Who the heck am I?That's all! You may have noticed that we're BIG FANS of self awareness here at this human. It is the gateway to meaningful change, inside and out. After all, wherever you go, there you'll be. This week is the first of our deep dives into emotional health self check-ins and yes, it's about self awareness. A little reminder from last week... The first step is ALWAYS self awareness—the ability to observe your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours without judgment. It’s about...
12 days ago • 1 min read
When's the last time you did a self-check in on your emotional health? Emotional health is the art of recognising and managing your inner world with clarity. It helps you navigate life’s challenges thoughtfully rather than reactively. It is the gateway to emotional mastery. When emotional mastery is achieved, the heart trusts the mind, and the mind trusts the heart.- Brendon Burchard Here’s a brief overview of four essential elements of emotional health that support emotional mastery: Self...
19 days ago • 1 min read
Arguably one of the greatest inventions of all time is the wheel. Wheels help us get from here to there with more ease. They offer a smoother ride. So, how can we use a wheel for self-care? Introducing the Wellness Wheel This version builds on the original 'six dimensions of wellness', developed in the late 1970s by Dr Bill Hettler, co-founder of the National Wellness Institute. It is an holistic approach to understanding and promoting well-being. His framework aimed to encourage individuals...
26 days ago • 1 min read
Tragedy or comedy? First the tragedy. Here comes a sad story... At the time of writing this newsletter, both my parents have just passed away. First my mother five weeks ago, and then, just this week, my father also left his body. My parents had been divorced for 45 years, so their passing was somewhat of a tragic coincidence. As you can imagine, it's an overwhelming experience. Two funerals to attend and all that comes with them. I've been deep in reflection. Part of that reflection is about...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
How to be hard at rest. Sounds odd doesn't it? My relationship with rest is unhealthy. I find it hard to rest well. Usually there are feelings of guilt, of wasting time, or missing opportunity, or letting someone down, of being unproductive. I try to turn up in all aspects of my life in high definition. But without downtime, without a deliberate practice around self-care, the cycle is one of diminishing returns. So here's what I'm at work on: I am changing my relationship with time. I realise...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
She sells self-care by the sea shore We wish that were true. It's more like... She sells her time 24/7/365 because that's what makes her valuable. She has no time for self-care. That's for other people. She's too busy to even think about it. Western culture often ties productivity to personal worth, promoting the idea that relentless hard work is the only way to succeed. This 'grind culture' pushes people to ignore their need for rest, making them feel guilty when they take breaks. It...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
A quote from the depths of Nick Cave... “Unlike cynicism, hopefulness is hard-earned, makes demands upon us, and can often feel like the most indefensible and lonely place on Earth. Hopefulness is not a neutral position either. It is adversarial. It is the warrior emotion that can lay waste to cynicism. Each redemptive or loving act, as small as you like... keeps the devil down in the hole. It says the world and its inhabitants have value and are worth defending. It says the world is worth...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
What's that sound? Lub dubLub dubLub dubIt's the sound of that muscle in the centre of your chest that keeps your lights on and your brain active for an entire lifetime. Your old ticker. Your heart. It's arguably the most important part of you, and yet, when it comes to communication, it's often treated as a nuisance, getting in the way of rational thought. Why? Generally, humans struggle with emotional content. Emotions, like nature itself, don't contain straight lines. They don't fit in...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Curiosity killed the cat. Did it though? When we work with people within our organisations, sometimes we forget they are also humans, with squishy insides and their own insecurities, fears and concerns. We see their role, not the person. It's easy to get defensive if you feel their point of view is questioning your own... but we have an antidote for you... STAY CURIOUS! This is the third principle of how to have better difficult conversations—Exploration over Defensiveness. Every conversation...
2 months ago • 1 min read