Mindfulness Practice

  Most of us start the day already behind. I have to get up. I have to deal with this. I have to make it through. Those three words quietly load pressure onto everything. They make life sound like one long list of chores instead of a series of choices. Now swap them for something lighter: “I get to.” It changes everything. I get to wake up. I get to show up for work. I get to take care of people I love. Same reality, new energy. You’re no longer the one being pushed by life. You’re the one walking beside it. Why It Matters The way we talk to ourselves shapes how we feel. “I have to” closes the door on gratitude. “I get to” opens it again. It reminds us that even when things are hard, there’s still some choice, some meaning, some gift tucked inside the moment. It’s not about pretending the tough stuff is fun. It’s about seeing that there’s still purpose in the doing. A Simple Practice Catch yourself once today saying “I have to.” Pause for a second. Breathe. Then ...

Words. Tiny little things made of letters and sound. But oh , how they carry the weight of worlds. A single sentence can stop your heart. A phrase can mend it. An echo of something once whispered can live rent-free in your mind for years—long after the speaker has forgotten they ever said it. They can break you. Think back. To the moment someone said you weren’t enough. Weren’t thin enough, smart enough, worthy enough. Those words wrapped themselves around your ribs, squeezing slowly over time—until one day you started repeating them to yourself. That’s the thing about words. When repeated often enough, they stop sounding like someone else’s opinion. And start feeling like truth. They can make you. “I believe in you.” Three words. But said at the right moment, in the right voice, they hit different. They lift you. Not in a hyped-up, fake-confidence kind of way. But in the slow, anchoring way that makes you stand up straighter. Speak softer, but with more conviction....

  How often do we break promises to ourselves while keeping every commitment we make to others? We say we’ll wake up early, exercise, eat better, or finally start that passion project—yet when life gets busy, those personal commitments are the first to go. I know this because I’ve been struggling with it myself. Lately, I’ve been realising how much it matters. Every time I let myself down, I chip away at my self-trust. I send the message that my own needs and goals don’t matter as much as other people’s. And that’s a pattern I want to change. Why It Matters When we follow through on promises to ourselves—whether small, like drinking more water, or big, like setting boundaries—we prove that we are reliable and worthy of respect. It’s like building a relationship. If someone constantly let you down, you’d stop trusting them, right? The same applies to the relationship I have with myself. Right now, I’m working on rebuilding that trust, one step at a time. The Struggle to Follow T...

We all have big dreams, right? Maybe you want to start a business, write a book, run a marathon, or just wake up before your alarm for once. But here’s the thing—dreams don’t magically come true just because we really, really want them to. (Trust me, I’ve tried.) Nope. They need action. And action needs habits. And habits? Well… habits need discipline. Ugh. Why Motivation is a Liar We love motivation—it’s exciting, energising, and makes us feel like we can conquer the world! But motivation is also flaky. One day it’s got us meal-prepping like a health guru, and the next, we’re eating biscuits straight out of the packet while binge-watching Netflix. The real game-changer? Discipline. The unsexy, often annoying ability to do the thing even when we don’t feel like it. Want to write a book? That means writing when you’d rather scroll social media. Want to get fit? That means working out when your couch whispers sweet nothings to you. Want to save money? That means resisting ye...

I have a morning routine that, on paper, sounds like a productivity dream. I wake up, drink a glass of water, make myself a cup of coffee, do a quick 15-minute workout, journal for a bit, and then dive into lesson planning or writing while my mind is still fresh—all before 6 a.m. when I officially start my day. Sounds great, right? A structured, disciplined start to the morning, setting the tone for the rest of the day. But here’s the reality of how today went: I woke up and had my glass of water—so far, so good. But then, I felt too sore and tired to work out. I made my coffee but added milk (at least I skipped the sugar, so small victories?). I’m supposed to be fasting until 8 a.m., which means no milk or sugar, but today, I just couldn’t bring myself to care. Then came journaling. I opened my notebook, pen in hand, ready to reflect, plan, or pour out my thoughts. And all I could think was: Blah. I’m tired. Not exactly the profound insight I was hoping for. So, I jotted down some...

How to Turn Self-Doubt into Self-Growth Introduction Self-doubt is something everyone experiences from time to time. It often creeps in just as we’re about to face new challenges or step outside our comfort zones. It can feel like a hurdle, preventing us from reaching our full potential. Here’s the reassuring part: self-doubt doesn’t have to hold you back. In fact, when approached thoughtfully, it can be a catalyst for growth. By learning to understand and reframe it, you can transform moments of hesitation into opportunities to adapt, learn, and flourish. Let’s explore some practical ways to turn self-doubt into self-improvement. Recognising Self-Doubt as a Natural Process The first step is to realise that self-doubt is a completely normal reaction to unfamiliar situations. It’s not a sign of weakness or failure—it’s an indicator that you’re pushing yourself to grow. Feeling unsure is simply part of the process. Rather than resisting these feelings, take a moment to acknowledge them. ...