Over the last few weeks I have had to make some changes to my life. The financial pressures of the world around us and the realities of being a working mum and a self published author, with a husband who is running a business around the clock have meant I had to take stock and make important decisions that although painful and sad, have had to be made. They mean putting my career aspirations on hold, putting some of my dreams onto a back burner and stepping back my commitment to promoting my business and book.  I will fulfil more of my working commitments at night when I do not have to pay for childcare, to tighten my belt even further and find ways of saving money in every aspect of my family life. Read More→

This morning I packed the bag for my boys, the dog and I to spend the day at the beach, a beach that is 10 minutes from our house. I managed to collate three big bags of ‘stuff’, enough to be asked by my neighbour as we head out, if we are moving! Maybe it was the first aid kit, 3 bottles of sunscreen and the UV tent that did it?   Read More→

This time last week I was sat in the paediatric intensive care unit with Jake my youngest son, wired up to machines fighting for every breath. I had spent three nights holding him against me in our steamy bathroom as he fought his way through croup, his little body getting more worn down with every breath and cough. I watched him battle with his fear, pain and his total confusion at what was happening. Read More→

One area of my work and the book that I get more feedback about than anything else is my funeral exercise; (no apologies, Im going to kick off today with a cheery topic)…I ask you to imagine that you have died, today is the day of your funeral and you are floating above your family (your children) and friends and hearing what they are saying about you. (Not what they think they should say, or what they think you would like to hear, but what they really think)

Last year a friend of mine lost her mum and it’s her words that lead my blog today, what was most sad for her is she said that her mum always seemed “stressed, dissatisfied, disappointed with life.”

What would your children be saying, or thinking about how you lived your life? Read More→

I spent my life believing that I was a fairly truthful person, being honest was a very important value to me and I respected it in others. As I grew as a coach, I started to examine the area of truth in depth, particularly the truth of how we speak to ourselves; I realised that I was often a very proficient liar, let me explain. Read More→

I have not undertaken New Year’s resolutions since I saw the statistics about how many of them have faltered within the first six weeks.  If you are committed and really succeeding I will not disillusion you with the data, keep going and ignore my cynicism for short term goals.

If however you are reading this a little frustrated or disappointed in your ability to commit to your resolution take heart!  Forgive yourself and know that your brain physiology, science, has actually been involved in hijacking your well intentioned plans. The reason short term, spur of the moment objective setting often fails;  is that your belief in them, or your need to succeed does not outweigh your need for things to stay the same…yes really! Read More→

I woke this morning, knowing it was the last day of November, not with a feeling of excitement and joy at my imminent preparations for my family’s Christmas but almost a sense of weariness and dread. My focus was on to-do lists, purchases, posting, baking and organising all with the financial pressure of not spending too much. My expectation was about how I should get Christmas ‘right’ and ‘perfect’ this year. Luckily as always my life changed my perspective today in two ways. Read More→

Today was one of those days, sadness about friends and family members with chronic illnesses, money worries, impending house move, and niggling grumpy children, snatched conversations with my husband, a persistent headache and a long time until bedtime. One of those days when I have to take response-ability (improve my ability to respond) and nurture myself, so I can be resourceful for those who need me today. Time to remember again all the things I have to be grateful for. To focus on the bad is just taking me nowhere.

Time to concentrate on all the things I have to be grateful for…tough as it is sometimes, it can be VERY hard to pull myself out of the doom and gloom and focus on the good when I’m in the midst of it all. Read More→