Category: Self Care

Why We Need To Practice Self-Compassion

This blog is intended to help those who need to forgive themselves for being anything ‘less than’. Forgiving our injustices towards ourselves. We set the bar so high for ourselves, don’t you think? And, I know, you could say that’s a good thing. But, the issue here is we often set it too high. Just, just out of reach. And, we set ourselves up for repeated disappoint because of this. This is where the need to practice self-compassion comes in.

July 13, 2021

The Importance of Hobbies

It’s time to give the humble hobby some recognition. As I learn and growth through this Personal Growth journey I am on I uncover hidden gems like ‘the hobby!’ An overlooked and underappreciated contributor to our overall happiness! Cynical? Hear me out.

Hobbies give us so much more than just enjoyment. Hobbies are a means of self-expression, personal growth and good old pleasure. Honestly, I think the importance of hobbies is totally lost on most of us. In this blog I want to have a look at the importance of hobbies and why we need to give them the recognition they deserve.

July 5, 2021

Setting Yourself up For a Good Day

Can we guarantee a good day? No. But, we can give ourselves pretty good odds! Setting yourself up for a good day will look different for everyone, but this is what works for me, and one thing I know for sure is it all starts with your mindset.

June 27, 2021

Unplugged: Things To Do Without The Internet

Things To Do Without The Internet

So, funny story. This blog came about because my husband lost his temper with the kids and pulled the plug on the internet. Lol. True story! Result: blog post on things to do without the internet. It’s a good topic, though, don’t you think? He he!

Let’s be honest for a minute. We have all become consumed by the internet. We can use all the excuses in the book for why it is a necessary part of life in this day and age, but let’s get real here. I try to defend myself in my own mind but I know it is true. We all NEED a break from the internet sometimes. So, let’s actually take the time to think about all the things we can do with our time if we just resist the gravitational pull of the internet.

April 16, 2021

What Does it Mean to Leave a Legacy of Love?

Legacy of Love

As parents there are a 1000 lessons we need to teach our kids about life. But, as humans, there are only a handful of lessons that we impart upon our little humans that set them up for life. I’m talking about those lessons that make them who they are, our legacy that we hand down to them. The wisdom that we impart to them that will stay on in their heart long after we are gone.

I’ve broken it down to 6 main life lessons that we need to share with our children. These are the foundations for a good life and what a legacy of love looks like to me. With these foundations we can raise happy, well balanced children. They are:

March 26, 2021

Journaling: A Path to Self-Discovery

I believe in the incredible power of journaling to change our mindset, our point of view and our sense of self.

That’s a big statement, I know, but I really believe it. I’d like to talk about how journaling can be a path to self-discovery. Many years ago I was gifted a book called The Artists Way by Julia Cameron and this book really got me started in a big way in journaling. It is an inspiring read, dedicated to the artist that is within all of us and it is designed to get those creative juices flowing.

The book isn’t only about the benefits of journaling. She also talks about other ways to connect to ourselves, like what she calls ‘Artist Dates’. That is where you take time out with yourself to explore something that inspires you, like an art gallery or an indie movie for example. But, for me, the journaling stuck.

Journaling is not a new thing, it usually begins as a childhood ‘Dear Diary’ but it can evolve into an extension of ourselves, a bosom buddy of sorts. It can be there for us when nobody else can. It can store secrets and feelings too. For me, though, the essence of the journal is the coming home to yourself. And, it is this that gives journaling its power as a path to self-discovery. You can break down all walls and take down all masks with a journal. You can discover things about yourself and help yourself grow, heal or mourn. A journal is a best friend and a keeper of secrets.

February 26, 2021

5 Eco Friendly Brands I Love

I am no Eco Warrior but there are ways that we all can make a difference, so when I come across companies like the ones I’ve listed below that are eco friendly brands, I really want to support them. The waste that we go through just in my little family is quite simply heartbreaking, so finding plastic free products is a win! Then you get the companies that make an effort to put clean, natural ingredients into their products instead of chemicals the average person doesn’t even understand! I want to support them the way that they are supporting us and our planet. So, with that said, here are just a few of the brands that I love and use every day that deserve a mention.

Ethique

Ethique is a New Zealand company dedicated to making a difference in the cosmetic industry. All their products are plastic free and so is their shipping! They are an eco friendly brand all the way!

Ethique are focused on sustainability and their ingredients are cruelty free, vegan, palm oil free. On top of all of this they donate 20% of their profits to charity. Definitely a company I am happy to support! Oh, and did I mention their products are amazing too! With a great range for face, body and hair, all in bar format. They have great natural fragrances too, which I love.

December 29, 2020

New Beginnings: Resolutions or Not?

This isn’t going to be your usual ‘Make a New Years Resolution List’ blog. I don’t believe in them! This is about seeing the New Year as new beginnings, a clean slate. A new opportunity? Yes, absolutely! But, let’s scrap the pressure and the expectations!

This world has become like a water-logged towel that we are trying to squeeze the last little drop out of. We are all suffering from overwhelm, stress and the pressure to be ‘who knows what, to who knows who’. We are living our lives under a cloud.

Find an opportunity to set yourself free

I’d like to think that a simple shift in our way of thinking can move us towards a better way of living. Focusing on what brings us joy instead of focusing on achieving some goal or other. Surely, finding happiness is the prize? And, happiness can never be an end goal. Happiness is a process, a journey, a way of being. By all means, set a New Years Resolution to ‘Be Happy’, but understand that it is not finite, it is your framework for your life. Being happy is a choice and a way of living.

When we create New Years Resolutions they become like the infamous ‘diet’ that hangs like a noose around our necks. This is like walking in the opposite direction of happiness. The weight of the expectation becomes too much for us to bear and we inevitably give up on reaching our goal. My advice? Don’t do it to yourself! Be kind to yourself. Find a motivation that brings you closer to joy. Set a goal to play more guitar, spend more time outdoors or sign up for a pottery class. Don’t hold a knife to your throat that you MUST loose weight or quit smoking (these are usually the big ones, aren’t they?).

December 9, 2020

10 Reasons I Love Summer!

What do you love about Summer?

For me Summer is all about family, the great outdoors, relaxation and, because I’m in the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas! Down here we strangely dress Santa in swimming trunks, stick sunglasses on him and then still have him climbing down chimneys in a velvet suit! Lol! Some traditions are so endearing you will hold on to them for all you’re worth!

Summer is also about sharing, friendship, sunlight and sunburn! It is a great big melting pot of deliciously enjoyable moments, AND deliciously enjoyable foods! From picnics on the beach to roasts on the Christmas table, this is a season of indulgence.

October 19, 2020

Being Alone: Is It a Good Thing?

Does being alone equal being lonely?

There is a vast difference between being alone and being lonely. Loneliness is a feeling of separateness, a feeling of emptiness that can be overwhelming. Being alone doesn’t need to feel like this. In fact, being alone should be a time to reconnect with yourself and reassess your priorities. A time spent entirely on your own life questions, goals and aspirations.

I love spending time alone because I find life can become too ‘noisy’. There is so much going on around us every day, in society and in our own homes, that we sometimes need to take a break from it all. We forget that we are more than the 9-5. More than the School Lunch Prep and the Birthday Party planning. Spending time alone gives us an opportunity to remember our own wants and needs. It’s self-care at it’s finest.

What if you don’t like being alone?

For many people being alone brings on negative emotions. When this happens you need to ask yourself why that is. Why are you afraid to be alone with your own thoughts and emotions? To me this is an indicator that there is something that you need to work through. There is a reason why you don’t want to hear the thoughts in your own head.

Let me ask you this. Do you find your own self talk often turns towards the negative? Do you rip yourself to pieces because of the way you spoke to your in-laws or the fact that you just can’t seem to give up the junkfood? Or, are there things from your past that are troubling you, that flood into your consciousness when you are left alone? Does time alone leave you thinking about all the reasons your life isn’t what it should be? Do you come down hard for all your shortcomings?