionally Nourished has some lovely thoughts on how we can approach this.

"Give yourself the permission to experiment to find what works. A routine is never fixed or linear, but I think we get stuck in a certain groove of doing the same thing. Our bodies have different seasons and need different things to thrive as we move through the year. It’s only natural that our routines should also change in order to support our wellbeing successfully. Lean into the natural flow of life to discover what you need in your routine to flourish."

So there you go! You could try out all 4 or pick one to really focus on, join in the conversation by posting a comment below and let me know what your trying out to transition into September.
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Monday 12 August 2019

Fighting the negative stories in your head



Do you ever have any of these thoughts?


"I'm not good/popular/talented enough to do that!"

"It always goes wrong for me!"

"This will be a disaster, it always is!"

If these sentences, or something similar, run through your mind on a regular basis then you will probably find yourself assuming the worst whenever you have to do something or holding yourself back from things just incase something goes wrong. They are all perfect examples of the negative stories we tell ourselves and have a really powerful hold over us and how we live our lives.

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Monday 11 March 2019

Pearl of Wisdom Guest Post Number 28 - Jennifer Cockcroft


It sounds like a pretty simple statement at first glance, but I believe there is a depth of truth to it beyond the obvious.
Human memory is a tricky and incredibly complex thing, and here is not the space to go into scientific detail, but we can discuss lived experience of how memories seem to work. In general, unless you have certain neurological conditions, we tend not to remember every single detail of every single day. There are parts that we only retain in the short term while we’re doing them or a little while after, and parts that may get grouped together as routines because we do the same things regularly – and sometimes you get a sense of operating on auto-pilot because those actions are so familiar you can do them unconsciously. 
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Monday 4 March 2019

Motherhood + Me - Emma Cottam








Today's post Emma Cottam talks about identity and being a new mum completing the Motherhood - Me mini series. She shares how pregnancy made her lose sight of her identity but her new status of a mum helps her to find a new one that felt more true to who she was.

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Monday 18 February 2019

Crystals for Spring - Gemma Guscott


Spring is just around the corner and we often feel that need to start cleansing and freshening up our house and environment, but focusing part of those spring clean rituals on wellbeing can be so uplifting too. You can read my thoughts on spring cleaning your mind, body and soul here and my personal picks for crystals I like to use in this season here.

This weeks guest poster Gemma Guscott from Emerald Sky Healing is also focusing on using crystals for spring too. Gemma talks about what crystal are ideal for using in the spring months, what to do to get the best out of them for you and how you can use them around your home - enjoy!


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Monday 11 February 2019

Pearl of Wisdom Guest Post Number 27 - Agata Galland


Today's Pearl of Wisdom guest post is written by Agata Galland from Eat and Bloom, it's focused on the relationship we have with food and how we can all nourish a healthy one that leaves us feeling

We all know that we must nourish and look after the relationships we create and have with others  parents, siblings, friends, partner, children… “Gotta nourish to flourish” as they say, and rightly so! So imagine how different your life would look if you didn't put any effort into cultivating those relationships you’re in? It all takes time and energy, of course, but what doesn’t? Plus, we all know it usually pays off  you get a happy family living in harmony, thoughtful and caring friends, a supportive partner and a balanced life.

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Monday 4 February 2019

Motherhood + Me - Laura Bowcutt


This Motherhood + Me mini blog series is all about the identity of women surrounding their experiences with becoming a mother, it touches on infertility, pregnancy, new motherhood and maternal mental health. 

Today's post is written by Laura Bowcutt, when Laura found out she was pregnant it wasn't the usual happy and exciting time that many women experience. Laura had just been through a massive change in her life and found it very confusing, stressful and even felt guilty, read on to hear her story.

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Friday 1 February 2019

5 Self Love things to try in February


February is the month most synonymous with love and all things romantic but whether you're in a relationship or not I whole heartedly believe that we should start to view it more as the month of SELF love and a positive relationship with ourselves!

So to get you in the mood for loving up on yourself — in the most tasteful way! - I've put together 5 things you can try out this month to boost your self worth and create your own self love success story!

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Monday 28 January 2019

Her Wisdom - Kim Palmer

I really excited to introduce you to Kim Palmer and welcome her into my HER WISDOM series! Back in the summer last year I entered a competition through The Early Hour blog to win a free 6 month mentorship with Kim who is an entrepreneur and co-founder (along with Annie Ridout from The Early Hour) of the wellbeing app for women Clementine
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Monday 21 January 2019

Capturing Confidence - Overcoming shyness



Today's guest poster is Rebecca Morgan from Lawyer in the Making and she's talking all about struggling with being shy and social anxiety. In this post she writes about her personal experiences with being shy and her top tips on handling it when faced with social gatherings/events.
It’s okay to be shy… 
When I tell people I am shy, they never believe me.  If you look on my social media you will see I attend lots of events, speak at conferences and travel the world with my job. 
Yet I really am shy. 
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Monday 14 January 2019

Embracing Motherhood and Change by Emma Caddick



Change, we think, happens in big blockbusting Hollywood movie style moments.  
We quit the job - Jerry Maguire style; we drop the mic on all the unsaid in a relationship, we walk out of the door, we kick the habit, we do a 180.  And although this does happen, these moments are in the minority. They account for maybe 1% of our lived experience. 

What about the other 99%? The days that drag, the days where we just exist, get through? In each of these days we make a million and one choices. Choices that in fact end up shaping the direction of our lives little by little. 

Change, as it turns out, doesn't have to something massive and scary. Something extreme or perfect. So often we visualise an ideal outcome and then scare ourselves silly when we have no concept of how we will achieve it. 

The result? We do nothing. 

Paralysis takes hold. Old patterns persist. We stay in the job, the relationship, we keep the weight on, we distract ourselves and numb our discomfort rather than taking steps in the direction that we really want to be going.

Take me for example, I have done the unthinkable this year. And it has felt like it's happened pretty rapidly in the end. Just a few weeks ago I began a yoga teacher training course. Something I had always daydreamed about but never really thought I could do. 

Five years ago I left my professional career to save my mental health and raise our young family. In doing so I also left behind my professional identity. This left me pretty lost most days. Although I loved being at home to raise the children there was a nagging question hanging over me all the time. 

Who was I? What did I want? Did I have anything to contribute anymore? 

There were some days when I didn't even feel real or visible. Throw in a another new baby, a double family bereavement and I was scuppered. But that's when things got seriously interesting in terms of personal growth. Uncomfortable yes , painful even,  but interesting as that's when I finally gave myself the permission to re-craft who I thought I was. As the brilliant Elizabeth Gilbert puts it: 

"When you come to the end of yourself is where all the interesting stuff starts." 
 Elizabeth Gilbert

I started by quieting the noise of the world. This was a coping mechanism primarily, in the early days, but in hindsight this was the valuable tool which helped me to get to know myself. I threw myself into yoga, meditation, journaling, cut myself off from my usual friends, patterns, obligations and instead turned inwards. 

Through this process I began un-unearth the things that soothed me, comforted me and made me ME. Me as separate from work, from belongings and status. Separate from my husband, my children, my family or friends. 

The me I was at my essence. 

The noise of the modern world is so all consuming and our lives are so frantic that unless we carve out time (or have it thrust upon us by a major life event) we rarely take stock of where we are and where we want to go. This is different from just moaning about where we are. It's looking at everything in your life objectively. In the '12 Step Programme' they call it 'Taking Inventory'. I'm not suggesting you need to take a 'jack in all in' to figure it out but taking some time to open up some thinking space can really help. 

I would get up a few minutes before the rest of the family and pick and choose from some of the things on the list below. I began to notice that when I started / ended or punctuated my day with these things I was able to keep a focus on how I want to operate within the world. My choices were more conscious and mindful. More in line with who I was and who I wanted to be. 
  • meditation
  • yoga
  • journaling / doodling / vision boarding
  • Swapping social media ogling for reading something uplifting / inspiring
  • Listening to a podcast on a subject you are curious about while driving or washing up
  • Going outside 
  • Looking or listening to something beautiful 
  • Pausing for a moment instead of keeping on keeping on
  • Doing something creative just for fun
Until recently, I didn't know where any of this was leading me or why I was drawn to much of it.  I just knew that in small parts this journey was healing me from my grief and trauma and giving my brain time to relax, play and focus on something outside of the daily routines of motherhood. 

Following your curiosity is a much gentler and permissive idea than attacking something with passion which we often mistakenly think we need in order to make a change. Passion can burn us out and burn itself out quickly in the process. It has a pressured, demanding, obsessive  energy to it, where success is determined by a particular outcome. Which if you get burnt out or fed up before you reach there it can leave you feeling like a failure and completely deflated. Curiosity however  meanders, wanders, takes its time and has no expectation of where it is going, or why. There is no outcome associated with curiosity. Merely pleasure and fascination. 

Breaking our daily patterns and doing things that we enjoy, with no end in mind or any particular outcome makes us feel energised, empowered. When we feel energised we make different choices. When we know where it is we want to go these choices quickly begin to stack up and begin shaping our life in a different way. We become more open to opportunities and feel more confident in our ability to tackle them. Any action towards your desired direction is a positive step. 

You don't have to have it all figured out. As you take one baby step the next step will become clear. Keep trusting that the next step will become obvious when you get there and eventually you will realise you have either gotten to or surpassed the place you had been day dreaming of. 

I began my yoga training course, with an abstract longing to be a yoga teacher, but telling myself and everyone else that I didn't really know whether I would or could do it in reality. I pulled out all the excuses. 

"I'm too old, I'm not fit enough, I haven't got the time or the money, what about childcare?" 
The list of reasons why I couldn't was endless. 
The bottom line? I was scared. 

Fear was running the show. I didn't want to fail, to be the 'worst' (whatever that was) in my class or make a fool of myself. What if I went through all of this and I was no good and nobody came to my classes? 

On day one, our teacher encouraged us to be there for ourselves. Not for anyone or anything else. To absorb the knowledge and the experience and allow wherever it would take us to unfold naturally. I listened and threw myself in. 

Even by the end of the first week  I had began to not only visualise  myself as a yoga teacher but also feel myself becoming a teacher. Through some hard work, emotional graft and practice at teaching this new identify began to take form. Taking my curiosity for yoga and working with it has helped me to realise that the steps to actually becoming a teacher  were really quite logical and straightforward and definitely something that I could do.

Once I had put myself in the energy of possibility (i.e. became a 'yes' instead of a 'no' for things) and stopped fear from running the show then opportunities began to flow to me. A name for my business, a logo a website  and opportunities for teaching manifested themselves easily and quickly.  I was now putting myself out in the world in a completely different way. I felt differently about myself, my abilities and my future. I feel proud of what I have achieved so far and excited for the changes that are to come as I finally begin to step into the life I have imagined for so long, one baby step at a time. 




Today's guest post was written by Emma Caddick - Emma is a yoga teacher and lives in Worcestershire with her husband and 3 children. You can also connect with her over on Instagram.

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