I’m sure that many of us have heard this expression, and yet actually everyone cries sometimes. Whilst there may be a social stigma around men releasing their emotions through tears, there certainly shouldn’t be. It’s encouraging to occasionally read that “real" men cry - frankly, it’s no wonder. A glance at social media, watching and [...]

The word “expert” is derived from the word “experience”- and that in itself is helpful to remember. Similarly, the word “professional", in many contexts, means that a person gets paid for the pursuit they do lots of the time. For example a professional photographer may not necessarily have specific photographic qualifications. If you are like [...]

Whilst many people who know me may think that I’m confident, I’m not! I am, however, lucky to have a good sense of self-belief - and I’d like to let you know how the two differ, in my experience. I can act in a confident way because I communicate with many types of personalities in [...]

Many of us have endured childhood trauma - in my experience, it never truly leaves us. We have to learn to live with it. I liken it to carrying an awkward shaped bag, which we position about our person, in order to live day by day. But deep seated trauma has a plethora of symptoms; [...]

Those of us who have endured trauma, of any kind, can have a distorted sense of self-awareness. If, for example, you have suffered emotional abuse, then your self-narrative is likely to be orientated around feeling as though you don't deserve something, or disbelieving compliments. It’s because for a period of time you’ve had untrue and [...]

Years ago, a close family member likened my efforts to those of a tug boat smashing against the cliff. In short, I was ploughing in a sea of effort - but not achieving the results I wanted. I was becoming annoyed and frustrated. These feelings frequent my busy mind still today, however I have a [...]

Many of us face the day with a formidable list of things which need doing. This is on top of our work or study commitments, and simply thinking about what we have to accomplish can send our already fragile minds into a spin. Here are five simple ways to help ease your stress levels: 1: [...]

In my experience, those of us who endure anxiety are especially hard on ourselves - often carrying distorted opinions about our capabilities. I have witnessed this many times, and recall seeing a cake chef almost melting under a wave of anxiety when they’d actually finished the commission in plenty of time! On that occasion, a [...]

Last week I mentioned my “shortcuts” in the pursuit of mindfulness, because it’s hard to both notice our breathing AND focus on an object. For those of us who endure anxiety, it’s especially challenging to be present and in the moment. To be at one with ourselves can feel like a luxury – we’ve got [...]

Learning how to breathe "correctly" is so important for our mental health that there are schools, such as Breathing Space in London, that run courses on breathing techniques and mindfulness. Studies have shown that these two disciplines can greatly alleviate feelings of anxiety and be of invaluable support to our mental wellbeing. Many traditional schools [...]