Do you ever celebrate YOU?

Do you ever take a moment to celebrate yourself? Because, if not, you really should!  I have always loved seeing Snowflakes...  Why?  Because every Snowflake that has dropped on the world is beautiful … and just like us, they are all unique.

How we talk to ourselves is so important and by practising our neuroplasticity skills we can encourage ourselves into a good state before we need it, and keep maintaining it...

5 Tips for Celebrating YOUR Unique Spirit

🎉 Embrace your quirks and differences. What characteristics or personality traits make you feel different to everyone else? Write them down in a list - and then write down next to them reasons why each could be a positive....if you only let them.

🎉 Surround yourself with positive influences: If there are people around you who try to make you conform to their expectations, do you really want them in your life?  As far as possible seek out people who will make positive space for you - and who will celebrate your uniqueness.

🎉 Pursue your passions: Even if your hobbies and passions are seen as unconventional by others, give yourself permission to find your own way.  Nurturing your curiosity about the world will help you to discover new things about yourself and build confidence in your own voice.

🎉 Practice self-acceptance: Remember, none of us are perfect.  Practice self-acceptance by acknowledging and accepting all parts of yourself, including your flaws and imperfections. This will help you feel more comfortable in your own skin.

🎉 Share your story: Sharing your story and experiences with others will help you to connect with others who appreciate your journey and the unique way you have navigated it.  And you'll likely inspire them to celebrate their own paths.

You have more within you than you could ever imagine…so maybe it's time to start recognising it.

Learning to cheer for ourselves is often easier said than done, but it is achievable if we give ourselves permission to feel worthwhile.  If your friend came to you feeling unconfident, you would likely highlight all the positives about them without a second thought. 
So why not become a friend to yourself?

If you need further guidance, advice or support, feel free to contact me.

Are you feeling mentally Resilient?

We all want to feel strong - to feel like we can take on the world each day and win.  But it's not always straightforward.  Some days the world feels a lot harder to cope with.  As a human being though, you are a pretty wondrous creation, and you do have the tools inside you to be able to ride the currents life throws at you.  You just need to be able to access them...

Mental resilience is the ability to adapt and cope with stress, adversity, and challenges. It's an essential skill in today's fast-paced world where unexpected events can happen at any time. While developing mental resilience is not an easy task, it is something that can be learned and practiced...

5 Ways to Start Building Mental Resilience  

🔸 Practice mindfulness and meditation to help manage stress and negative thoughts.  The ability to stay grounded in the present moment means focusing on the here and now, rather than worrying about the past or future. Mindfulness practices, such as meditation or deep breathing, can be helpful in cultivating this skill.

🔸 Build and maintain strong relationships with supportive people in your life.  This can be with friends, family, or a mental health professional.

🔸 Challenge negative self-talk and practice positive affirmations.  Cultivating a positive mindset involves focusing on the positive aspects of a situation rather than dwelling on the negative. It also means being kind to yourself and practicing self-care.

🔸 Engage in regular physical exercise to boost your mood and reduce stress.

🔸 Set achievable goals and focus on personal growth and development.  This helps to build confidence and a sense of accomplishment, which can be beneficial in times of stress.

Remember, mental resilience is not about being invincible or never experiencing negative emotions. It's about learning to manage those emotions in a healthy way and bouncing back from setbacks. With practice, anyone can develop the skills needed to become more mentally resilient and better equipped to handle life's challenges.

Share this blog with a friend who needs some encouragement.

If you need further guidance, advice or support, feel free to contact me.

What Are You Carrying? Let's Unpack...

Do you have plans you are feeling excited about, or do plans make you feel overwhelmed?  We all process changes differently, but therefore it's good to remember that when one part of our lives shifts, it doesn't mean the rest has to "change right now".  It can mean "change when you're ready" or "change what is achievable".  Do your own life at your own pace - it's yours after all.

Every now and again it's important to take inventory of whatever we are carrying.

Sometimes we keep on shouldering weight, just because we're used to it.  We normalise our burdens in order to manage them... but what if we just decided to unpack and leave them behind?

What do we really need to take forward with us?  

Think about the achievements you have made - whether you see them as big or small...
🟡 Did you start any routines you found helpful, such as drinking some water everyday, or going for a walk regularly?
🟡 Did you recognise something about your behaviour or moods, which you hadn't realised before, and could then address?
🟡 Did you make any new friendships or heal any old hurts?

If you feel like you can identify a "win", then hold it close and stow it in your backpack.  The memories we make and the positive lessons we learn can help us on our future travels.

What can we say goodbye to?

Think about the more difficult times you experienced.  Did you gain closure on anything which now you can move further away from?
🔵 Did you let go of a relationship which was hurting you?
🔵 Did you break any habits that were undermining your confidence?
🔵 Did you work through a trauma which now is beginning to heal?

Although we never forget our most challenging times, we can choose how much of their weight we wish to carry forwards as we heal - and bit by bit, we can leave behind some of the burden.
 

Remember, whatever you decide right now, in this moment, does not define your entire future path.  We are always changing and adapting - and this part of the journey is only one short moment in your adventure.

Share this blog with a friend who needs some support.

If you need further guidance, advice or support, feel free to contact me.

Let's dive into Neuroplasticity!

Our thoughts are very powerful things - but the magic of them is that they can always be reframed, especially by using the tools which the Lightning Process arms us with...

Our amazing, brilliant skill as humans is in how we can change our old, outdated habits into new, useful habits.

Neuroplasticity allows us to make new connections in our brains - and it doesn't happen just once...it's happening all the time!

🟡 Give it a try: Use the Lightning Process to believe you can do something!

Using our LP skills we can work on our beliefs. If we believe something is going to be possible, fun and easy - it probably will be!  However, if we think something is going to be difficult or impossible... well, we know what will happen.

Never forget - We can grow and change our mindset at any age, and here's how...
 
🟢 Gift yourself the time and space to work on a specific belief/mindset. 
🟢 Choose small micro habits you can change that are achievable and specific. 
🟢 Be compassionate with yourself … and don't hesitate to drop me a line if you want a bit of help.
 
Here's a personal example:
🔸 My Goal: Last year I wanted to reduce my weight from 96kg to 90kg in 8 weeks, through January and February.
🔸 My Method: I decided I was going to do that by only eating in an 8-hour window, i.e. fasting for 16 hours, 5 days a week.
I also decided to stop any alcohol intake for two months.
🔸 My Result: I’m pleased to say that, by using my LP skills (before I went to the pub with friends, so I was not going to succumb to a beer!), I reached my goal and kept the weight off.
 
Remember - we can override the pathways in our brains, it's within our power!

Do you have the beginnings of a plan, but would like someone to talk it through with?  Maybe you need someone to hold yourself to accountable to? Let me know your plans - I'm here to help!

7 Tips for Wellbeing Over Christmas

Christmas brings joy to many, but for some it can be quite stressful and overwhelming. It’s vitally important to relax and care for your wellbeing over Christmas, so you can fully enjoy the holiday season and go into the new year feeling rested and recharged.

Here are 7 tips to help you cope with the festive period if you are struggling:

Watch my video here

🎄 Make a gratitude list. Take a moment to think about your life and the things that you are grateful for - however big or small they may be. It can really help you to focus more positively.

🎄 Think about things that would make today great. Identify the things you can do to improve the day ahead, and imagine having those things.

🎄 Find time for yourself. Yes it is the season of giving, but remember to gift some of your time to doing something YOU enjoy. It could be a walk in the park, or a bubbly bath, or a mince-pie-munching-moment.

🎄 Give something to someone. The act of giving can lift your soul and you don't necessarily have to buy anything. Give someone a smile or a hug - it'll make their day!

🎄 Let yourself receive. If someone gives you a gift, allow yourself to accept it.

🎄 Reflect on the day. Look back at what has happened each day and identify what made you the happiest in each one.

🎄 Breathe. Practise the 7-11 breath technique, breathing in for 7 beats and breathing out for 11 beats.

If you need further guidance, advice or support, feel free to contact me on 07949785334 or info@withinspiration.co.uk.