The Inner Child

The image captures something of the inner child within all of us. The purity, innocence and beauty of two children reaching out, while the proud, stubborn and frustrated adults turn their backs on each other. I like to imagine the conversation between the two children is the one we would all love to have. WeContinue reading “The Inner Child”

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. 

We suffer in the denial of what is.  We attempt to change it, deny it, suppress it, hide it, ignore it, numb it – anything to avoid feeling discomfort. We crave pleasure and have an aversion to discomfort.  Our ‘doing’ is almost always an attempt to move away from pain and toward comfort.  We rarely are stillContinue reading “Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. “

Who am I? (part 2)

The persona. The mask we wear. The character we choose to become to play our role in the particular drama we found ourselves in. A role given to us and created by us so we could fit in, belong, be accepted, so we could survive. We couldn’t survive alone. We needed to be in relationshipContinue reading “Who am I? (part 2)”

The Problem-Solver

Many of us carry an inner voice that whispers – I’ll be happy when, safe when, loveable when – constantly trying to solve a problem.  We become a ‘doing’ – how do I survive, how do I fit in, what do I need to do to be accepted. These are the forces that shaped us.Continue reading “The Problem-Solver”

Change, Transition and Transformation

I will be using this blog over the next few months as a chance to try out new chapters for a book I’m writing – “The Chameleon and the Caterpillar – a guide to change and transformation”. Feedback and comments will be super helpful as I attempt to capture my research and work supporting athletesContinue reading “Change, Transition and Transformation”

The Story Behind First Steps

I knew there was a ‘problem’ when I recognised that I was still introducing myself as a lacrosse player 15 years after I’d stopped playing. I was still holding onto an old identity; I was still attached to the sense of who I was when I was 24 years old.   This was 2009 andContinue reading “The Story Behind First Steps”

Finding ways to thrive

We face into a unique time in the history of world. A time that no-one foresaw, that no-one planned or wanted to happen. All parts of our lives have been affected – from how we manage our health; how we interact with friends, family and strangers; how we shop; how we educate our children andContinue reading “Finding ways to thrive”

What happens when ‘better’ needs to stop?

Learning to thrive in complexity My background, was for many years, epitomised by the search for ‘better’. If there was a measurement then I was always really keen to find the way to push a little harder and see what more I could achieve.  This was great in sport – there was always a personalContinue reading “What happens when ‘better’ needs to stop?”