Written by Tiffany Meredith Lynch, Sum Faht Meditation & Emotional Wellness Coach Meet Tiffany Meredith Lynch, a Certified Meditation Teacher, Qigong Instructor, TCM Practitioner, and Emotional Wellness Coach. With her extensive travels and deep immersion in ancient wisdom, spiritual teachings, and Traditional Chinese Medicine, she brings a transformative approach to holistic healing and personal growth. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, emotions aren’t meant to be trapped, they’re meant to flow. Can moving through your anger lead to healthier relationships? Recently, on a family trip out of the country, my anger erupted in full force, my inner lion roared. As Ram Dass wisely said, “If you think you’re enlightened, go spend a week with your family.” On this once-in-a-lifetime trip with my family, I discovered moments of true enlightenment, and caught powerful glimpses of the untamed lion within all of us. Packed into a tiny Airbnb with six of us each sharing three bedrooms, our family bonds were put to the ultimate test, revealing just how deeply connected (or not) we really are. We had moments of fiery flare-ups and moments of great love for each other. Don’t get me wrong, once we adjusted, we had an absolute blast. But the real gift? Learning to let emotions flow freely, without directing anger at the people we love most.  This experience led me to reflect on anger’s powerful healing potential, and the way it can also strain and damage relationships when it goes unchecked. The key is learning to understand our anger, remembering that every emotion exists for a reason, and anger is no exception. Anger has a spiritual side. In Taoist and Buddhist traditions, anger is viewed as possessing a spiritual dimension that emphasizes transforming its intense energy rather than merely repressing it. Taoism views anger as a natural yang energy that can be balanced through awareness. While in Buddhism, recognizing anger as a danger encourages mindfulness to transform it into compassion by acknowledging its temporary nature.  Anger isn’t a “bad” emotion, it’s energy that wants to move Anger isn’t the problem. What we do with it, or don’t do with it, is. Somewhere along the way, many of us learned that anger was dangerous, unspiritual, unloving, or something to “get over.” We were taught to suppress it, analyze it, or transcend it. But the body never agreed with that lesson. Anger is not a moral failure. It is not a character flaw. It is not something to eliminate. Anger is life force. Anger is energy. In ancient healing systems, anger was never viewed as something “bad.” In traditional Chinese medicine, anger is associated with the Liver system, the organ responsible for the smooth flow of qi (life force) throughout the body. When energy flows, we feel clear, decisive, and alive. When it stagnates, we feel tight, frustrated, reactive, or depressed. Anger arises when something inside us says: This is not okay. A boundary has been crossed. Something needs to change. That is wisdom, not pathology. Anger is energy mobilizing the body toward protection, clarity, and movement. The problem begins when that energy grows and has nowhere to go. What happens when anger isn’t allowed to move? When anger is suppressed, intellectualized, or spiritually bypassed, it doesn’t disappear. It turns inward. It settles into the tissues, the breath, the jaw, the shoulders, the hips, the gut. Over time, this can look like: Chronic tension or pain Anxiety that “comes out of nowhere.” Digestive issues Fatigue, autoimmune diseases, or emotional numbness Sudden emotional explosions that feel out of proportion The nervous system was designed to complete stress cycles, not store them indefinitely. Anger that cannot be expressed becomes stuck as survival energy. This is why “talking it through” isn’t always enough. The ‘holes in the fence’ theory on anger management There is a story about a young boy who struggled to manage his temper. One day, his father had an idea. He gave the boy a bag of nails and a hammer and said, “Every time you feel like lashing out at someone or having a tantrum, I give you permission to pound a nail into the backyard fence.” Over the next several weeks, the boy did just that. The first few days, he hammered a constellation of nails into the first panel. Then, gradually, panel-by-panel, nail-by-nail, he slowed down until he found that he didn’t need to do it anymore. That was when his father gave him a new challenge, to remove a nail from the fence for every day he could continue to control his temper. Eventually, all the nails were removed, and the son stood proudly before his father. “That’s great,” the father said, “But I want you to notice something. Look at those holes in the fence. Those holes don’t go away when you take the nails out. It’s the same thing when you say or do something hurtful to someone else, you can try to take it back later, but the damage remains.  This heart-touching story reveals a healthier way to relate to anger, a father helps his son see how unchecked rage can ripple outward and wound the people around him. What many people don’t realize is that unmanaged anger doesn’t just damage relationships, it can have a significant impact on your overall health.  The goal isn’t to suppress anger or unleash it on others, but to let it move through you without judgment. When you allow it to rise, be felt, and pass, it often fades faster, because it’s the judgment and resistance that keep anger stuck in the body and lead to rage. Anger is frequently the protector at the door, guarding more vulnerable emotions.  When we meet it with respect instead of resistance, it softens. It becomes information instead of destruction. This is not about “controlling” anger. It’s about befriending it and having a different relationship with it. When anger flows healthily: Boundaries become clearer Decisions feel cleaner The body feels lighter Anxiety often decreases Vitality returns This is ancient wisdom. Healing doesn’t ask you to be calm all the time. It asks you to be honest with your body. A regulated nervous system isn’t one that never feels anger, it knows how to move through it without getting stuck. If this resonates If you’ve spent years trying to “fix” or suppress your anger, there is nothing wrong with you. Your body may simply be asking for a more spiritual language, one that includes meditation, movement, breath, and somatic embodied support. This is the work I guide clients through, learning how to listen to the body’s signals, restore flow, and transform stored survival energy into clarity and grounded strength.  What Awaits You: Finding flow with your inner lion Using ancient wisdom to understand your anger Letting the body be heard, allowing patterns to change. Settling the nervous system through breath and awareness Create inner safety by befriending anger Allow emotions to rise and fall without judgment Reconnect with your body and align with your soul  Finding your Joy again! If you enjoy this article, please click here for my free ancient healing workbook . From my heart to yours, Tiffany Ann – With My Zen Living Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Tiffany Meredith Lynch Tiffany Meredith Lynch, Sum Faht Meditation & Emotional Wellness Coach When you meet Tiffany, you encounter someone who has tackled life's toughest challenges head-on and gained a deep, transformative insight into authentic healing. Her spiritual journey, spanning several decades, has taken her across continents. She studied under esteemed teachers in Malaysia and Thailand, where she deepened her knowledge of meditation, breathwork, qigong, and traditional Chinese medicine. These invaluable experiences have enriched her ability to harness transformative techniques, empowering both herself and others to cultivate deep healing and rediscover the divine heart.

Written by Lindy Lelij, Founder of Mpowerme Coaching Lindy Lelij is the founder of Mpowerme Coaching. With more than 30 years of leadership and international experience, she helps people navigate migration, cultural transitions, and identity to thrive personally and professionally. Moving countries is rarely just a logistical challenge. Sure, there are visas to sort, schools to research, and houses to find, but the hidden impact is far more personal. Your professional identity, the one that has defined your confidence, status, and sense of purpose, can suddenly feel invisible. Work experience that once spoke for itself may no longer be recognised, leaving even the most accomplished professionals questioning their value. The myth of “needing more resilience” There is a strong message out there that successful migration requires constant adaptability. Learn faster, adjust quicker, push harder. That mindset can help in the early survival phase. But it becomes unsustainable when resilience is treated like an endless supply instead of a human capacity that needs renewal. Resilience includes recovery. Without recovery, resilience slowly turns into exhaustion. Immigrants are often praised for coping well, holding jobs, raising families, contributing socially and economically, while also navigating cultural confusion, career disruption, identity shifts, and the loss of familiarity. From the outside, everything can look stable. Inside, many people are running on low reserves. That is not failure. It is fatigue. What resilience fatigue can look like Resilience fatigue rarely announces itself dramatically. More often, it shows up in subtle but persistent ways. You might recognise it if: You feel tired even when life is relatively “settled” You find it hard to fully relax or switch off You feel like you are constantly adjusting yourself in professional or social situations Motivation feels lower than it used to, even though you care about your work You feel disconnected from the confident version of yourself you once knew You are functioning well externally, but feel flat internally You feel pressure to be grateful instead of honest about the difficulty of adapting Many immigrant professionals describe this as “always being on.” Not in crisis. But never fully at ease either. This is often the result of adaptation fatigue, the invisible load that comes from navigating environments that were not originally designed with you in mind. The invisible effort of adapting When success masks exhaustion Many immigrants quietly believe that struggling invalidates their success. Migration was a choice, often framed as an opportunity. Gratitude becomes expected. Difficulty feels inappropriate. So exhaustion gets minimised, both internally and externally. Highly skilled immigrant professionals are especially vulnerable. On paper, they are doing well, employed, capable, contributing. But underneath, there may be grief for lost professional identity, status, confidence, or ease. These losses are real, even when life is objectively “working.” When effort is not acknowledged, exhaustion deepens. Resilience has already been proven Migration itself is evidence of resilience. It involves leaving behind familiar systems, tolerating uncertainty, and rebuilding professional and social capital, often all at once. These are significant psychological transitions. Immigrants are not starting from scratch. They are starting again, with more experience, more awareness, and often more pressure. The challenge is not resilience. It is sustainability. Restoring balance If resilience fatigue is present, the answer is not pushing harder. It is reconnecting with internal orientation. Some small but powerful shifts include: Acknowledging the psychological effort of migration Creating moments of recovery where you do not need to adapt Reconnecting with personal values instead of constant expectations Allowing past professional identity to coexist with the present Redefining strength to include rest, support, and recalibration Balance does not come from doing less. It comes from navigating more consciously. You are not alone in this Supporting immigrant professionals through these transitions is the focus of my coaching work. I specialise in working with immigrant professionals navigating identity, career direction, and belonging after relocation. Many of my clients are capable, accomplished people who are functioning well but feeling internally disoriented or exhausted. To support this journey, I created a six-week coaching program called Cultural Compass, designed to help immigrants reconnect with their strengths, values, and sense of direction while building a sustainable way forward in their new environment. Because migration is not just about adapting externally. It is about staying oriented internally. A gentle invitation If this article resonates with you, or with someone you know, you do not have to navigate this alone. You are welcome to reach out for a conversation about where you are in your migration journey and what support might look like. I have created a short Cultural Compass Orientation Check-In exercise, a guided reflection to help immigrant professionals pause, recalibrate, and reconnect with their direction. If you would like a copy, feel free to reach out to me by email, and I will send it to you. Sometimes clarity begins simply by naming what you have been carrying. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Lindy Lelij Lindy Lelij, Founder of Mpowerme Coaching With Māori and European heritage, Lindy knows firsthand what it means to live between cultures. She spent over four decades abroad before returning “home” to Aotearoa New Zealand. Today, as founder of Mpowerme Coaching, Lindy helps people navigate migration, cultural transition, and identity. Through positive psychology, deep journaling, energetic tuning, and narrative reframing, Lindy offers clients practical tools for growth and resilience. Backed by more than 30 years of leadership, governance, and business experience across Health, governance, and international trade, she brings both professional expertise and lived wisdom to her work.

Written by Claire Wilding, Founder of Lead Success Deliver & Leadership Consultant Claire Wilding is the founder of Lead Success Deliver, specialising in identity-led leadership, decision clarity, and execution under pressure. She works with founders and senior leaders navigating complexity, growth, and high-stakes responsibility. Most leadership training starts in the wrong place. It begins with a how-to.
How to communicate better.
How to influence.
How to manage performance.
How to lead change. These programmes are often over-delivered, beautifully packaged, and quietly ineffective at senior levels. Because they train behaviours before they stabilise authority. If leadership development were reverse-engineered properly, it would not begin with skills. It would begin with Internal Authority. Reverse-engineering leadership: Start where failure actually occurs Leadership failure at the top is rarely competence-based. Senior leaders do not stall because they lack frameworks, intelligence, or experience. They stall because their authority erodes internally long before it shows externally. Reverse-engineered leadership development would therefore start with a different question: Can this leader trust their own judgement under pressure, without needing permission, reassurance, or validation? If the answer is no, no amount of tactical training will hold. External authority vs internal authority Most leadership systems over-index on external authority: title, role scope, decision rights on paper, positional power. External authority is granted. It is visible. It is easy to measure. Internal Authority, by contrast, is self-generated. It is the leader’s ability to: stand by a decision without over-explaining, hold tension without appeasing, act without scanning for approval, remain anchored when challenged. External authority can exist without internal authority.
That is where leadership starts to wobble. The room still listens, but the leader hesitates. Why validation-seeking increases with seniority Counterintuitively, the higher leaders rise, the more vulnerable they become to validation-seeking. Not because they are insecure, but because: Decisions carry greater consequences, Feedback becomes filtered, peer comparison intensifies, isolation increases. Without a trained sense of Internal Authority, leaders begin outsourcing confidence. They seek alignment before conviction.
Consensus before clarity.
Reassurance before resolution. The behaviour looks collaborative.
The cost is decisiveness. Identity drift: The silent erosion This is where Identity Drift enters. Identity Drift occurs when a leader’s internal sense of self becomes overly shaped by: role expectations, stakeholder pressure, legacy narratives, external optics. They are still performing well.
They are still respected.
But internally, something has shifted. Decisions feel heavier.
Energy feels fragmented.
Judgement feels crowded. Identity Drift does not create chaos. It creates fatigue. And fatigue at senior levels almost always presents as overthinking. Decision cleanliness: The output of internal authority This is why Internal Authority matters. When it is intact, leaders exhibit Decision Cleanliness. Decision Cleanliness is not speed. It is not certain, it is the absence of internal friction. A clean decision: does not require emotional rehearsal, does not linger after being made, does not seek retroactive validation, does not leak energy. Leaders with Internal Authority may still make hard calls, but those calls do not destabilise them. The decision lands.
The system adjusts.
The leader moves on. Why most leadership training misses this entirely Most leadership programmes avoid this work because it is not procedural. You cannot teach Internal Authority through templates.
You cannot install it via frameworks alone.
You cannot shortcut it with confidence hacks. It requires: self-facing leadership, identity stabilisation, clarity under scrutiny, and deliberate decision design. This is slower work. It is quieter. And it is far more durable. Building leaders from the core If leadership were built from the core outward, training would look radically different. It would prioritise: Identity before influence, Authority before strategy, clarity before capability, self-trust before stakeholder management. Only once Internal Authority is stable does tactical skill actually compound. Without it, leaders simply become more capable at compensating. The real leadership gap The real gap at senior levels is not knowledge. It is authority erosion, and authority, once eroded, cannot be patched with performance techniques. It must be rebuilt internally. This is why Internal Authority is not a “soft” concept. It is the foundational leadership muscle most people never train. And it is the difference between leaders who manage pressure, and leaders who quietly master it. The point most leaders eventually reach There comes a point in every serious leadership career where more tools stop helping. More frameworks add noise.
More techniques create friction.
More “how-to” simply increases self-monitoring. What leaders are actually searching for at that stage is not instruction, it is stability. Stability in judgement.
Stability in identity.
Stability under pressure. That stability comes from Internal Authority. Why this changes the entire leadership equation When Internal Authority is intact: Decisions stop draining energy, Leadership presence becomes quieter and more grounded, External challenge no longer destabilises internal certainty. Leaders no longer need to prove themselves in every room. They do not over-explain. They do not posture. They do not seek alignment to feel legitimate. They operate from self-trust. This is not bravado. It is coherence. From performance to authority Most leadership training optimises performance. Internal Authority restores authorship. It shifts leaders from: reacting to expectations - setting direction, managing perception - holding position, carrying pressure - containing it. This is where leadership stops feeling heavy. Not because responsibility disappears, but because it finally sits in the right place. The quiet differentiator In rooms that matter, Internal Authority is immediately felt. Not in volume. Not in dominance, but in decisiveness without urgency. In boundaries without defensiveness. In confidence without display. It is the difference between leaders who look credible and leaders who are unmistakably anchored. The work that actually holds If leadership development were honest, it would admit this: You cannot scale leadership by adding more skills to an unstable core. You scale it by reinforcing the centre. Internal Authority is the centre, and once trained, everything else finally works as intended. That is the work most programmes avoid.
And it is the work that changes leaders permanently. Where this work comes from This perspective is not theoretical. It is the result of extended behavioural analysis, years of close observation at senior levels, and the disciplined refinement of patterns seen repeatedly in founders, executives, and leadership teams operating under sustained pressure. The concepts of Internal Authority, Identity Drift, and Decision Architecture have been developed and sharpened through: longitudinal work with leaders across scale phases, observation of decision behaviour under real consequences, applied psychological insight into authority, self-trust, and identity stability, and continuous refinement based on what actually holds over time, not what performs well in training rooms. This is not leadership by abstraction.
It is leadership distilled from lived behaviour. What has been built What has emerged is a body of work that does not teach leaders how to perform leadership, but how to stabilise themselves as leaders. It addresses authority at its source.
It removes friction before it becomes fatigue.
And it restores clarity where pressure would otherwise erode it. This is leadership development reverse-engineered from the point of failure, and rebuilt from the core. Quietly. Precisely. Intentionally. Because the leaders shaping what matters next do not need more instruction. They need internal authority that holds. Follow me on LinkedIn and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Claire Wilding Claire Wilding, Founder of Lead Success Deliver & Leadership Consultant Claire Wilding is the founder of Lead Success Deliver, a leadership consultancy specialising in identity-led leadership, decision clarity, and execution under pressure. She works with founders, executives, and senior leaders operating in complex, high-stakes environments. Claire is known for her calm, direct approach and her ability to cut through noise to the root of performance challenges. Her work focuses on strengthening leadership identity so decisions become clearer, execution sharper, and results sustainable.

Written by Lana Duncan-Hartgraves, Master Psychic Medium/Lifecoach Lana Duncan-Hartgraves is an author, psychic medium, animal communicator, hypnotist, and Reiki master who integrates spirituality into daily life. Through her books, the 5D Pioneer podcast, retreats, and readings, she helps others achieve higher consciousness and healing. As February unfolds, it arrives carrying both celestial significance and cultural renewal. Chinese New Year 2026, also known as the Lunar New Year, begins on Tuesday, February 17, ushering in the Year of the Fire Horse, a symbol long associated with passion, independence, ambition, and unstoppable forward movement. Spanning 16 days, this sacred season, often called the Spring Festival, invites renewal on every level. Families gather in reunion, homes are cleansed to sweep away lingering energy from the past, and traditional foods are shared in celebration, all leading to the luminous Lantern Festival on March 3, a powerful symbol of light, hope, and new beginnings. The Horse is known for its fearless spirit and unyielding drive, making this a year especially potent for pursuing goals with confidence and heart. For me, this year carries even deeper resonance, as 2026 marks my Chinese birth year, aligning beautifully with the celebration of 60 years of wisdom, growth, and spiritual evolution. It is a milestone that speaks not only to time passed, but to purpose refined. In harmony with this energy, February emerges as a month of intention, activation, and forward motion. It is a time that invites reflection and release, an opportunity to clear what no longer serves and to step ahead with renewed clarity and confidence. This season encourages a deeper inward listening, a trusting of intuition, and the courage to move boldly toward what feels aligned and purposeful. Above us, the skies echo this same rhythm of transformation. February 2026 is rich with celestial movement, offering moments that invite reflection, release, and realignment. The month opens beneath the glow of the Full Snow Moon on February 1, illuminating emotional clarity and inner truth. On February 8, the Alpha Centaurid Meteor Shower streaks across the sky, a reminder that insight often arrives suddenly and without warning. Mid-month brings a rare and striking event, the Annular “Ring of Fire” Solar Eclipse on February 17, a moment symbolizing endings, rebirth, and illumination. Perfectly aligned with the Fire Horse energy of the Lunar New Year, this eclipse serves as a cosmic invitation to shed what no longer fits and step fully into what is ready to emerge. The days that follow reveal a breathtaking planetary gathering on February 18 and 19, as the Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Saturn appear together, encouraging balance between heart, mind, and purpose. As the month draws to a close, a grand planetary alignment beginning February 28 signals momentum, expansion, and forward motion, a celestial affirmation that movement is not only possible but supported. Together, these earthly traditions and cosmic events remind us that we are never moving alone. We are guided by cycles older than time itself, by intuition, intention, and the steady rhythm of the universe urging us forward. Follow me on TikTok and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Lana Duncan-Hartgraves Lana Duncan-Hartgraves, Master Psychic Medium/Lifecoach Lana Duncan-Hartgraves is an author, psychic medium, animal communicator, hypnotist, and Reiki master who integrates spirituality into daily life. Through her books, the 5D Pioneer podcast, retreats, and readings, she helps others achieve higher consciousness and healing. On her hobby farm in Wisconsin, she cultivates gardens, raises animals, and is developing an equine therapy and rescue center, creating a sanctuary where people and horses can heal together.

Written by Sonya Black, Coach and Psychotherapist Sonya Black is an accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, Coach (trauma-informed), and trained family mediator with 20+ years’ experience. She helps people in lifes challenges, moving from crisis and complexity to clarity and action, using evidence-based psychology and practical tools so clients can live the life they want to live. Divorce is often considered a legal process, yet for the individuals involved it feels highly emotional, visceral. When your life is unravelling, everyone tells you to ‘make good decisions.’ Solicitors ask you for instructions. Friends ask, ‘Are you sure?’ Family ask ‘what you are going to do next?’. Meanwhile, your brain is flooded, your body is on high alert and clarity feels impossible. If you are at the beginning or middle of divorce or separation and wondering, ‘Why can’t I just think straight?’ there is nothing wrong with you, you are not failing. You are human. Your nervous system is doing exactly what it was designed to do in the face of threat and loss.  In the UK, 42% of marriages end in divorce  according to latest figures from the ONS. This article unpacks what really happens in the brain during divorce – from the neurobiology of powerlessness, panic and overthinking to trauma (big T and little t) You will also discover a trauma-informed, therapeutic coaching approach that combines psychological preparation with practical support, so that divorce becomes not just an ending, but a transition into a more grounded, confident and connected life – for you and your family. When life unravels, your brain moves into survival mode Divorce is not just a legal event, it is an emotional, psychological and relational. In a short period of time, you may be facing: Loss of a partner and shared identity Changes in home, finances and daily routines Decisions about children, schools and contact Shifts in friendships, community and future plans Your brain is wired to notice changes in safety, belonging and predictability. When those foundations start to shake, your nervous system reacts as if a threat has appeared. You might notice: A racing heart, tight chest, shallow breathing Trouble sleeping, restless nights, vivid dreams Feeling ‘on edge’ most of the time Going from fine to overwhelmed very quickly In this state, the brain’s survival systems take the lead. Regions involved in scanning for danger and preparing you to fight, flee or freeze become louder. The parts of the brain that help with planning, problem solving and seeing the bigger picture, concentration and focus seem to go offline. From the outside, people may see you as emotional or indecisive. On the inside, you are using huge amounts of energy just to get through the day. Divorce can remove the stimulus of a difficult or broken relationship, it doesn’t update the sense of safety within the nervous system, this is where the work is. It is important to remember that the quality of the family environment, including levels of conflict and the degree of cooperative parenting, often has a greater impact on children than divorce itself. See here. Powerlessness, panic and overthinking: What your brain is trying to do Key themes show up again and again in the psychology of divorce. Each one reflects something very real happening in the brain. Divorce can trigger a deep sense of powerlessness. You may feel: Trapped by financial realities or legal rules At the mercy of your ex-partner’s decisions Terrified of how this will impact your children Unsure which option is right Neurobiologically, a prolonged sense of helplessness can push the nervous system towards shutdown or collapse. You might find yourself feeling numb, detached or dissociated, Going through the motions but not really present, agreeing to things you later regret because you felt frozen. Your brain is not being lazy or uncommitted. It is trying to protect you from overwhelm by turning down your emotional volume. Unfortunately, this can also make it harder to advocate for yourself. Anxiety occurs in response to a perceived threat, this can be real or imagined, the alarm system of the brain switches on and the automatic processes can override the rational. Anxiety is a primary protective emotion, yet 1 in 4 people experience an anxiety disorder (WHO). This is why an email from a solicitor, a passing comment or message from your ex, or an unexpected bill can trigger a surge of panic. Common signs include: Racing thoughts and catastrophic ‘what if?’ scenarios Bodily sensations e.g. Tight chest, fast heartbeat, shaking or nausea Urges to send long, emotional messages or make big decisions immediately In these moments, the brain’s alarm system has leapt into action. It is scanning for danger and trying to keep you safe by: Focusing on worst-case scenarios (so you are not ‘caught out’) Urging you to act fast (fight or flight) Narrowing your attention to the perceived threat Again, this is protective. The problem is that legal and relational decisions made from pure panic rarely serve you in the long term. Overthinking: The brain’s attempt to regain control Between shutdown and panic lies another familiar pattern: relentless overthinking. You might find yourself: Replaying past conversations on a loop Imagining every possible outcome and counter-argument Reading, researching and gathering endless opinions Feeling more paralysed, not less, as time goes on Overthinking is often the brain’s attempt to regain control when life feels chaotic. If you can just think enough, prepare enough, you might be able to avoid further pain. Why ‘just be clear’ does not work (and what does) Clarity is not just a cognitive exercise, it is also physiological. It requires a number of factors to align, simply consider it as a balance between the cognitive and emotional mind so we can access our wise mind. During the ending that is divorce, we can be in survival mode, this is both cognitive and physical. Regulating our nervous system, is key to achieving clarity.  You are more likely to access clarity when  Your breathing is steadier and deeper Your body feels grounded and anchored The emotional intensity has reduced  From that state, your prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that helps you plan, weigh options and imagine the future, can come back online. This is where a trauma-informed, therapeutic coaching approach can be powerful. It does not simply ask, What do you want to do? But what are your needs, at a deep core level, what is the wisest, kindest thing for you and others around you. It helps you get your nervous system to a place where you can actually answer that question. It can feel like change is happening quickly, it is important to allow time to slow things down, so you can process and heal. It is ok to feel sadness for the life you thought you would have, to feel uncertain about what life now will be. Anxiety and stress can impact on us, but this can move into divorce feeling traumatic, trigger difficult things in our past that can impact on us and cause further trauma.  The many faces of trauma in divorce Difficult things in life happen, this is a part of life, but as Gabor Mate says, trauma is what happens inside of us as a response to these difficult things.  When people hear the word trauma, they often think about a single, dramatic event, such as an accident or assault. This is sometimes called big T trauma. But there is also little t trauma – the quieter, repeated experiences that slowly erode your sense of safety and worth over time. For example, ongoing criticism or contempt, emotional distance and stonewalling, financial control or secrecy, unpredictable anger or volatility, a sense of walking on eggshells at home.  Themes of trauma often include a lack of safety, this can be emotional, psychological or physical, a sense of powerlessness, ‘it is happening to me’, lack of control.  When divorce arrives, it usually does not land on a blank page. Old wounds, patterns and fears often surge to the surface, which can make the current situation feel even more overwhelming, impacting on your nervous system further. Recognising this does not mean blaming yourself (or your ex-partner). It means understanding why your reactions are so strong, and treating them as information, not as evidence that you are ‘too sensitive’ or ‘not coping.’  Neurobiologically, a prolonged sense of helplessness can push the nervous system towards shutdown or collapse. You might find yourself: Numb, detached or dissociated Going through the motions but not really “there” Agreeing to things you later regret because you felt frozen Your brain is not being lazy or uncommitted. It is trying to protect you from overwhelm by turning down your emotional volume. Unfortunately, this can also make it harder to advocate for yourself. A trauma-informed, therapeutic coaching approach: Mind, body and practical steps Trauma-informed, therapeutic coaching for divorce sits at the intersection of psychological preparation and practical support allowing emotional and practical readiness to be present. It recognises that your emotional state and your legal or logistical decisions are deeply intertwined Creating safety, trust, choice, a team around you that can be collaborative, where you feel empowered, seen and heard, where your background and culture have been considered are important in this.  There are 4 key tasks that can help you here 1. Naming what is happening in the brain and body Psychoeducation and understanding what is going on is often the first step. When you learn that: Forgetting details is common when the nervous system is overloaded Going blank in a meeting can be a freeze response, not being difficult Sudden anger can be a protective response to feeling threatened or shamed You can replace self-criticism with context, understanding that your nervous system is doing that thing it does under pressure and what you can do to help yourself feel safer and regulated. 2. Regulating the nervous system in real time Therapeutic coaching introduces simple, evidence-based tools to help your body step out of full survival mode, even briefly. For example: Breath practices that lengthen the exhale to signal safety to the body Grounding techniques (using the senses, posture and environment) to bring you back from spiralling thoughts Micro-pauses before key conversations, emails or hearings to check in with your body state These are not about becoming perfectly calm. They are about moving from a 9/10 to a 6/10, often enough and long enough for your wiser thinking to step in. 3. Psychological preparation for key moments Divorce involves predictable hotspots – telling your partner, telling your children, mediation, court hearings, financial negotiations, handovers. A trauma-informed approach helps you prepare for these psychologically, not just logistically, and long term. Remember, you are creating your children’s memories. For example, coaching can support you to, Map out likely triggers and emotional responses Practise language that aligns with your values Plan how to ground yourself before, during and after each event 4. Practical support and toolbox building Good coaching also gets very practical. Alongside emotional work, you create a tailored toolbox that includes: Systems and frameworks for managing communication, emails, messages and deadlines to reduce conflict and if your brain is foggy Agreements with trusted friends and family about the kind of support you need (and do not need) The aim is not to make the process painless. It is to make it more navigable, with tools that protect your energy and help you stay aligned with your long-term goals. From ending to transition: Shaping life for you and your family When you are contemplating or in the middle of divorce, it is natural to focus on getting through the next day, week or hearing. Survival comes first. When your nervous system and emotional health is better understood and more supported, another possibility appears. Divorce can become not just an ending, but a meaningful transition, an opportunity for healing and growth.  Divorce, whether chosen or imposed, can ask more of us than we anticipate. Psychological readiness, emotional honesty, and a willingness to look inward as well as outward are needed.  When we understand the hidden psychology, how stress impacts and can shape our decisions, how attachment influences our reactions, and how repair is possible both within relationships and beyond them, we are better equipped to move through this transition with clarity rather than fear.  With the right support, divorce does not have to be defined by damage or loss. It can become a turning point toward greater self-understanding, healthier relationships, and a more grounded way of moving forward. That might look like: Rebuilding a relationship with yourself, based on self-trust rather than self-doubt Creating parenting patterns that are less reactive and more intentional Developing boundaries that honour your needs Healing old “big T” and “little t” wounds so they are less likely to shape future relationships One of the hardest truths about divorce, when children are involved, is that the relationship does not end with the decree absolute. It changes. Now there is the relationship each of you has with your children, and the relationship to co-parent. In this there will be ruptures, how this is repaired matters. You cannot control everything, but some of the things you can influence. See here. For your children, it might mean: Seeing adults manage conflict with more responsibility and less blame Experiencing honesty, repair and emotional safety, even in a painful chapter Learning that big changes can be hard and manageable, without losing connection None of this requires you to be perfect, endlessly composed or free of hurt or anger. It asks something more realistic and radical: that you work with yourself and your nervous system rather than against it, that you seek support which honours both the psychology and the practicalities of divorce. By understanding the hidden psychology of divorce, you can understand the impact of anxiety and stress, reducing and potentially healing trauma, allowing growth and learning to maximise desired outcomes. The deeper work is about understanding relational patterns, healing emotional wounds, and responding to life with greater awareness.  With trauma informed coaching support, you can gradually move from survival towards a more grounded, confident and connected life, so you can be the person you want and need to be. So you can live the life you want to. I can work with you  Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Sonya Black Sonya Black, Coach and Psychotherapist Sonya Black is an accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, Coach (trauma-informed) and trained family mediator with more than 20 years’ experience. She specialises in high stakes life trainsitions including relationship breakdown and divorce alongside trauma, anxiety, depression, and helping clients understand the complexity of what is happening in their mind and body so they can respond with clarity instead of overwhelm. As the founder of CBT in Partnership, Sonya combines evidence-based CBT, EMDR and Mindfulness with powerful coaching techniques to translate insight into action, supporting people to rebuild confidence, strengthen relationships, and move towards a life they want to live that feels aligned and fulfilling.

Written by Michael Ritchie, Transformational Coach Michael is a Transformational Coach, Sound Healer, Numerologist & Human Design practitioner, & Sacred Medicine Holder. He is the in-house Healer & Mentor at Harmony P.E.C., leading the sacred healing team & co-facilitating the virtual Universal Foundations and Adept Courses to help seekers better understand their power & unique path. The systems which humanity depends upon within our modern society, are the same systems which control us. We’ve given our power away, which is exactly what the systems were designed to do… ( Part 1 covered History, Education, Science, Politics, Military and Police and the Economy) Education We no longer listen to our intuition, our inner voice, our higher selves. Instead, giving the influence to the creators of history, the controllers of reality. Not educating, but programming our youth with carefully selected “truths”, for it is the winners who write history, not the losers. And in order to find truth, we must balance the two perspectives. The purpose of education There are two concepts of the “purpose of education”. The first comes from the era of the Enlightenment, where traditional thinking states that education is a process of Enquiring and Creating constructively and independently without external control. It’s about seeking out the riches of the past and internalising the important parts, or the parts which are important to you. This style of education has children questioning and challenging a standard doctrine and searching for alternatives. The second concept of education is indoctrination, where children are taught to accept and not challenge a certain set of data given to them. They are taught to fulfill the roles given them, that failure to follow those rules results in punishment. They are taught not to “shake the systems of power and authority”. Noam Chomsky (professor at MIT) “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” Mark Twain “Schools have not necessarily much to do with education... they are mainly institutions of control, where basic habits must be inculcated in the young. Education is quite different and has little place in school.” Winston Churchill It is rumoured that John D. Rockefeller, in 1903, once said, “I want a nation of workers, not thinkers.” And not rumoured but fact, he was elemental in creating our current education system. True education comes from Mother Earth, intuition, your Higher Self. True education comes from listening, not from projecting what you “think” is true. For when you think, you do not know! Religion and spirituality At the core, the central truth of each religion or spiritual practice, is the same essence, the same truth spoken and shared through different ages, cultures, traditions, etc. We are One! Hinduism “One should not behave toward others in a way which is disagreeable to oneself.” Mahabharata (Anusasana Parva 113.8), Hindu text Islam “The Prophet Muhammad said, ‘None of you [truly] believes until he loves for his brother that which he loves for himself.’” [Al-Bukhari], Hadith 13 Christianity “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12, NIV) Judaism ‘That which is despicable to you, do not do to your fellow, this is the whole Torah, and the rest is commentary, go and learn it.’” Hillel the Elder in The Babylonian Talmud Baha’i “Choose thou for thy neighbor that which thou choosest for thyself.” Baha’u’llah, Baha’i prophet Buddhism “Hurt not others with that which pains yourself.” Udanavarga (5:18), Buddhist text Daoism “Regard your neighbor’s gain as your own gain, and your neighbor’s loss as your own loss.” T’ai Shang Kan Ying P’ien, Daoist text Confucianism “Tzu-kung asked, ‘Is there a single word which can be a guide to conduct throughout one’s life?’ The Master said, ‘It is perhaps the word “shu.” Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.’” The Analects (15:24), Confucian text And so we wage war on whether it’s a 6 or a 9. 5 Blind men and the elephant A group of blind men heard that a strange animal, called an elephant, had been brought to the town, but none of them were aware of its shape and form. Out of curiosity, they said, "We must inspect and know it by touch, of which we are capable". So, they sought it out, and when they found it they groped about it. The first person, whose hand landed on the trunk, said, "This being is like a thick snake". For another one whose hand reached its ear, it seemed like a kind of fan. As for another person, whose hand was upon its leg, said, the elephant is a pillar like a tree-trunk. The blind man who placed his hand upon its side said the elephant, "is a wall". Another who felt its tail, described it as a rope. The last felt its tusk, stating the elephant is that which is hard, smooth and like a spear. Health We no longer listen to our bodies, other than in fear, rushing to the doctor’s with every pang, every symptom. Giving away our natural gift of healing to outside energy, technologies and medications that lower our natural healing vibrations instead of increasing them. We treat the doctors and their diagnosis as the word of God, instead of the puppets of the pharma industry that governs them, when in truth, they are no more enlightened than the mechanic that works on your car. In my life, I’ve had much experience with doctors, most of which have turned out to be incorrect. I was given rhinoplasty (an operation on the nose to help with breathing), a very painful experience I might add, only to be told later it wasn’t necessary and that I had asthma and bronchitis, both of which I have no issue today. I was given 6 months to a year to live, yet I’m still here today more than a decade later. And I am not the only patient to share these experiences of “healing”. "The pharmaceutical industry... is more focused on making money for its shareholders than maintaining or improving the health of those who rely on its products." Dr. John Abramson, former Harvard Medical School professor. Profit Over Prevention: “You only really succeed when people are not well... and it’s because there’s so much money being made on chronic disease.” Dr. Mark Hyman The truth about natural remedies, energy healing and etc., should be taught alongside current practices so the public can make informed decisions. Support of “Natural Foods” over processed, made available to all, not who can afford it. All patents and technology regarding health made available to public and health companies. Support for small and mid-sized farms (private, not corporate) organic health driven food and medicines. Sacred medicines made available for all who wish. Support and education for healers. Drug companies can no longer sponsor doctors or medical systems. A person's body is their own. No government mandates should supersede this. Food and water “Who controls the food supply controls the people, who controls the energy can control whole continents, who controls money can control the world.” Henry Kissinger Only 10 companies control almost every large food and beverage brand in the world. These companies – Nestlé, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Unilever, Danone, General Mills, Kellogg's, Mars, Associated British Foods, and Mondelez. Medicine/drugs What is the difference between Medicine and Drugs? Intention. Evil is bred, when what we should do, Isn’t done. The Systems of Control have been in the works for longer than you can imagine. The forces behind them understand the rules of this game and have chosen to use them for their personal benefit, instead of the greatest good for all, which was/is their true purpose. We have given our power away through Fear and Control. It’s time to take it back with Love and Freedom! Ubuntu Ubuntu is not easy to describe. It is both a philosophy and a way of action. It is a distinctive African cosmological system of teaching each individual to appreciate and enjoy their life while caring, sharing and respecting others. Ubuntu belongs to no one tribe or no one religion or teaching. It transcends all attempts to restrict it and place it in a category. According to ancient African traditional wisdom, each individual possesses positive, loving qualities. These qualities represent our natural internal state of being. When we express them, we are being genuine, authentic human beings. To be otherwise is to be out of harmony. And to be out of harmony brings unhappiness to ourselves, others, and our world. “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu.” I am because you are. It is through you that I am a human being. Ubuntu is simply a way of living and being that allows our basic goodness to come forth. It is the art of being a human being. It is the living of our humanness. It is the unfolding of our natural goodness. Each living human being has this opportunity to discover their basic goodness and to practice it. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Michael Ritchie Michael Ritchie, Transformational Coach Michael holds many skills & among many, he is known as a Transformational Coach, Sound Healer, Numerologist & Human Design practitioner, Sacred Medicine Holder, and Channeler of Energy from the Eternal Creator. In 2011-12 he was told he had 6m to a year to live. Since that day, he has dedicated his life to understanding awakening, enlightenment, and The Great Way. Funny how a death sentence lets you see what’s important, what’s not.

It was an amazing night on the 1st of February, 2026 at the Kabin of The Kazimier Garden at the city centre in Liverpool, England where Global Poet and sensational Creative Writer Ayomide D’Great whose real name is Ayomide Inufin headlined the Spotlight Poetry Show courtesy of Late Notes, an initiative of Liverpool based Poet – Lu. The Poetry Show featured exceptionally talented artists and performers across the country, it also featured light music band performances from other local musicians based in the city of Liverpool. According to reports, the Poetry Show is the first production of Late Notes which is an initiative of Lu, a UK based Liverpool Poet and Performer. Ayomide D'Great is featured as a headliner for the "Late Notes" event series held at  The Kazimier Garden in Liverpool .   He is described as a "poetry powerhouse," a multi-award-winning creative writer, poet, and visual artist, and specifically identified as the very first headliner for Late Notes. Ayomide is associated with the Liverpool poetry scene, having performed at creative events such as All Ears Poetry founded in 2024 by Liverpool-based poet Joseph Roberts which is primarily known for hosting the UK's first-ever Poetry Expo at the Liverpool Exhibition Centre in July 2025; additionally, Ayomide has also featured as a Performing Poet in one of All Ears Poetry’s Open Mic events held prior to the Poetry Expo. It can be recalled that Ayomide, in the summer of 2024, wrote what he called his official first global poem, titled “Who is Ayomide D’Great?” that later premiered in Liverpool. The Spotlight poem gained much attention across London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Sheffield cities of the United Kingdom. His creative consistency will later earn him a Poetry Award in London later in the winter of 2025. Ayomide is known for his modern-day poetry that addresses societal issues, real-life situations, culture, and community trends, particularly those relevant to the African and Nigerian experience. He has written several poetry collections, with his work often featured in libraries and at events, including a "Poetry Corner" in Manchester libraries. Furthermore, he was a supporting headliner at the UK’s first Poetry Expo held in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Furthermore, he is regarded as a “Spotlight Poetry Showman” at Utopia Theatre –  a Sheffield-based art hub that celebrates creativity. He is a Postgraduate of the University of Salford, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom, where he earned a Master’s degree in Creative Writing, Innovation and Experiment. The show remains a phenomenal experience for many who attended, it has been described as an amazing time that was had, each and every performing artist brought their A-games to the arena that has left a lasting impression on what Poetry means in Liverpool. With exceptionally talented artists who graced the event, Late Notes records a memorable debut with Ayomide D’Great as its Headliner. The audience were left astonished by the mesmerising performance by Ayomide; with Spotlight poems about self, home, love, global unity, peace and harmony. Later that night, Merseyside-based musical band Finite Experience performed alongside poets by random selection from a pick in the hat hosted by Lu as an extended part of the Event. Late Notes in particular with The Kazimier Garden applauded the exceptional global talent of Ayomide which is a promising leading voice in the UK creative scene and potentially other parts of the world. The UK Creative Space looks forward to having more of this initiative that empowers and allows young talented emerging promising Global Talent leaders such as Ayomide D’Great to express their gift and abilities for the betterment of the British community and the world at large.

Written by Jyllin, Holistic Health Coach & Somatic Educator Jyllin, founder of the Holistic Liberation Method, weaves Five Element theory, meridian yoga therapy, and EFT to restore emotional balance and embodied resilience, drawing on nearly two decades of teaching experience across four continents. I remember lying in bed, exhausted and wide awake at the same time. My body was desperate for sleep, yet my eyes wouldn’t close, and my mind kept running as if the day hadn’t ended. Night after night, the tiredness built until it felt almost unbearable. To keep going, I relied on more coffee during the day. At night, I tried melatonin, waking groggy and heavy the next morning. I adjusted the dose, hoping to find a balance that would help me sleep without morning drowsiness. Nothing worked.   I had too much to do. I couldn’t afford to be tired. Eventually, out of desperation, I poured a glass of wine. Then another. Finally, sleep came. Relief followed by a quiet knowing that this wasn’t a solution. It was a slippery slope, and I didn’t know how to step off it.   What I didn’t understand then was that my body wasn’t resisting sleep. It had lost its sense of rhythm. My nervous system was stuck in survival mode, and no amount of supplements, strategies, or willpower could force it back into rest.   How stress begins in the nervous system Stress doesn’t start as a thought. It starts as a signal. Before the mind can interpret what’s happening, the nervous system is already responding. It continuously scans for safety and threats, drawing on past experiences, current demands, and internal conditions. This happens automatically, faster than conscious thought.   When uncertainty is detected, our body shifts into protection. Heart rate increases. Breathing becomes shallower. Muscles brace. Energy is redirected toward vigilance rather than rest or repair. These responses aren’t a problem. They’re how our body helps us cope.   Difficulty arises when this state doesn’t fully resolve, and the nervous system remains partially activated. Instead of cycling between effort and rest, the body remains alert even when nothing urgent is happening. Over time, this prolonged activation influences hormonal messaging, reinforcing wakefulness and making sleep harder to access.   When stress disrupts sleep and the body clock Sleep isn’t something you can force. It happens when the nervous system senses enough ease to drop its guard.   When stress keeps the system activated, the cues needed for sleep are delayed or muted. Even if you’re exhausted, the internal conditions for rest may not be present. This is why so many people feel tired all day and wired at night.   Hormones play a key role. Cortisol, often referred to as the stress hormone, follows a daily rhythm. It naturally rises in the morning to initiate wakefulness, and then gradually declines toward evening to prepare for sleep.   Under chronic stress, this rhythm can become distorted. Cortisol may remain elevated, keeping the nervous system stimulated. Over time, this cycle disrupts melatonin production, further confusing your internal timing.   What emerges is a feedback loop. A vigilant nervous system drives hormonal imbalance, and disrupted hormones reinforce nervous system activation.   From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, this pattern reflects a disturbance in the natural movement between activity and rest. Nighttime repair depends on sufficient grounding and containment during the day. When stress scatters energy upward and outward, sleep becomes light, fragmented, or difficult to reach.   Seen through both lenses, modern and traditional, the message is the same. Sleep problems are often a downstream effect of prolonged stress responses, not a standalone issue to be solved in isolation.   Your body clock isn’t broken When sleep stops coming easily, it’s tempting to assume that your circadian rhythm is fragile or permanently off. But your body clock isn’t broken. It’s responsive.   The circadian system is shaped by light, movement, nourishment, stress, and perceived safety. It adjusts based on what you’re experiencing, both internally and externally. When stress is ongoing, your body adapts by prioritizing protection over restoration.   Seen this way, sleep struggles aren’t failures. Their feedback. They reflect conditions that don’t yet support deep rest.   The good news is that circadian patterns aren’t fixed. Just as the body learned vigilance, it can also relearn balance. With steady experiences of grounding, regularity, and care, the system gradually recalibrates its timing and returns to rest more naturally.   Why sleep advice often misses the point Most sleep advice focuses on behaviors like bedtimes, routines, supplements, tracking, and optimization.   This makes sense in a culture that values productivity, discipline, and measurable outcomes. We’re taught that if something isn’t working, the answer is usually to try harder, manage better, or find the right system to fix it.   But sleep doesn’t respond well to pressure. For a stressed nervous system, control itself can register as another demand. Monitoring habits, watching the clock, or worrying about sleep quality keeps physiology in a problem-solving mode, reinforcing the very activation that interferes with rest.   Many people end up doing everything “right” and still lying awake, which can quietly turn sleep into a performance and yet another place where their body feels evaluated rather than nourished.   Rest returns not when sleep is managed more tightly, but when the conditions that allow rest are restored. As the body receives steady experiences of stability and pacing, hormonal timing begins to realign. Sleep follows as a consequence of alignment, not something to be achieved.   Recalibrating the stress-sleep cycle holistically Lasting rest comes from a layered, compassionate approach that works with your body rather than overriding it.   The nervous system often needs attention first. Gentle, body-based practices help settle activation and cue safety, especially in the evening when stress from the day hasn’t fully discharged.   Rhythm matters just as much. Regular meals, steady blood sugar, consistent light exposure, and predictable wind-down rituals help the hormonal system regain timing. In TCM, this reflects your natural cycles, so energy flows where it’s needed rather than remaining scattered.   These conditions don’t need to be perfect. They need to be repeated. Consistency matters more than intensity. Small, gentle rituals retrain your body over time. Activation and rest naturally emerge when your physiology feels supported.   Restoring rhythm, restoring you Sleep struggles aren’t a sign of failure. They’re messages that your systems need care. Chronic stress keeps the nervous system on high alert and disrupts hormonal regulation, making rest feel just out of reach.   A holistic approach stabilizes the whole person. Calming the nervous system, nourishing hormonal balance, and honoring your natural cycles as understood in TCM allow your body clock to align with both internal timing and its environment.   Rest isn’t a switch to flip. It’s the result of creating security, stability, and rhythm over time. As these systems settle, sleep returns naturally, stress eases, and energy flows again. Follow me on YouTube , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Jyllin Jyllin , Holistic Health Coach & Somatic Educator Jyllin is a holistic health coach and somatic educator who blends trauma-informed coaching, meridian yoga therapy, and EFT to support emotional resilience and embodied healing. Teaching internationally since 2012, she draws from her background in Five Element philosophy, mindful movement, and nervous system regulation to help others reconnect with their innate wisdom. Through her Holistic Liberation Method, Jyllin offers a grounded, integrative approach that bridges Eastern and Western wisdom to restore flow in both body and mind. References & Further Reading: Porges, Polyvagal Theory McEwen, Stress and Allostatic Load Sapolsky, Stress Hormones and Circadian Rhythm Walker, Why We Sleep

Written by Marie-Louise Gessner, Life Coach Marie Gessner, a powerful ACC coach, is working to support you in finding your answers in life's areas. She brings my listening, and together we explore your answers. The sensation of lightness is an experience of inner spaciousness, clarity, and presence. In a world where achievement and endurance are often celebrated, lightness can seem almost provocatively simple, a gentle counterpoint to the relentless pursuit of doing and striving. Seeking lightness is not about escaping reality, but about being more present and softening our inner resistance to life as it truly is. We are bombarded daily by demands and expectations, struggle and perseverance have become second nature. But what happens if we dare to strip away what weighs us down and drains our energy? When we allow ourselves to rest without guilt and seek moments of stillness, we invite lightness into our lives. It then finds space to become a natural part of who we are. Suddenly, there is a feeling in the body, here I can be, here I am safe. Rituals for choosing lightness Choose a place where you will not be disturbed for a while. Focus on your breathing, breathe in slowly, breathe out just as slowly. Notice in your body: Where does it feel heavy? Where does it feel light? Take time to reflect. What do you long to leave behind? What do you want to invite more into your life? Feel free to put your thoughts into words, write them down or say them aloud to yourself. Sometimes, a symbolic act, perhaps tearing a piece of paper or lighting a candle, can help to mark a new direction. Finally, end your moment by choosing a word or a feeling to carry with you during the day or week. Perhaps you choose words like "stillness", "simplicity", "space", "presence", or "inner calm". Let it be your reminder that lightness is allowed to take up space in your life. When we allow ourselves to let go of what no longer serves us, harmony is created between body and mind. Lightness becomes a natural consequence of releasing and letting life flow in its own way, rather than trying to control everything. So, dare to invite lightness in and let it be your guide through the twists and turns of everyday life. The benefits of lightness Allowing lightness into our lives creates harmony between body and mind. When we let go of what no longer serves us, we stop fighting ourselves and begin to move with the natural flow of life. This can bring about a sense of calm, clarity, and renewed energy. Lightness does not mean ignoring difficulties or pretending everything is perfect, it means accepting life as it is, with gentleness and compassion towards ourselves. Over time, practising lightness can improve our emotional well-being, boost our resilience, and enhance our relationships. It allows us to approach challenges with greater openness and less resistance. We become more attuned to our needs and more present with others, fostering deeper connections and a richer experience of life. Here are some more questions that can help you to find lightness: What is one thing I can let go of today that would lighten my load? When do I feel most at ease or free, and how can I invite more of that into my life? What small act of kindness can I offer myself right now? How might I approach this moment or challenge with curiosity rather than judgement? What word or image brings me a sense of lightness, and how can I carry it with me We need lightness in our lives because it helps us navigate challenges with greater ease and resilience. Lightness allows us to let go of unnecessary burdens, freeing our minds and bodies from the weight of constant striving or self-judgement. By embracing lightness, we cultivate a sense of calm and clarity that supports our emotional well-being. It encourages us to approach life with curiosity and compassion, rather than resistance or fear. Ultimately, lightness deepens our connections with ourselves and others, creating space for joy and meaningful experiences. Take this in: “Lightness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to rise above them.” Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info! Read more from Marie-Louise Gessner Marie-Louise Gessner, Life Coach Marie’s mission is to see others rise and live the life they want. With coaching as a method, Marie helps individuals and groups find clarity, overcome obstacles, set plans, and develop potential and personal growth. Through powerful dialogues in listening, she brings you the supportive tools, and you decide if you will take action on your own answers between the sessions. You do the work, and she is behind you for support.

Written by Michelle Stroud, Holistic Reproductive Practitioner & Doula Trainer Michelle Stroud is a holistic reproductive practitioner, doula educator, and reflexology and Reiki trainer with over 20 years of experience supporting women through fertility, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. She specializes in trauma-informed, client-centred care and holistic education. Doula work rarely begins as a practical career plan. It begins as a pull. A recognition. A quiet knowing that doesn’t leave you alone. And almost immediately, fear follows. Fear of instability. Fear of responsibility. Fear of making the wrong choice. Fear of failing publicly. Fear of disappointing others. Fear of wanting something that doesn’t make sense on paper. This article is not here to convince you to become a doula. It’s here to help you look honestly at what’s being asked of you, and why the fear exists in the first place.   A calling, not a calculation People don’t come to doula work logically. They come because something in them responds to birth, to presence, to being with people in threshold moments. They fall in love with the work itself long before they know how it could ever fit into a life that requires income, stability, and responsibility. Doula work asks for sacrifice. On-call time. Unpredictable hours. Emotional availability. Self-employment. There is no guaranteed paycheck, no benefits package, no clear ladder to climb. So the question naturally arises: Is this realistic? Is this responsible? Is this too risky? These are not weak questions. They are adult questions. The weight of responsibility We live in a time where most households rely on two stable incomes just to get by. Many people don’t have savings to fall back on. Some support children, partners, or extended family. Leaving a “good job” can feel selfish, even if it slowly drains the life out of you. There is also the quiet fear of exposure. Putting yourself out there as a doula means being seen. It means saying, “This matters to me,” without the protection of a title everyone understands. It means risking embarrassment. Trying something sacred and having it not work. Watching others succeed can deepen that fear. You may think, They’re different. They’re confident. They’re built for this. I’m not. That story stops many people before they ever begin .   The myth about money One of the most common beliefs is that people won’t pay out of pocket for doula care. That this work should be covered, subsidized, or treated as optional. In reality, many families deeply value their doulas. They hire them again. They recommend them to friends. They remember them as one of the most important supports they had. What’s often misunderstood is   how many forms doula income can take . Birth support is only one stream. Many doulas also offer prenatal education, postpartum care, breastfeeding support, fertility support, trauma-informed care, group classes, online resources, or complementary modalities such as reflexology, Reiki, yoga, herbs, or hypnosis. Sustainable doula work is rarely one-dimensional.   What actually creates sustainability I’ve worked in doula-related care for two decades. I didn’t begin as a doula. I began as a reflexologist with a passion for supporting pregnancy. Fertility clients found me, and that work changed everything. Those clients didn’t want to enter birth without someone they already trusted. That continuity made my doula practice full before I ever “marketed” it. My income was consistent because I offered regular weekly sessions alongside birth work. I attended births, but I wasn’t relying on them to survive. What mattered most was community. In-person networking. Relationships. Being known. Referrals are built on trust. Social media helped nurture existing connections, but it never built my business.   The doulas who succeed The doulas who build sustainable practices tend to share some quiet traits. They keep learning. Their confidence grows because their skills grow. They work on themselves. They address their own wounds instead of leaking them into their work. They invest in self-care because they understand regulation is part of the job. They show up in their communities even when they’re nervous. They collaborate rather than compete. They value their work and charge accordingly. They keep overhead modest so their business doesn’t own them. Most of their investment is not in branding or ads, but in themselves. Entrepreneurship is not employment This work doesn’t end at five o’clock. Sometimes it’s intoxicating. Sometimes it’s lonely. Sometimes you’re up at four in the morning building something because you can’t do it. Sometimes you’re avoiding bookkeeping and answering emails because no one is making you. It requires discipline and boundaries. It also offers creative freedom, intimacy, and meaning that employment rarely does. If you’re called to this work, it may not leave you alone. That doesn’t mean you must answer it immediately. But it does invite an honest reckoning.   The deeper question Being a doula is not just about making a living. It’s about becoming a version of yourself that is willing to stand in service, in presence, in uncertainty, and in devotion. It’s work that often feels ancient. Familiar. Bigger than a job description. So the real question is not, can I make this work? It’s: What part of me goes unheard if I don’t try? What is the cost of ignoring what keeps calling? If you feel that pull, the next step doesn’t have to be dramatic. Read. Listen. Attend conversations. Let yourself lean toward what wants your attention. You don’t need to decide everything today. But you do deserve to be honest with yourself about what you’re being asked to become.   Indulge yourself by gently exploring birthwork through   live online seminars  with By the Moon. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for more info! Read more from Michelle Stroud Michelle Stroud, Holistic Reproductive Practitioner & Doula Trainer Michelle Stroud is a holistic reproductive practitioner, doula educator, and healing arts trainer with over 20 years of experience supporting families through fertility, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. She is the founder of By the Moon, a training school offering holistic doula, reflexology, and Reiki education. Michelle’s work focuses on informed consent, emotional regulation, and bridging evidence-based care with holistic and spiritual support.

Written by Sara Brinell, Author, Speaker & Awareness Guide Sara has a unique ability to quickly shift energy into presence and joy through her work as a mindfulness coach, speaker, and yoga instructor. She is also the author of the book One With Nature (published in 2025) and a popular speaker in the field . You are constantly being fed information. News feeds, Instagram posts, TikTok videos telling you how to live, which health tips to follow, the best beauty hacks to stay young, how to get in the best shape of your life, and how to manifest your dream life. And yet, despite all this information, you may find yourself feeling even more confused. You know what? You are not alone in this. Perhaps that is why it is not such a bad idea to pause sometimes. To take a step back from all the noise, all the advice coming from the outside. To instead stop for a moment, listen inward, and ask yourself: What is truly important to me? And maybe it is time to consider what the words "back to basic" mean for you. I want you to give yourself permission to pause. To not perform, not improve, not optimise, but simply to be. And let me be clear about one thing. I am not writing this to tell you how to live your life. I am not here to give you more rules or another list to follow. I am writing, if possible, to inspire you to find your way back to yourself, to listen to your body, your pace, your values. Sometimes, "back to basic" is not about doing more. It is about doing less, but with more focus, more simplicity, and more presence. Above all, it is about being more in tune with who you are, and with who we are as human beings. Because we are human. Not machines. And just like all other living beings, we come from nature and are a part of nature. So let us dive into a world that is a little less complicated. A world where there is no right or wrong, no must-dos, no pre-made templates. A world where there is simply space for you to feel, reflect, and connect with yourself. Where do we come from? A large part of "back to basic" is, of course, about looking at how we live today, and how far that life is from what we evolved for. For thousands of years, humans have lived in close connection with nature. Our bodies, our nervous systems, and our senses are shaped by the shifts of light, the rhythm of the seasons, movement, rest, and community. To feel the ground beneath our feet, to breathe fresh air, and to live in tune with the day rather than against the clock. Today, many of us spend most of our lives indoors, in front of screens, under constant stimulation. We move less, sleep worse, and are perpetually connected. Not because we are weak or doing anything wrong, but because society has evolved faster than our biology, and we have probably forgotten to listen to what we truly need and where we come from. "Back to basic" is therefore not about romanticising the past or wishing to go backwards in time. It is about remembering where we come from. About reconnecting with nature, both the nature around us and the nature within us. When we spend time in nature, we often slow down. We breathe more deeply. Thoughts become clearer. The body receives signals it recognises. Perhaps that is why nature does not just feel calming. It also feels familiar. It feels like home. And if we listen carefully, nature has much wisdom to share with us. Then it can become easier to let things fall into place, without chasing the latest trends, staring mindlessly at screens, or spending countless hours and resources on solutions outside ourselves. Five simple yet powerful ways to live from your inner knowing: Trust your own rhythm Trust is about daring to believe that your body knows. Trust that your emotions are not wrong, but signals. Trust that you do not always need to have all the answers, and that they can unfold in their own time. In other words, stop rushing through life, through answers, and through situations. Breathe. "Back to basic" often begins here, by daring to let go a little and instead trusting more in what already exists within you. Let us also connect this to nature. There, trust is inherent. A seed does not doubt whether it will sprout, and a tree does not stress about when it will bloom. Everything happens in its own rhythm. There is a constant flow and continuous change, just like in life. Perhaps "back to basic" can begin with the same kind of trust, that your body, like nature, knows what it needs when you give it time and space to respond. How, you might wonder? Start small. Explore nature’s healing power and wisdom. I am planting a seed here for you, and it is up to you whether you water it or not. If it resonates with you, allow yourself to explore it further. The power of silence It is in silence that we often find answers. This stands in stark contrast to the constant flow of information from social media, news, and other channels. Perhaps this is why clarity sometimes feels out of reach, because there is always noise, stimulation, and distraction around us. Silence is not emptiness. It is a space where clarity can emerge. Above all, it is an opportunity to be with ourselves and to meet the constant inner noise, the thoughts, you know. Perhaps this is what many people find unsettling about silence, that in it, we are faced with what is truly happening within us. In a world that is always loud, silence can feel unfamiliar. Yet maybe it is precisely there that we remember who we are, beyond all stimulation. There, we can rediscover simplicity, gratitude, and a quiet joy in life. And once again, "back to basic". It does not need to be more complicated than that. Befriend silence, and in doing so, befriend yourself. Nature offers a kind of silence that is never completely quiet, yet free from noise. The sounds found there are the most natural to us, a gentle wind moving through the trees, a bird singing, water flowing. Sounds that ask nothing of us, but simply exist. In nature, there are no demands, no notifications, nothing competing for your attention beyond the present moment. There, the nervous system can rest, the breath can deepen, and the mind can slowly settle. Perhaps it is there, in nature’s stillness, that we most easily remember that we are part of something greater, not separate from it, but deeply connected. And in that remembrance, something within us can soften. A sense of belonging, of calm, and of being allowed to simply be. Listening beyond words To truly connect with ourselves, we need to learn how to listen. Listening deeply is something entirely different from merely hearing. It requires us to pause long enough to notice the subtle signals, fatigue, desire, joy, tension. Signals the body is constantly sending, if we only give ourselves the time and space to receive them. When we stop listening outwardly, even for a moment, it often becomes easier to hear what is whispering within. But listening is not only about ourselves. It is also about being present with those around us. When you are in a conversation, are you truly there? Or are you caught up in your own thoughts, distracted, or already preparing your response? Are you really listening, or only hearing halfway? And nature? Nature is a master of listening. Just look at the animals. Their attention to sound is remarkable, and perhaps that is because they are fully present in the moment. So how can we practise becoming better listeners with the help of nature? Step outside and truly listen to what surrounds you, the wind moving through the leaves, birdsong, the sound of water, perhaps even an animal nearby. There are no demands, no pressure, no distractions, only presence. In this kind of attention, we can train both our sensitivity and our patience, and be reminded that listening is not only about sound, but about awareness. Perhaps listening is not about finding immediate answers, but about creating enough stillness for them to arrive. Curiosity opens doors Just as you read this, I do not want you to accept everything I say uncritically. Be discerning, but also be curious. Curiosity in life can take you far and support you in many situations. Instead of immediately judging others or deciding what is right or wrong, see if you can approach with curiosity and open yourself to different perspectives. This does not mean you have to agree, but curiosity can offer new insights and create a softer, kinder relationship both with yourself and with others. And I believe this is something the world needs more of. Let "back to basic" be an exploration rather than a belief system. Notice how the ideas land within you, how they affect your well-being and the way you live your life. Allow yourself to gain your own experience. There are no fixed answers. What works in one context may not work in another. That is why it is important to be discerning about what you take in. What resonates with you? What feels true for you? Do not buy into everything you read, see, or hear. But do not forget curiosity. It creates a more sustainable relationship, both with yourself and with the world around you, than blindly following someone else’s advice ever could. That curiosity also helps you pause and reflect before accepting the information you hear. It allows you to feel more deeply what truly resonates with you, rather than just taking everything at face value. Learning from children Ultimately, "back to basic" is about daring to become a little more like children again. To learn from them, and from what they carry so naturally, playfulness, curiosity, and a deep presence in the moment. Children remind us of spontaneity, creativity, and simple joy. They are not preoccupied with what comes next or what should have been. They are fully engaged in what is happening right now. In that way, they show us what it means to truly be present. After we have slowed down, learned to listen, and allowed curiosity to guide us, playfulness becomes a natural next step. It softens us. It brings lightness back into life. And perhaps most importantly, it reminds us that not everything needs to be productive, efficient, or purposeful to be meaningful. There is a quiet wisdom in allowing ourselves to play, to explore without a goal, and to meet life with the same openness and wonder we once had as children. It also invites laughter, something deeply important, and something I believe we could all use a little more of in our lives. Last reminder: "Back to basic" I would like to end this article by highlighting the importance of simplicity, gratitude, and curiosity. It is time to stop overcomplicating life and instead return to "back to basic", back to what truly matters, and back to the heart. Because you are worth it. Let’s connect If you would like more inspiration, I warmly invite you to explore my book, One with Nature . I also gently encourage you to spend time in nature and discover the wisdom it holds for you. You are always welcome to connect with me on Instagram . Follow me on  Facebook  and visit my website for more info! Read more from Sara Brinell Sara Brinell , Author, Speaker & Awareness Guide Sara is an expert in inner harmony and the healing power of nature. She carries a profoundly healing story, having experienced depression in her teenage years and, later in life, the early loss of both her parents. These experiences became part of a deeper journey that eventually led her to guide others back to their hearts through her work as a yoga instructor, mindfulness coach, and speaker. She also shares her insights through her book One With Nature. Her mission is to show that loneliness can become a path to deeper connection, and that nature can heal where words are not enough.

Written by Dan Stephenson, Creative Strategist, Designer, and Founder of Homesick Dan Stephenson is a creative strategist and founder of Homesick, working with multiple companies at once through a unique subscription model, with expertise in design, colour psychology, and building standout brands for startups and disruptors. You’ve heard it a thousand times, “Don’t bite off more than you can chew.” It’s meant to protect you, keep you safe, and stop you from embarrassing yourself. But here’s the truth, that phrase has killed more dreams than failure ever has. In my recent Brainz Magazine interview about building brave brands that get noticed, I spoke about creativity, execution, and what it takes to stand out. This follow-up goes deeper, because brave brands don’t come from talent or resources. They come from one thing, the willingness to say yes before you’re ready. Smash the limits in your head Most people aren’t limited by their skills, time, or circumstances. They’re limited by their perception of what they can handle. That ceiling is self-built. And it’s brutal, because it feels like “common sense.” After that, it turns into something worse, a box you keep yourself in, a cage that looks sensible from the inside. It whispers: “Be realistic.” “Know your limits.” “You’re not quite there yet.” Realistic according to who? Limits set by what? And when exactly will you be “there”? For most people, never. Because the box gets more comfortable the longer you stay in it. And the longer you stay in it, the harder it is to remember you’re the one who built it. The people who keep levelling up aren’t obsessed with what they’ve already done. They’re obsessed with what’s still possible. That’s the energy. Say “yes” before you’re ready Here’s my favourite strategy in business, say yes. Then figure it out. It sounds reckless. And if you do it without any structure, it is. But the people who build something extraordinary don’t wait until they feel ready. They commit, then grow into it. When you say yes to something bigger than you feel capable of, something important happens. Your brain stops asking, “Can I do this?” and starts asking, “How do I do this?” That shift changes everything. The Fuel lesson: I said yes first I opened Fuel Coffeeworks with no hospitality experience. No “perfect background.” No long apprenticeship. No safety net of feeling qualified. Just a decision, I’ll work it out, fast. I brought in someone way better than me. That choice forced everything to level up, decision-making, systems, standards, speed. I was in it, you can’t hide behind theory. You have to operate. And operating under pressure teaches you more than comfort ever will. Survival is the only teacher that works Nobody learns to swim by reading about buoyancy. They get thrown in the water. Business works the same way. I’ve learned more from being slightly in over my head than from any course, book, or mentor, because when you’re surviving, you’re paying attention. When you’re comfortable, you coast. When you’re stretched, you build. When you’re under pressure, you get efficient. The projects that scare you? They sharpen you. The workload that feels impossible? It forces you to find a better way. Survival requires your full attention. And full attention is where growth lives. Say yes, with rules (so you don’t burn out) This isn’t a motivational speech about grinding yourself into dust. Saying yes only works when you pair it with structure. Here are the rules I live by (and how Homesick operates): One priority at a time (quality doesn’t survive chaos) Clear definition of “done” (no infinite loops) Tight feedback cycles (ship, refine, move) Systems before suffering (You don’t “handle more” by trying harder). You handle more by becoming ruthless about what matters and building systems that protect it. Stop asking “can I?” Start asking “how?” I help build brave brands through design, eCommerce, and marketing support that moves fast and stays sharp. People often ask a version of the same question, “How do you handle more without losing quality?” Here’s the answer, you stop negotiating with your limits. Because the second you decide something is impossible, your brain stops looking for solutions. When you decide it’s possible, your brain gets creative, fast. Not blind optimism. A deliberate choice. 10 years, one decision, “yes” Where do you want to be in ten years? Now ask yourself honestly, "If you keep saying no to the things that scare you, will you get there?" Probably not. The version of you who gets there doesn’t play it safe. They take on things slightly too big, then they rise to meet them. They step out of the box and build capacity on purpose. Take the hit, say yes Say yes to the thing that scares you. Accept the project that feels too big. Take the opportunity that feels too soon. Then build the systems to survive it. Because success doesn’t come from being ready. It comes from being willing. If you want a creative partner who moves fast, tells you the truth, and delivers sharp work consistently, book a discovery call and let’s see if we’re a fit. Follow me on Instagram , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Dan Stephenson Dan Stephenson, Creative Strategist, Designer, and Founder of Homesick Dan Stephenson is the founder of Homesick, where he helps ambitious startups and challenger brands shape identities. With experience working across multiple companies at once, Dan thrives on turning creative challenges into practical solutions. He’s known for blending design expertise and memorable marketing to help brands stand out. Through Homesick’s unique subscription model, Dan delivers unlimited creative and marketing support to those who want agency-level impact without the hassle. Dan has a coffee shop side quest which he started with zero experience to prove he could turn a small investment into a lasting income.