How To Protect Your Relationship When Emotions Are High

Standing in the checkout line at Woolies, I was suddenly aware of an impulse to sneeze. As I wasn’t unwell, in ordinary times this wouldn’t have been a particularly interesting event. However these aren’t ordinary times, and I was acutely aware that my sneeze (if...

Unhappy In Your Relationship? It Might Not Be Your Partner’s Fault.

Ever go through phases when life just isn’t happening the way you want it to? Times when you’re unhappy and discontented? If you’re in a relationship it’s easy during times like this to point the finger at your partner as the reason why you’re just...

7 Strategies For Reconnecting With Your Self

Life is a long journey. Everyone gets lost at various points along the way. The problem with getting lost is that we don’t realise we are lost because we’ve gone numb. We’re still living and loving but we’re doing it “asleep” from our own innate wisdom...

Failure, fear, and “learning to do it anyway”.

I’m the first to acknowledge that fear of failure has cost me dearly in my life so far. I’m getting better at “feeling the fear and doing it anyway”, but I know I could have achieved more great stuff in life had I not been...

Managing strong emotions in relationships with abdominal breathing

  Relationships evoke strong emotions: the good and the bad. Here's a simple strategy for self-soothing when your relationship is causing stress, anxiety, frustration, anger, or any other strong emotional reaction. It won't take the emotion away, but it will allow you to acknowledge it and respond to...

Where is the instruction manual for relationships?

  Instruction manuals are useful things. Attached to my brand new clothes are a big handful of large labels. They outline for me, in pretty exact terms, how I should care for my new gear. Makes me stop and think about how all sorts of consumer products come with...

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for thinking well

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy sets the premise that great emotional health starts with our thoughts. Often, it’s what we think about things that matters, not what actually happens. Imagine this scenario: you’re at work/at the school gate/at a party, and somebody you know walks past. Out of...

Depression
Depression and probiotics

New research about depression and probiotics reveals that sadness and depression aren’t just “in your head”. Anyone who has experienced real depression will know how futile (and frustrating) advice along the lines of “just pull yourself together” really is. It’s futile because it’s simply not possible:...

Protein balls
Protein bliss balls recipe: the perfect healthy snack

Protein bliss balls: perfect for snacks, school lunches, hungry teenagers, and for those times when something yummy and chocolaty (but still super healthy) is required… I first learned this recipe from the very knowledgeable and lovely Leisa Wheeler at her Embracing Health Retreat in Byron Bay...