One question to ask yourself

What story am I starting my day with?

I'm just back from my morning coffee walk (a quick 10 minute walk around the park with my coffee I aim for most mornings, without checking my phone & instead focusing intently on the sounds of the birds & the rain or sun on my face) & as I was heading home I realised I'd spent the last 5-8 minutes questioning a decision I've already made about my week ahead (nothing major, just a way to spend my time). How would I communicate it? What if people didn't like it? It was making me feel a bit anxious, or apprehensive. I called myself on it, snapped myself back to the present & shook it off, affirming to myself 'I'm doing it anyway, what's the point in overthinking it now?'. Check in each morning with yourself this week, what stories do you tell yourself & how are they impacting your mood?

Something to consider

If we're conditioned to to chase success, contentment can feel uncomfortable - Dr Scherina

When we feel at peace, we are slowed, we become more aware of discomfort, of the stories in our head, of our lack of 'doing'. Many of you notice moments of this & decide this discomfort is anxiety, a sense of 'wrong', so instead of allowing said peace, you do more, you get busy. This feels safe for our nervous system because it feels familiar & it's ok, there's a reason why this is. But get curious, you're stealing peace from yourself

One thing I'd tell my younger self.

Living life to the fullest isn't achieving or earning the most, travelling the furthest or being the most 'aspirational', but rather, it's learning to be where you are, to take care of yourself, to find joy in the daily, to be ok with being instead of always doing

I say this, I probably wouldn't have accepted or understood it as my younger self. I'd have rolled my eyes & figured, yes but... Once I achieve that point in my career, that exciting & enviable relationship, have that house or car or bag, definitely once I have that body... Aspirational now isn't in those things for most of us, it's relatability & authenticity & love & connection. I love that for our generation.

One thing to try this week

Slow down

Dr. Pooja Lakshmin MD wrote this week about her year of slow, that instead of trying to find this all elusive 'balance', she's been focusing on slowing down. She highlighted that slowing down supports decision making from a place of 'clarity & agency'. I loved the framing of this & it's certainly where I try to place intention in my life. It's internally driven & doesn't rely on achieving a certain metric in order for it to be successful (how do you quantify balance anyway?). Get curious about your day to day, from the moment you wake up - are you rushed, urgent & reminding yourself how busy you are? Or are you considered, intentional & mindful in your approach?

A few things to tell you...

TWO FREE ETPHD EVENTS THIS WEEK

I'm holding a free webinar on Thursday evening at 5pm UK time that'll help you with fat loss if you struggle with overeating every time you try & there''ll be a live Q&A - you don't want to miss it. Get it in the diary - here's the link

Katie is beginning weekly IG live somatic practices tomorrow (Tuesday 7th May) - they're only 15 minutes long at 7.30am UK time every Tuesday over on IG.. The perfect way to start your day by connecting with yourself - find them here

What's the difference between RED-S & HA? Why are you suddenly dizzy during exercise? Find out here 

Do you get jealous of others? Where they're at in life? How do you actually achieve optimal health? Find out here

Should you offer group coaching / another new service for your business? Find out here

How can you find a work-pregnancy balance? Listen here
 

One more thing...

Please share your favourite stuff.

Thank you all for continuing to share your favourite Monday email quotes. I see them all. I know how much I love seeing impactful quotes from strangers, so it means a lot that you allow me to hopefully be that person for someone else. f there's something you really relate to or know someone who'd benefit from something in this email, please share it and pay it forward. Words are magical, and if I've learned anything from writing these emails to you for years, you never know when someone needs to hear the exact thing you've got to say.