But when last did you take a few weeks to be completely present for you? Be honest with yourself. How often do you check in on your e-mails during your holiday? How often do you check your social media? How often do you chat to your work colleagues on your WhatsApp regarding “urgent matters” that in actual fact almost always can be solved without you? Ultimately, you cannot be present and focus on taking a break if your mind is everywhere except the current moment.

This post is just to invite us all to acknowledge and remind ourselves of an undeniable truth: our surroundings, the places and spaces in which we live and operate - from macro (e.g., our country, region, city, natural environment) to meso (e.g., our neighbourhood, home, office) to micro (e.g., our desk, drawer, bedside table) -, and the way we inhabit them and interact with them, play a significant role in our life experience. In return, this can affect each and every other aspect of our life.

So let’s spend a little time playing with the concept of Environment.

The point of this blog is to encourage a shift in your perspective. Almost always it is in your power to find opportunities in every situation. You always have a choice.

Let’s face it, at some point or another, we have all been hesitant to chase our dreams. Often the fear of failure is what makes achieving your dreams seem impossible.

Now, the question is: What can you do to manage the fear?

My daughter is 2 years old and very fond of elephants. 
Her piccolo fante is a tiny grey elephant that has been a favourite in her stable of fluffy friends and is often with her. This must be why my attention is so tuned into elephants around me, not just at home on the floor. I came across a number of elephant idioms and stories over the past two weeks and, I must admit, they brought so much pachydermal insight that I decided to share and celebrate them all as prompts for reflection.

As a Psychologist I often have many of my clients mentioning in our sessions, how much they miss someone or something from their past. Which often makes me wonder why can’t we think of the past pain free?

As I tell my clients "Do not attempt to solve problems until they are on the table." That does not mean that planning is not necessary but as we know reality can offer a completely different story on the day. It is all about how we react (emotionally) when something happens. When something triggers our emotions. Easier said than done.

What if you slow down and realize that the world around you is smiling at you? What if you hold the door for somebody instead of running everywhere? What if you tell your manager you have stress, and this is causing you health issues?

If you are considering seeing a coach or a therapist and are unsure which to choose, this 3-minute read by Lydia Mastori will provide you with some clarity.

Feeling overwhelmed can have many different causes, such as work responsibilities, health concerns or relationship issues, to name just a few. Dealing with your feeling of overwhelm should always start with identifying the cause. However, there are two underlying causes that often play a major role: A lack of boundaries and/or a lack of priorities. Let's examine them closer.

Wenn du etwas verändern, deine Ziele erreichen und das machen willst, was dir guttut, brauchst du Energie und innere Stärke. Und die kommen nur, wenn du auf dich schaust. Du weisst das, aber irgendwie kommt immer was dazwischen? Der alltägliche Stress, die Erwartungen anderer. I feel you – und viele andere auch! Darum: lasse uns nochmals einen Anlauf nehmen und einen Schritt in Richtung Selbstermächtigung tun!

We are all unique, especially when it comes to coaching. When choosing a coach, it is extremely important to find the right fit as it can greatly impact your progress during and after the sessions.

We rarely think of our work, our attitude towards life or towards others and ourselves, as being a possible cause for illness. Over the course of many years, I have come to realize that health has another, more hidden aspect: it is connected to us living our true potential as human beings, based on who we are.

Our potential is rather like a muscle: if we don't use it, it shrivels and its energy goes stale. This affects our mental and physical health, leading to anxiety, lack of energy and motivation, but also to more serious diseases.

By : Maddalena Fumagalli

If you recognize the warning signs of impending burnout in yourself; remember that it will only get worse if you leave it alone. But if you take steps to get your life back into balance, you can prevent burnout from becoming a full-blown breakdown.

One of the quickest ways to improve your relationship with yourself is to start being kinder with what you say to yourself!

When you start to train your self-talk to be kind instead of harsh, it includes: Saying positive, supportive and helpful things to ourselves – ‘You got this’; ‘I believe in you’; ‘You look great today’; ‘Wow you are really strong today’; ‘Rest up, you deserve a well-earned break’; ‘Even though it’s difficult, you have what it takes to get through this’, ‘Just do your best and forget the rest!’.

From the mundane “What should we watch tonight?”, “What hotel should we stay at?”, “Where do we order from?” to the more life-changing “What new career will I choose?”, “Who should I commit to?” our day-to-day life is basically all about decision-making.

Luckily, we live in a world of opportunities and options, and we certainly agree that this is good, it brings diversity and enriches our lives. It is surely better to have alternatives than to have one single option or no option at all. Right?

Stress management is not simple for everyone, but there is a method for everyone. It is most import to ensure that any action you propose to take is in keeping with your personality and can be executed in a style that suits you.