Category: mental health

I never knew what it meant to seriously “watch your money” until I quit my full-time job in sales to pursue my coaching business. Wow, what a reality check! I had saved for years to get to this point, but it was all the day to day things that I just took for granted, until I no longer had access to them. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very fortunate that I’m in a supportive relationship where my husband has backed me and my decisions, but I’m not one to go and spend our hard-earned savings on the next shoe sale right now….

So, how do you watch what you spend, to save for that side hustle you want to turn into a full-time business? Or that car, house, or holiday you have been dreaming about for so long? Look, there’s no easy formula. Cutting back on dining out and online shopping addictions will help, but it’s about way more than that. It’s to do with our mindset. How much we honestly believe we need in order to feel whole, included, accepted and ENOUGH.

When I first cut back on all those things, I had a bit of a “consumer detox”. I went through all the stages of grief: Shock and denial, anger, loneliness, guilt, depression and reflection. I was someone who used to go out for client lunches every week, have the latest outfits, hair and make-up done and would be flattered when my colleagues complemented me on how I looked. From the outside, I had it all, but I was miserable. I was stuck in a career that just wasn’t me anymore and my immune system was shutting down. Every day the thought of putting on make-up and stilettos was making me physically ill. I needed out of this life I was pretending to live.

As soon as I realised that material things don’t define me as a person, that’s when my world opened up. There is so much to be thankful for in life. A walk on the beach, or a gym session is worth so much more to me than looking like a fashionista or going to the latest café’s and bars. Sure, those things are NICE to have, but I am still me without them. In fact, I’m more ME than I ever have been and it feels really good.

We live in a world where consumerism has been killing the environment for years and we are only now starting to wake up to the message; enough is enough. So why not start being more aware of your footprint on the planet and next time you go to buy that 10^th pair of jeans ask yourself, is this really what I need right now?

About 7 years ago, I was working at one of the commercial TV networks and had just moved from Perth to Melbourne. I was completely overwhelmed and struggling with all the things a move across the country brings; new job, place, relationship etc. I met one of my closest friends through work and she introduced me to her mum – a Reiki practitioner. I had no idea what Reiki was at the time but was willing to try anything. I was on the verge of having a nervous breakdown at 27 years of age.

She explained to me that Reiki works on an energetic level to emotionally and physically heal your body. My first few experiences were lying on a massage table, while she practiced different hand positions and movements over my body. I felt completely relaxed as she worked on me, and sometimes I would even fall asleep. Those were some of the calmest and happiest moments in my life.

As I had more sessions, I started feeling a clarity in my mind that I had never experienced before. There was an inner peace that I had always read about, but never believed I could actually achieve. Sometimes I would have an emotional release throughout the treatment and challenging memories would come up, but that experience always made me feel better when I left the session.

If you’re wondering whether Reiki is for you, or aren’t sure where to start – let’s have a chat!