I started drafting this post last Sunday from the departure gates of Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires as my five-week mini-sabbatical ended, boo hoo! (Annoyingly the Substack tech/wifi gods failed me and I gave up in defeat).

The trip was a delayed gift to myself to mark my transition 6 months ago from employee to solopreneur, one of my biggest mid-life shifts.

It’s been a great adventure (self-employment even more so than my travels!) and I’ve spent many recent hours pondering my path and deciding what to explore next.

Having space to think (so many hours on buses…) has raised lots of questions:

• How do I feel about my new life, and business, 6 months in?

• What’s going to plan? Are my targets realistic? What do I need to learn?

• How do I balance coaching, mindfulness teaching, marketing and creative expression to have impact that enables fulfilment and a sustainable income?

• What can I experiment with? What should I stop, start, or change?

How do you know when it’s time to shift things?

What transitions are you going through?

Eternally evolving ♻️

Naturally, I’ve been thinking about the Zestful Zen newsletter and community as I reflect on these questions.

For almost 2 years now, Zestful Zen has allowed me to discover and develop my creative voice, alongside growing my business from side hustle to centre-stage.

I love writing to you every week, having conversations, and sharing space at our Gentle Gatherings.

Zestful Zen has evolved intuitively. I’ve experimented with formats, series (early readers might remember the Monday Matchstick Challenge), posting rhythms, and most recently holding space at our online Gentle Gatherings.

As I return to work, and with the upcoming publication anniversary in July, now seems like a sensible time to press pause; to take a beat and evaluate where I am on this journey, and how I can best bring you along for the ride.

So, today I’m reaching out to you for your perspective on Zestful Zen.

What do you want from Zestful Zen?

We all face digital overwhelm and I know your time is precious. I want Zestful Zen to bring you value, and for you to look forward to opening these emails.

In a bid to ‘professionalise’ what I offer you, I’ve been digging into Substack’s suite of stats, and trying to understand which posts seem to resonate most (or not at all!)

I’m not a statistician, and to be honest, I find the numbers a bit of a conundrum:

• I think they show that my longer/deeper/more personal essays (e.g. on identity) get more engagement (likes/comments/shares) than say Monday Magic prompts.

• But equally, it seems like the open/email read rate is pretty consistent across posts/formats (and not as high as I’d like!)

So where does that leave me..? Still uncertain on which posts you enjoy, and whether I post too much, not enough, or not the right stuff.

Numbers can only tell me so much. I’d rather hear directly from you, what you really want.

Have your say 📣

If you could please answer my quick survey (it just takes a few minutes), I’d really appreciate your feedback. This is your chance to shape Zestful Zen. 💕

If that’s not enough incentive to share your views, as a little sweetener, upon completing the survey, you’ll have the option to enter a prize draw to win a free 60-minute one-to-one coaching session with me.

Of course, feel free to simply hit reply to this email to offer feedback if that’s easier.

I’d love to know what you think of Zestful Zen and what you’d like to see more or less of. What should I do differently? Thanks for your insights in advance!

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead,

Self-reflection and journal prompts ✍️

• What have you been reflecting on lately?

• What transition(s) are you going through? What have they taught you?

• Where would you like to make changes in your life or career?

• Where do you find creative expression and fulfilment?

If you enjoyed this post, please comment, like or share with others. Thanks for your support! ✨

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Not going to Pilates, taking a pottery class, or walking in the park.

Just lying down and letting the weight of your body sink into the bed. Or simply sitting in a comfy chair, gazing out the window with no agenda.

If you’re anything like me, I can bet it’s been a while.

Doing, doing, doing

As an eternally curious person, excited to explore and try new things, I often fall into the trap of filling my free time with activities.

There’s nothing wrong with doing fun stuff – my gym classes bring me joy and health benefits; my wanderings and learning adventures bring awe and intellectual stimulation.

And in recent years, my balance has shifted towards more restful activities that help me slow down and be more present – yoga and Pilates rather than HIIT, woodland walks, meditation, reading, colouring in…all good, relaxing things.

But these activities still aren’t 100% rest.

What is rest, really?

To be honest, until last year, the notion of ‘pure rest’ wasn’t really on my horizon. The idea of doing nothing was alien to me, and I considered my slower activities to be rest.

My wakeup call came during my mindfulness teacher training.

A key component of the Breathworks Mindfulness for Health course – designed for chronic health conditions and pain management – is keeping a pacing diary.

• This involves recording activities and rest periods for a whole week and tallying associated pain/fatigue.

• By analysing the records, participants can identify correlations between specific activities or rest periods and the degree of symptoms they experience.

• Over several weeks, they can then go one step further, experimenting with length of activities/rest, to figure out suitable baselines that don’t lead to problems (e.g. maximum 10 minutes swimming; a 5-minute break for every 30 minutes of desk work, etc.)

Walking the talk

As an aspiring mindfulness teacher, I had to complete this exercise myself, and boy was the experience enlightening.

Since I don’t have a chronic health condition, I measured my perceived stress levels and muscle tension, and I faithfully recorded all activities in detail.

The results reinforced what I already knew (that certain aspects of my then-job caused me significant stress – hello hundreds of daily emails!) and made clear the physical impact of this stress in terms of associated muscle tension.

Then my real lightbulb moment came when I had to tally up my rest periods.

I hadn’t realised that ‘pure rest’ was necessary (or desirable), conflating slower activities with rest (and feeling slightly smug that I’d fitted these activities into my busy work week).

But upon reading the guidance and discovering the meaning of ‘pure rest’, rather than restful activities, my grand total for the week was…zero minutes.

A bit of a shocker for someone who took pride in being mindful and living with self-compassion.

Resistance to rest

I’ll admit that I initially felt a lot of resistance to this approach to rest, and reasoned with myself that it didn’t apply to me, as someone without a chronic health condition.

But as the weeks passed and I experimented with setting baselines (especially taking mini-breaks in-between work tasks, rather than slogging for hours), I noticed a big difference in my stress levels, muscle tension, patience and positivity.

I was converted to the power of proper pauses for pure rest.

An evolving rest practice

That’s not to say I’ve got things perfect. I still fall off the wagon, especially when my routine is disrupted.

Now that I’m self-employed, it’s often tempting to push forward when I’m excited and passionate about a project.

So, I must be intentional about taking breaks and embracing real rest periods, recognising when I need to pause.

I’ve not been great at resting during my current mini-sabbatical travelling South America (case in point: writing this post during a brief spell of downtime!)

Between all the sightseeing and travelling (plus trying to sustain my fledgling business as a temporary digital nomad), there’s been little space for slowing down.

But I’m chilling more in my final fortnight (I’m heading off to the Salar de Uyuni salt flats for a few days offline). And I’ve already scheduled in some pure rest days after my return to London – work can wait!

Like all aspects of mindfulness, rest is a practice, that ebbs and flows. But building it into my routine helps it become an integral part of my life.

With my foundations in place, rest becomes a sustaining practice that I can return to, again and again, in good and bad times.

Have I convinced you to embed a regular practice into your routine?

Why not give it go? Start small, a few days at a time, observing the difference resting makes to your physical and mental health.

What have you got to lose….?

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like…

Self-reflection and journal prompts ✍️

• When did you last really rest?

• What stops you resting?

• How could you build 10 minutes of rest into your daily routine?

• What activities trigger stress or symptoms for you? Can you build in breaks?

• What would a truly restful day look and feel like to you?

If you enjoyed this post, please comment, like or share with others. Thanks for your support! ✨

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Work gets busy, caring responsibilities become stressful, you burn the candle at both ends, and before you know it, you’re back at square one wondering where your wholesome habits went.

Perhaps you then start ‘shoulding’ on yourself. You turn your self-care practices into yet another guilt-tripped obligation that you haven’t met.

Or you go to the other extreme and decide that you don’t deserve or haven’t earned the right to self-care, when there are umpteen tasks still left undone.

Either way, trying to restore your routine can feel like an insurmountable hill that you don’t have the time or energy to climb.

Hi, I’m Holly, a career/life coach and mindfulness facilitator. Here at Zestful Zen, I share tips on self-care, creativity and personal growth, to help you live mindfully with zest, zen, and purpose. Subscribe to join our supportive community and our Gentle Gatherings. Come inside and cosy up by the fire. You’re so welcome here. ☕️💕

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Restoring your routine

So how to get back up on that peak?

Having climbed that hill many times myself (and inevitably tumbled back down it), I’ve got a few suggestions.

This isn’t a prescription, more a pick and mix selection: take what serves you and ignore what doesn’t. You do YOU.

And if you need it, consider this your permission slip to prioritise your wellbeing.

1. Leave the guilt at the door

Firstly, don’t treat falling off the self-care wagon as a failure.

Yes, self-care is good for you. And yes, it’s frustrating when you feel that carefully crafted routine disintegrating.

But that doesn’t mean it’s something to guilt-trip yourself over.

Step back and look at your life with fresh eyes to understand – without judgement – how/when/why your self-care practices slipped away.

Then reflect on what might make it easier to sustain a routine in the future.

Maybe journal on it if you find that helpful or try visualisation. Whatever works for you.

2. Start small

Pick one small, simple action to start with that makes you feel good, which isn’t too difficult to implement.

Even a short period of self-care can make a difference, and you’ll get the dopamine hit of ‘ticking off’ a wellbeing action.

Maybe this looks like five minutes of savouring your morning coffee in silence while gazing out the window, without multitasking or doomscrolling.

Or perhaps you can take a quick time-out for a 3 Step-Breathing Space meditation. ⬇️

3. Build gradually

You might find it easiest to pick one practice and gradually increase the time spent on it, going from 5 to 10 to 30 minutes over a few weeks, until you build up to what’s sustainable for you.

Or maybe you’d prefer to add an additional short practice every few weeks. You could take a few weeks to restore your daily meditation practice, then tack on a weekly art session before adding a regular massage a few months down the line.

There’s no hurry to ‘win’ at self-care. Slow and steady wins the race, as they say.

4. Fall back on old favourites

Start with the go-to practices you really love, that rejuvenate and restore you.

Don’t get caught up in perfectionism: your self-care practices don’t have to look good on Instagram or tick off every nutrition box. Just do what feels good (to you).

When my mindfulness routine slips, my go-to practices for easing back in are a body scan meditation or some mindful walking. These practices help me reset and remember how good it feels to practice mindfulness.

Body scan meditation:

Mindful walking guidance:

5. Try something new

Conversely, maybe what you need to kickstart prioritising self-care again is a bit of novelty to shake things up. Is there something you’ve always wanted to try?

How about some pottery painting or an aerial silks class? A new massage style you fancy? Or, a cuisine you’d like to learn to cook? Follow your curiosity and give it a go.

6. Treat yourself

If you’re struggling to re-establish practices in your daily routine, try taking a day (or half-day) out to remind yourself how good self-care can feel.

This could mean a spa day, or maybe an afternoon hiking in fresh country air. Or perhaps you can have an ‘artist’s date’ checking out that cool new gallery in town.

Think of it as an early birthday or Christmas gift to yourself. You’re worth it!

7. Ask for help

If you’re anything like me, you hate asking other people for help.

Often, we’re our own worst enemy when it comes to self-reliance and self-perceived weakness. But if we’re open about our struggles, we’re often surprised by how eager others are to help us.

Instead of feeling bad about seeking support, try putting the shoe on the other foot and remembering how happy you usually are to offer help to others.

If your self-care practices are slipping, chances are there are probably things on your plate that people would happily support you with to make your life a bit easier.

Maybe you could ask for a deadline extension at work, or a family member could pick up the slack on the housework. Or perhaps you just need a friend to listen as you unburden your soul.

Of course, it can be tempting to think that loved ones should notice and offer help without you needing to ask. But we’re all busy and sometimes unintentionally oblivious, so remember the saying, “don’t ask, don’t get…”

8. Get away from it all

Maybe a day retreat or short trip away is just what the doctor ordered to reboot your self-care routine. A few suggestions:

’s creative writing retreats / ’s Writer’s Nest Retreat and Soul Pages sessions / ’s Ease Retreats.

9. Get an accountability buddy (or several)

If you’re trying to re-establish a routine, try buddying up with a likeminded friend.

Go jogging together, motivate each other via WhatsApp messages, arrange a monthly spa date or work through your respective self-care bucket lists.

If you prefer someone more independent pushing you, give body-doubling a go (come along to Focus & Flourish co-working) or join a local club (Park Run, Stitch & Bitch, bird watching…the options are endless).

10. Consider a container

Having a space-holder to encourage, challenge, teach or mentor you, over a longer period, can make a big difference in overcoming wellbeing obstacles, establishing sustainable self-care practices and driving transformational change.

If you’d like some support for free, come along to Bloom & Grow wellbeing workshops and our Pause Together mindfulness circle. Practicing in community with human connection can really help you to establish a sustainable practice.

For a more personal touch, consider 1-2-1 life coaching support. I have some slots available from May: book a free discovery call.

Or sign up for a course. Maybe you’d love to try belly dancing, lino-block printing, or writing poetry. Whatever interests you, there’s probably a class available somewhere, online or in-person. It’s also a great way to meet like-minded souls!

If mindfulness is calling you:

• Enrol for the next live cohort of my 6-week Mindfulness for Wellbeing course from 29th April - 3rd June (Wednesdays).

• Enrol for the self-paced e-course version of Mindfulness for Wellbeing, launching on Monday 18th May.

• If you need a deeper transformation, I’m running a live cohort of the 8-week Mindfulness for Stress course (Breathworks curriculum) this summer. Waitlist coming soon!

Self-reflection and journal prompts ✍️

• What supports you in establishing and maintaining a wellbeing routine?

• What hinders your self-care practices?

• What simple practice(s) could you re-inject into your routine today?

• What new wellbeing activities would you like to try?

• Where do you need a permission slip to help you prioritise self-care?

Share your perspective ✨

I’d love to hear your reflections on self-care, mindfulness and wellbeing. What could I offer you through Zestful Zen that would support your wellbeing?

Leave a comment

If you enjoyed this post, please comment, like or share with others. Thanks for your support! ✨

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Maybe to meditate, to journal, or simply to hold space for each other.

When I practice mindfulness in community, whether teaching or as a participant, I feel this magic happen. Although mindfulness is embedded into my daily life, there’s something special about coming together to practice in a group.

We might come from diverse backgrounds, live in various places, have different life circumstances. Our stories are unique. But we have in common a wish to boost our wellbeing by living more mindfully:

• To build a sustainable mindfulness practice.

• To pay attention to the positives in our lives.

• To use our practice to reconnect with our bodies and our inner weather.

• To manage stress, anxiety, or pain.

• To live more fully.

There’s power in this common purpose and human connection. We can share our individual experiences of practice, learn from each other, and grow together.

Hi, I’m Holly, a career/life coach and mindfulness facilitator. Here at Zestful Zen, I share tips on self-care, creativity and personal growth, to help you live mindfully with zest, zen, and purpose. Subscribe to join our supportive community and our Gentle Gatherings. Come inside and cosy up by the fire. You’re so welcome here. ☕️💕

Subscribe & join our community ✨

Learning better together

For some of us, it’s the container of a cohort that really unlocks our mindfulness practice. For me, this was a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course.

I’d tried meditation for years, using apps like Headspace, with mixed results.

I’d dip in and out. Some tracks would resonate, I’d stick at it for a few weeks, and then life would get busy and my ‘streak’ would be lost. I’d gamified my practice for motivation, but it didn’t seem to work for me. I needed something deeper.

After a particularly stressful period at work, I signed up for MBSR during the Christmas holidays. New Year, New Me and all that. It’s probably the only New Year’s resolution I’ve ever kept.

It was a significant commitment (8 weeks of 2-hour classes plus homework) with plenty of bumps along the way, but making this investment changed my life.

Learning alongside others, with peer support, expert instruction and an understanding of the theory that underpins practice, things finally ‘clicked’ and mindfulness practice became an integral part of my life.

You could say I became a mindfulness junkie, completing multiple live group courses and learning about mindful self-compassion, as well as how to manage stress, health conditions and pain through mindfulness.

Plus, of course becoming a fully-fledged evangelist by taking the plunge to train as a Breathworks mindfulness teacher.

Work with me! How I can help you ✅

• For career clarity, navigating change and personal growth: 1-to-1 coaching.

• Manage stress, build mind-body connection and be fully present through mindfulness (live group classes and self-paced e-courses).

Living more mindfully (with a little help!)

Now, during tough times, I have my regular practice to support me, and the knowledge of how to best help myself manage stress and difficult experiences.

And in the good times, mindfulness helps me to notice, appreciate, and savour positive experiences that might otherwise pass by unnoticed. My practice makes my life fuller and more satisfying, as I enjoy little pleasures and details around me.

That’s not to say I don’t fall off the wagon. We all get busy at times and neglect the things that sustain us. It’s called mindfulness practice for a reason!

But when my established habits slip, I keep coming back to the foundations I learned on my courses. And practicing in community gives me that extra motivation from human connection, to keep my routine.

Coming together in community

Earlier this month, I wrapped up teaching the latest live cohort of my Mindfulness for Wellbeing course (this time for a corporate client). I’m going to miss this group!

I’m fortunate that teaching allows me to practice regularly in a group format, whether that’s in person or online. But you don’t have to be a teacher to gather mindfully!

I’d love to invite you along to my free Gentle Gatherings, held each month.

• For a short and sweet opportunity to practice together, join my Pause Together sessions (15-30 minutes).

• For diving a bit deeper on wellbeing, come along to Bloom & Grow workshops (1 hour).

You can get more details and sign up here:

Investing in your wellbeing

If you’re ready to invest more time and energy into learning mindfulness and boosting your wellbeing, I have a few upcoming opportunities for group practice (waitlists coming soon):

• I’ll be leading the next live cohort of my Mindfulness for Wellbeing course in May (6 weeks of hourly sessions).

• The on-demand e-course version of Mindfulness for Wellbeing launches in June. Learn on your own schedule, with optional community aspects.

• If you want to dive more deeply into managing stress through mindfulness, I’ll be running a live cohort of Mindfulness for Stress (Breathworks curriculum; 8 weeks of 2-hour sessions) this summer.

I’m very happy to answer questions about any of these courses, in the comments or drop me an email at info@zestfulzen.co.uk

Testimonials

“An insightful introduction to mindfulness and wellbeing. The course combined practice with awareness, enabling me to see why breath or self-care matters and provided easy ways to include into my everyday. I have continued with my journey since this course and have incorporated many of the principles Holly provided into how I approach my wellbeing. Thank you!”

- MFW Live Cohort participant

“Practical and engaging - enjoyed Holly’s passion on the topic, as well as providing a number of ideas and examples on implementation in day to day life. Nice to have the follow-up content as well.”

- Workplace Mindfulness Taster Session participant

“I would really recommend Holly's calm and inclusive approach which helped me find the time to care for myself during the working day, and giving myself the chance to feel more grounded. She's great at explaining the different concepts (as well as the background to the course) and then guiding people through different exercises in a safe and judgment-free way.”

- Introduction to Mindfulness course participant

Self-reflection and journal prompts ✍️

• When are you at your most mindful?

• How do you feel when you gather in community?

• What helps you embed mindfulness into your daily life?

• What would a more mindful life look/feel like to you?

• What areas of your life could mindfulness help you with?

• What would you like to gain from mindfulness practice?

Share your perspective ✨

I’d love to hear your reflections on mindfulness, wellbeing and investing in yourself. What helps you to slow down and be in the moment? What holds you back from practicing?

Leave a comment

If you enjoyed this post, please comment, like or share with others. Thanks for your support! ✨

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For me, it was about three hours ago (at the time of writing this).

The irony isn’t lost on me, that for this weekend’s essay, I’d been planning to write about the power of mindfulness for helping us to reconnect with our bodies.

With this strengthened awareness comes the possibility of making conscious decisions instead of acting on automatic pilot: choosing how we treat our bodies, instead of mindlessly using them.

I fully stand by this statement. Mindfulness does indeed increase our awareness and offer choice. But that doesn’t mean we make the right choice 100% of the time.

Hi, I’m Holly, a career/life coach and mindfulness facilitator. Here at Zestful Zen, I share tips on self-care, creativity and personal growth, to help you live mindfully with zest, zen, and purpose. Subscribe to join our supportive community and our Gentle Gatherings. Come inside and cosy up by the fire. You’re so welcome here. ☕️💕

Subscribe & join our community ✨

Making the “wrong” choices

Case in point:

This morning, I decided that instead of taking 3 different buses across Lima to get to the city centre (and the same in reverse), I’d just walk there and back.

Walking long distances doesn’t faze me and I love getting the lay of the land in a new location by pounding the pavements.

But I made a tactical error today: choosing to walk sock-less in hiking sandals.

When it’s 31 degrees Celsius, with 73% humidity, who wants to don thick woollen socks and hiking boots?

24km later, with multiple ginormous blisters on my poor aching feet, I can verify that this was a poor decision!

Work with me! How I can help you ✅

• For career clarity, navigating change and personal growth: 1-to-1 coaching.

• Manage stress, build mind-body connection and be fully present through mindfulness (live group classes and self-paced e-courses).

Ignoring my better angel

It’s not like I didn’t question the wisdom of my footwear choice.

As I popped on my sandals this morning, a little voice (my better angel?) whispered, “hmmm, I think these are rubbing a bit…”

Did I listen? Only enough to pack some pre-emptive Compeed blister plasters, “just in case”.

In my defence, everything went fine until the last 5km, when BOOM! My blisters suddenly made their presence screamingly obvious. Compeed to the semi-rescue.

A less stubborn (more sensible?) person might have flagged down a cab at this point. But I was COMMITTED to walking the whole way.

Plus, the physical pain in my feet was outweighed by my refusal to attempt haggling with a taxi driver in my virtually non-existent Spanish. I chose my ego over my feet.

Do I regret keeping walking? Nope. Do I regret wearing sandals? Probably. Maybe my boots would have rubbed too, but probably not as much!

Should I try a crime against fashion tomorrow and wear socks and sandals? Not sure I could bear that! Boots it is then.

Forever learning

So, what has this experience taught me, if anything?

It’s been a good reminder that mindfulness is called a practice, for a reason.

While I’ve grown better in recent years at tuning into my body’s signals, and acting on them, I’m not immune to overriding what my body is telling me to do, when I feel like there’s a reason to.

And while I’ve learned the value of pacing myself (thank you pacing diary!), I’m still guilty of occasionally pushing through, when it seems the lesser of two evils.

Sometimes, my stubbornness still wins: my determination to finish what I’ve started, to complete what I set out to. This might mean overriding physical pain or exhaustion.

My perseverance is often a positive quality, and it’s gotten me far in life. But some days, it’d probably be better to admit defeat and accept the easier option.

For now, I’m coming back to my practice, to treating my body with kindness and compassion.

• I’ve tenderly treated my little tootsies and I’m having a lazy night chilling.

• No long walks tomorrow!

• And a body scan meditation at bedtime tonight and when I wake in the morning: a great way to really notice what’s going on for me physically (and mentally too; I typically hold my stress and tension in my body).

Tomorrow is another day, when I can again tune into my body’s signals and make conscious decisions as a result – hopefully better choices this time!

Practice, practice, practice. That’s what I’ll keep coming back to and learning from.

P.S.

I’m at the start of a 6-week trip in South America (a belated sabbatical after quitting diplomacy). I’m aiming to publish at least two essays a month while on the road, and to keep the daily Mindful March Challenge going on Notes (wifi permitting).

But I’ll be listening (better!) to my body and mind, so I’m not setting a strict publishing schedule. You may or may not get an essay next week!

If you’re looking for something to read in between essays, remember you can head to the Zestful Zen homepage or the A-Z library for a browse of my extensive archive (200+ posts).

I’m also skipping voiceovers while travelling. (Feedback always welcome on this - do you listen to voiceovers, or you don’t care if I include them?)

You’ll still be receiving Monday Magic prompts every week as I’ve prescheduled them. Keep starting your week with intention - I’ll try to too!

Self-reflection and journal prompts ✍️

• What helps you to listen to your body?

• When/why do you find it difficult to act on your body’s signals?

• What helps you to pace yourself? What leads you to push through instead?

• What would it look like to offer your body kindness and compassion today?

Share your perspective ✨

I’d love to hear your reflections on listening to your body, making conscious choices and overriding signals. What helps you to tune into, and act on, your body’s needs?

Leave a comment

If you enjoyed this post, please comment, like or share with others. Thanks for your support! ✨

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As the shortest month comes to a close, the season is turning in London.

Nature is sprouting new life everywhere, with green shoots rising and spring blooms opening. Purple crocuses carpet the grass and blossoms clothe the plum trees.

There are many details to notice as I stroll mindfully in the park: wisps of white cloud gracing the azure skies and cheerful buttercups reflecting bright sunlight.

The perfect reminder to slow down, pause, and savour the moment.

Spring is sprung!

Birds sing joyfully,
Fluttering through tall treetops,
Celebrating life.

Sunshine yellow blooms,
Glistening with fat dew drops
Signal spring's arrived.

Vivid, vibrant, bright.
The colours of the season,
Vitally alive.

Poem by Holly Bailie

Hi, I’m Holly, a career/life coach and mindfulness facilitator. Here at Zestful Zen, I share tips on self-care, creativity and personal growth, to help you live mindfully with zest, zen, and purpose. Subscribe to join our supportive community and our Gentle Gatherings. Come inside and cosy up by the fire. You’re so welcome here. ☕️💕

Subscribe & join our community ✨

Mindful March

My moments savouring nature’s beauty inspired me to choose Mindful March as the theme for next month’s Weekend Reads. Each weekend, I’ll share my experience of embodied mindfulness practice, including:

• The impact that regular practice has had on my wellbeing (and can have on yours).

• My lightbulb moments of realisation and transformation.

• Plus practices and principles you can apply in daily life.

I hope you’ll join me for a spot of spring rejuvenation and refocusing on personal wellbeing through mindfulness and self-compassion.

Remember, self-care isn’t selfish and doesn’t need to be earned - you are your own best investment and it’s important to prioritise your wellbeing. You’re worth it!!

Work with me! How I can help you ✅

• For career clarity, navigating change and personal growth: 1-to-1 coaching.

• Manage stress, build mind-body connection and be fully present through mindfulness (live group classes and self-paced e-courses).

Come along to our Gentle Gatherings

I’ll be hosting another round of Gentle Gatherings in March. Consider yourself invited!

Join us if you’re craving connection, community (and maybe even a dose of accountability).

Please register on Luma to receive the Zoom links and reminders. You can subscribe to the calendars to be notified when new sessions are added:

📆 Calendars 🌼 Bloom & Grow 🌱 Focus & Flourish ✍️ Pause Together 🧘‍♀️

Bloom & Grow workshops

• Nourish your wellbeing and nurture your creativity, as we reflect, share, and grow together (one hour).

• Our theme this time is Movement and Grounding. We’ll do some meditation, journalling and gentle mindful movement.

• We’re meeting on Wednesday 4th March: 18:00-19:00 UK time (currently UTC/GMT). 10:00-11:00 PST / 12:00-13:00 CST / 13:00-14:00 EST / 19:00-20:00 CET.

• Sign up on Luma. Check your timezone here.

• Come as you are, and it’s fine to have your camera on or off. This is your space to be comfy in.

• Bloom & Grow workshops are recorded for sharing, but we stay on at the end for some chat after the recording ends. So don’t worry if you’d like to talk more privately.

Pause Together

• A calm and caring circle where we slow down, breathe and practice mindfulness in community, through meditation, visualisations and mindful movement.

• We gather on Sunday, to press pause and reset for the week ahead.

• Even brief bursts of mindfulness can benefit our wellbeing, so Pause Together sessions are short and sweet (15-30 minutes), with busy lives in mind.

• We’re meeting on Sunday 8th March for 15-30 minutes, starting at 16:00 UK time (currently UTC/GMT). PST 08:00 / CST 10:00 / EST 11:00 / CET 17:00.

• Sign up on Luma. Check your timezone here.

Focus & Flourish

• A supportive co-working space for focus, connection, and getting things done (one hour). Perfect if you need a bit of body-doubling to get you started, or some encouragement to finish a project off.

• Bring along whatever you’d like to work on. Maybe you’ve got a craft project, a Substack post to write, or some pesky work tasks to complete. All are welcome!

• We start sessions with a brief check in on what we want to achieve. Then we dive into business (on mute!) returning before the session ends to share our progress.

• We’re meeting on Tuesday 10th March from 16:00-17:00 UK time (currently UTC/GMT). PST 08:00-09:00 / CST 10:00-11:00 / EST 11:00-12:00 / CET 17:00-18:00.

• Sign up on Luma. Check your timezone here.

Wishing you a wonderful month ahead

I’m looking forward to sharing mindfulness practices and principles with you throughout Mindful March - and hopefully practicing together!

Please join me and I’d love to hear where your practice takes you throughout the month.

I’ll also be thinking ahead as I plan our Bloom & Grow workshop topics for the next quarter (April to June). Please let me know if you’ve got any requests.

Self-reflection and journal prompts ✍️

• What do you enjoy about spring?

• How can you embrace the changing season?

• When are you at your most mindful?

• Where do you need a permission slip to help you rejuvenate?

Share your perspective ✨

I’d love to hear your reflections on springtime (or autumn if you’re down under), changing seasons and mindfulness. Do you live seasonally? What’s your favourite season? What are you excited about for March?

Leave a comment

If you enjoyed this post, please comment, like or share with others. Thanks for your support! ✨

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It’s something we discussed recently, in ’s Ink + Flame writing immersion course. I must admit; I was stumped by the question.

My personality tends towards equanimity, and as far as writing goes, I rarely feel a burning desire to put pen to paper (or type words on a keyboard) on a specific topic.

I’m not a novelist with vivid characters springing to life in my head, and my essay ideas tend to materialise without drama. I write from quiet inner confidence and belief in what I’m saying.

My creative self is more a gentle whisper of encouragement than a fiery voice shouting to be heard.

But when I sat with the question for a while, I remembered those few times when I urgently needed to write, to share my thoughts and feelings.

The common denominator? Anger.

Anger drove me to spill words furiously, with passion and conviction.

Hi, I’m Holly, a career/life coach and mindfulness facilitator. Here at Zestful Zen, I share tips on self-care, creativity and personal growth, to help you live mindfully with zest, zen, and purpose. Subscribe to join our supportive community and our Gentle Gatherings. Come inside and cosy up by the fire. You’re so welcome here. ☕️💕

Subscribe & join our community ✨

Anger as a misunderstood emotion

There are no good or bad emotions, there are just emotions. And for the sake of our wellbeing, we need to feel and acknowledge them.

But when it comes to anger, ‘polite society’ would often have us think otherwise.

We’re told that anger is a negative emotion (especially in women). Something to bite back, to hide, to suppress.

I’m sure I’m not the only woman who was raised to be a ‘good girl’, not to show anger, and to hide my frustration. We’ve all heard the misogynistic tropes about angry women, and I bet we’re all equally fed up with them.

Maybe we need to dig a little deeper on this societal conditioning.

There’s an important, often overlooked, distinction between anger and aggression. Anger is just an ordinary emotion that we all experience; whereas aggression is a behaviour that causes harm.1

The two don’t have to go together and we can express anger in healthy ways.

Work with me! How I can help you ✅

• For career clarity, navigating change and personal growth: 1-to-1 coaching.

• Manage stress, build mind-body connection and be fully present through mindfulness (live group classes and self-paced e-courses).

Anger as a motivator

When I think about the times that I get angry, I mainly see the positives.

Sometimes, I’m fuming about injustice: in the wider world, or suffered by someone I know. Other times, I might be angry at myself for something I’ve done or failed to do.

And then there’s the times I’m angry at how someone has treated me: what they’ve done or failed to do.

In each of these situations, my anger acts as a signal. It might tell me that something’s unfair; that a bad outcome could have been foreseen and avoided; that something needs to change.

And almost always, this awareness leads to action.

Anger might motivate me to raise my voice where I see unfairness, or to campaign for change. It might push me to make changes in my life or relationships. It might encourage me to help a friend or stranger.

Surely that can only be good.

The way I see it, expressing anger, without aggression, can be productive: peaceful protest movements transform society; explaining our frustrations to a friend, colleague or partner can reduce conflict and strengthen our relationships.

Suppressing anger leaves it simmering under the surface, liable to boil over unexpectedly (and sometimes aggressively) when it can’t be contained any longer.

Better that we learn to handle our anger with care and express it healthily.

Anger as energy

Anger brings energy, for a while at least. We can harness it to sustain us through challenging times or when we feel righteous rage pushing us to act.

When my dad died during the pandemic, I was enraged. Angry that he’d been denied the cancer treatment he needed, because hospitals were deemed too ‘unsafe’.

I felt mad at the world. Woe betide the person who stepped closer than 2 metres to me or didn’t wear a mask: my dagger looks were withering.

But the outrage coursing through my veins powered me through the early days of grief. It gave me energy to support my mum, and to manage the bureaucracy that comes with death.

The latter compounded by pandemic idiosyncrasies like holding a virtual “funeral” on Zoom because we weren’t allowed to enter the crematorium. Although this farce added insult to injury, it piled fuel onto my fury, reinvigorating me.

Letting go of anger

Of course, sometimes, we don’t have an obvious, accessible, or safe way to act on our anger. Or we need to shield our loved ones from our fury.

And we can’t rage forever – not without health consequences. Our nervous systems need respite and a chance for our adrenaline and cortisol to dissipate.

Physical exertion is my go-to prescription for burning off heightened emotions.

When my dad passed away, that meant stomping furiously through the woods and frantically cleaning my parents’ flat for a cathartic release.

Now lockdown’s in the rearview mirror, there’s nothing like a Body Combat or Zumba class to lower my stress hormones. Maybe for you, it’s running or swimming.

Writing can play its part too; as an outlet for our emotions. Even if we never share our words with another soul. Even if we just express anger in our journals and burn our words in the fire. Set those feelings FREE.

Anger and equanimity

Maybe it seems odd for a mindfulness champion to advocate anger.

But equanimity is about acknowledging and accepting our emotions, not repressing or avoiding them: noticing our inner weather and just being with our experience, in the moment, without judgement.

With awareness of our emotions comes choice in how we respond, instead of automatic reactivity. Acceptance doesn’t mean passive apathy (but that’s a post for another day).

So, find what works for you: safe ways to express your anger, and options to help your nervous system cope if anger is chronic, overwhelming or unsafe to express.

My reminder to self: anger isn’t bad; there are no bad emotions. It’s okay to feel angry and I can harness my anger for good.

When I next feel fury rising and I’m tempted to push it back down, I’ll pause and ask: How might I use my anger positively this time?

How might you?

Self-reflection and journal prompts ✍️

• How can you express anger healthily?

• When has anger motivated you to take positive action?

• How can you harness anger for good?

• What helps you to reset your nervous system when anger overwhelms you?

Share your perspective ✨

I’d love to hear your reflections on the positive power of anger and expressing emotions. What change has anger prompted you to make? How do you reset after feeling rage?

Leave a comment

If you enjoyed this post, please comment, like or share with others. Thanks for your support! ✨

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The sun was high overhead as Miriam stepped into the park. Spring had clearly sprung as the trees were clothed with youthful green leaves. The heady perfume of wisteria drifted onto the path from a trellis to her left, scenting Miriam’s journey.

She continued along the trail until she came to the pond, her new favourite spot.

In front of her were the now familiar swan couple, bobbing about happily, preening their feathers as sunlight glittered off the rippling water.

To her right, a little old lady appeared, recognisable one week in. Carrying a bag of bird seed as usual, which she proceeded to scatter on the grass, tempting Mr and Mrs Swan out of their floating sanctuary.

They gobbled seeds greedily as a group of mallard ducks, with striking plumage, came noisily quacking, in search of sustenance.

The old lady smiled with delight, cheeks dimpling, as feathered friends quickly surrounded her. Miriam was likewise captured and found herself beaming from ear to ear as she savoured the scene. Working from home beat the office any day!

Her smile caught the old lady’s attention, who stepped forward to introduce herself as Henrietta, a lifelong Londoner, who could be found here every lunchtime on a nature date with her aquatic buddies. Pleased to make your acquaintance indeed.

Miriam sighed contentedly thinking, “I’ve made my first neighbourhood friend already! I’m going to be so happy, living here next to this community nature spot.”

Hi, I’m Holly, a career/life coach and mindfulness facilitator. Here at Zestful Zen, I share tips on self-care, creativity and personal growth, to help you live mindfully with zest, zen, and purpose. Subscribe to join our supportive community and our Gentle Gatherings. Come inside and cosy up by the fire. You’re so welcome here. ☕️💕

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Raising awareness

This piece of flash fiction came out of an exercise from ’s Ink + Flame immersion writing course and was inspired by joining my friend on a walk to her local park (name changed).

After writing it, I found myself drawn to reflecting on the power of parks for connection: with nature, our neighbours, and especially ourselves – body, mind and soul; our creative spirits, our sense of play and adventure, and our innate curiosity.

Parks offer us a place to slow down, wander and wonder. To be mindful. To notice beauty in the little details around us: the delicate, downy hairs on a plant leaf; the intricacy of a spiderweb draped in dewdrops; the filigree of a fractured icy puddle; the kaleidoscopic colours of a wildflower meadow.

As we pause and notice what’s happening around us, we can often tune into our inner weather too. Strolling through the woods or striding across grasslands, while our bodies move, our minds can explore as well and pick up on patterns, desires or signals we’ve overlooked.

Perhaps we realise how much we’ve missed a person or an activity we’ve neglected. Or, with a sudden flash of insight, we identify the solution to a problem we’ve long been pondering. We might stumble across creative inspiration, our imagination sparked, with new ideas emerging for a writing or art project. Or maybe we just admit that we really need a rest and a proper dose of TLC.

Work with me! How I can help you ✅

• For career clarity, navigating change and personal growth: 1-to-1 coaching.

• Manage stress, build mind-body connection and be fully present through mindfulness (live group classes and self-paced e-courses).

Seasonal alignment

Parks encourage us to live seasonally, observing changes in flora and fauna and noticing the impact on our own energy levels and circadian rhythms. Seasonal shifts highlight impermanence – nothing lasts forever, for good or bad.

Spring blossoms tempt us to emerge from hibernation. Long summer days fire us up for picnics and sports on the common. Shedding autumn foliage reminds us that it’s okay to leave things behind and dial down the productivity, trading it for leisurely strolls admiring all the hues of the season.

And even in the depths of winter, a bracing wind can energise and bring out our inner child as we let the gusts carry us. These fleeting moments of seasonal joy can remain long afterwards and power us through difficult days.

Finding community

Parks enable chance encounters that can lead to lifelong friendships: with the old lady feeding the birds; with the bloke walking his excitable dog that bowled you over in its eagerness to chase a stick; with the couple who struck up a conversation while munching sandwiches by the duck pond.

Parks also create opportunities for building community through bonding over shared values and hobbies: the gaggle of Park Run enthusiasts you kept pace with, who seemingly had nothing in common but a love of jogging; the passionate environmentalist who invited you to plant saplings and pick up litter; the art group who set up their easels among the trees.

Nature on my doorstep

For me, the biggest benefit of parks is the space to roam, combined with the proximity of nature. When it gets claustrophobic in my teeny London flat, I head to my local woodlands.

There’s something so satisfying about the snap of twigs and crunch of dry leaves as I stomp through the undergrowth – beats pounding the pavement any day!

I feel like I’ve arrived at home as bird song echoes through the treetops and I’m surrounded by greenery – or even dank, dark mud and bare branches in winter.

Touching tree bark and breathing in the earthy aroma connects me to what makes me human; after all, we were wildlife once too.

Restoring this connection is, well, restorative.

Rejuvenating, energising, and calming all at the same time. Worth its weight in gold, and the time-out in my busy day.

I return home invigorated. My tank topped up, ready to move forwards with whatever I’m working on; often fuelled by new insights gained while wandering, and wondering, in nature – my greatest muse.

Self-reflection and journal prompts ✍️

• What would it be like to set aside an hour for park time this week?

• How can you make more space for nature in your life?

• When did you last slow down to notice little details around you?

• What opportunities does your local park offer for connection and reflection?

Share your perspective ✨

I’d love to hear your reflections on parks, nature and connection. What’s your go-to spot for connection and community? Where do you feel most rejuvenated?

Leave a comment

If you enjoyed this post, please comment, like or share with others. Thanks for your support! ✨

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Who am I?

Evolving daily,
   What is my identity?
       Undefinable.

               Sister, lover, friend,
                     Accidental new poet.
                          Cheerleader always.

                          Lifelong explorer.
                     Curiosity leading,
                Discovering me.

         Teacher, dreamer, coach.
     Mindfully nature-loving.
Forever growing.

Poem by Holly Bailie

Hi, I’m Holly, a career/life coach and mindfulness facilitator. Here at Zestful Zen, I share tips on self-care, creativity and personal growth, to help you live mindfully with zest, zen, and purpose. Subscribe to join our supportive community and our Gentle Gatherings. Come inside and cosy up by the fire. You’re so welcome here. ☕️💕

Subscribe & join our community ✨

Well, hello there. Have we met?

Perhaps, in a manner of speaking, if you’ve been reading my newsletter for a while. Or maybe we crossed paths at the same event in London.

But even then, we’ve probably not met fully.

I’m not sure I’ve entirely met myself yet. This me that I’m becoming.

Who am I, really? And when and how did I cease to be who I was?

I’ve been on a quest of sorts, recently. An inward journey of discovery. Wondering who I might be(come), deep down in my core.

Pondering my identity as I settle into solopreneurship. Reconsidering expectations (mine and others’) and the labels that society presses on us, as my mindset shifts and life transitions free me.

And at the same time, reconciling myself to changes that have already occurred: some welcome, some mourned, some longed-for.

Work with me! How I can help you ✅

• For career clarity, navigating change and personal growth: 1-to-1 coaching.

• Manage stress, build mind-body connection and be fully present through mindfulness (live group classes and self-paced e-courses).

Goodbye globetrotting

Last week, I wrote about shedding my previous professional identity, after saying sayonara to the diplomatic service in November.

With that choice made, it was also farewell – for now – to my international lifestyle. I’m not sure if the closing of that door has truly sunken in yet. I relish globetrotting, but at the same time, it feels right to settle down and be close to my loved ones.

I’ll try to satisfy my wanderlust with short jaunts instead, though I’m already booked onto a big adventure to celebrate my new life: I’ll hike the Inca Trail and explore the sights of Peru, Bolivia and Argentina this spring.

And who knows what international opportunities the Universe might still deliver…

Owning my opinions

Now that I’ve cut the cord, it feels strange to describe myself as an ex-civil servant. But liberating. I don’t represent my country anymore (at least officially – we’re all ambassadors of sorts when we travel).

I’m free to express myself in a way I wasn’t before, without fear of breaching the impartiality imposed by the civil service code and diplomatic regulations.

This newsletter isn’t, and won’t become, an activist space. But if I choose to, I now have the freedom to comment politically on social media, and raise my voice to stand up for what I believe in. If I want to attend a protest and shout loudly, I can.

It’s a big weight off my shoulders as I felt my conscience increasingly in conflict with my contractual obligations.

Blessings from biology

Some shifts have been forced upon me by biology – thanks, perimenopause – and I do mean THANK YOU. Despite the brain fog, along with the plummeting oestrogen there’s been a welcome shedding of the ingrained need to please others.

I’d always been the conscientious one, the polite woman, the good girl, the helper. The reliable one who turned up early and never said no. Who secretly harboured resentment for constantly giving, giving, giving, without reward.

Agreeableness can be a positive trait (within reason), and I’m not going to suddenly turn into a lazy, rude, time-waster. I’m still considerate and contribute to society. But as my chemistry alters, I’m balancing kindness to others with kindness to myself.

Knowing my value and asking for it. Guarding my time and energy instead of giving it away for free. Not putting up with crap or tolerating toxic people. Saying no when I need to, without excuse or apology. It feels pretty wonderful.

Gifts of grief

One of my newer identities is the most unwanted: Adult orphan. No-longer daughter. Parentless, since my mum passed before Christmas 2024.

We spoke pretty much daily after my dad died in 2020, so there isn’t the regret of not giving her my time. But there’s guilt here too. Our relationship was more challenging. I wish I could’ve understood mum better and been less frustrated with her.

I wish my parents could have lived longer and shared deeper conversations and snippets of personal history with me. There’s so much I’ll never know.

And yet, despite the grief, there’s also the searing relief that they both passed peacefully at the end and neither suffered from dementia.

As with my dad’s passing, mum’s loss was another wake-up call to focus on what really matters to me and not worry about the rest.

I think her parting gift was the stronger bond I forged with my brother during those long days and nights at hospital. Close sister is now a key part of my identity.

So, who am I, really, at my core?

I’m someone who wants to seize the day and value my precious time on earth. I want to get stuff done and see the positive impact of my actions. But also, I’m learning to slow down, pause, and just be.

I’m living increasingly mindfully, noticing what’s going on around me and within me, making conscious choices instead of living on autopilot. I’m happiest in nature.

I’m someone who invests whole-heartedly in my closest relationships: a space-holder, listener and cheerleader for friends and loved ones. I’m fiercely protective of them, but not afraid to challenge and hold them accountable if that’s what’s needed. I offer that same compassion and support to my coaching and mindfulness clients.

I’m endlessly curious and a lifelong learner: there’s always something new to discover and I bring my beginner’s mind along for the ride. I’m creative at heart and beginning to trust these inherent abilities, while finding joy in making just for fun.

I’m still filled with wanderlust, always dreaming of the next destination. But now a dedicated homebody too, often found cuddled up with my Indonesian kitties.

I’m practical but intuitive – I know and trust my gut feelings; they’ve never failed me.

And perhaps that’s the only thing that matters.

I know and feel like me, even if I’m constantly evolving and can’t always explain what me means. Life would be boring without a little mystery, wouldn’t it?

Self-reflection and journal prompts ✍️

• What forms the core of your identity? Are there parts you’d like to discard?

• How does your identity change depending on your environment or the company you’re in?

• What are some differences between your self-identity and how others perceive you?

• Do you feel any loss of identity? Are there former identities you grieve?

• Do you have online and offline identities? How do they differ and why?

Share your perspective ✨

I’d love to hear your reflections on identity, the roles we play within different spaces and letting go of labels that no longer serve us. What comes to mind when someone asks you to describe yourself? How do your friends describe you?

Leave a comment

This was Part 3 of a 3-part series on the identities we hold, the labels we accumulate, and those we shed or hold onto. In Part 1, we explored Identity Inventories. In Part 2, I shared my experience of shifting and shedding career identities.

If you enjoyed this post, please comment, like or share with others. Thanks for your support! ✨

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Throughout my adult life, one identity has been crystal clear, at the heart of my motivations and career decision-making: globetrotter.

I first set off at 18, for a gap year volunteering at Emerald Hill School for the Deaf in Harare, Zimbabwe. I loved learning sign language, my students constantly inspired me, and exploring southern Africa during school holidays fed my travel bug.

Post-uni, I JET-ted off to Yokote City, working in junior high schools on the Japan Exchange & Teaching Programme. When I maxed out the three-year limit, I wasn’t ready to leave! Luckily, I snapped up a teaching role in Sendai City, then a job in the Board of Education, supporting my fellow foreign employees.

As I approached seven years in Japan, it was time to move on, but my wanderlust wasn’t quenched. Digital nomads weren’t a thing back then and I was done with teaching. Could I be a travel writer? A photographer...?

Accidental diplomat

Serendipitously, while helping at a conference for returning JETs, I popped into a career talk by the British Embassy, and suddenly my sights were set on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. A job that would pay me to live abroad...? Sign me up now!

I eventually found myself at the heart of Whitehall, overlooking 10 Downing Street.

Postings soon followed, to Afghanistan, Indonesia, Liberia and Belgium, plus working visits to New York, Kenya, Somalia, Jordan and Luxembourg. Some days I could have pinched myself, I felt so lucky.

But fast forward 15+ years, and as of November 2025 my diplomatic career was firmly in my rear-view mirror.

Hi, I’m Holly, a career/life coach and mindfulness facilitator. Here at Zestful Zen, I share tips on self-care, creativity and personal growth, to help you live mindfully with zest, zen, and purpose. Subscribe to join our supportive community and our Gentle Gatherings. Come inside and cosy up by the fire. You’re so welcome here. ☕️💕

Subscribe & join our community ✨

Shifting sands

Somewhere along the way, things changed. My family circumstances changed. I changed. The organisational culture and structure changed. That great fit, the made for me feeling wasn’t there anymore.

My dad passed away in 2020, denied cancer treatment during the covid pandemic. Anger and sadness swirled together following his death, along with so many what ifs.

I was lucky to get the last seat on an EU evacuation flight from locked-down Liberia, so got to say goodbye. But I regretted the times I’d cut our FaceTime calls short, the birthdays and Christmases I’d missed.

Dad’s death underscored the fragility of life, and the need to be closer to home to support my mum (hence my next posting to Belgium).

Also in 2020, FCO merged with the Department for International Development (DFID), becoming FCDO. Gradually, its identity shifted: from a generalist organisation that prized the partnership of diplomatic skills with the capability to hop between diverse roles; to one focused increasingly on subject-matter expertise.

Bit by bit, I felt myself becoming hemmed in, my path narrowing. I chafed against choosing a “career anchor”. I didn’t want to pick a geographic or thematic specialism.

Yet I also felt institutionalised, without viable alternative career options. What on earth could I do outside FCDO? Were my skills remotely transferable?

Work with me! How I can help you ✅

• For career clarity, navigating change and personal growth: 1-to-1 coaching.

• Manage stress, build mind-body connection and be fully present through mindfulness (live group classes and self-paced e-courses).

As one door closes…

My curiosity, thirst for learning, and appetite for seizing chances have always served me well. Luckily, they didn’t let me down when I wondered, “what’s next?”

I leapt at the opportunity to train as an in-house coach in 2022 and quickly found fulfilment from helping colleagues reach their goals. Suddenly my own goal no longer seemed impossible. Perhaps there was another path for me?

Then, following burnout, I took a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course in 2023. Discovering the power of mindfulness for experiencing life fully, not on autopilot, I thought: could this be another string to my bow?

Following my gut, I invested my cash and free time into training as a mindfulness teacher too. It felt like the perfect complement to coaching, another way to help people find their clarity and calm.

I feared financial insecurity and had few savings, so I knew I’d need to bide my time before leaping into self-employment. But I set myself a target and pinned a Post It note on my bathroom mirror (“1st September 2025”).

When the daily grind got to me and my dreams felt out of reach, that Post It was my talisman. My daily motivator, my promise that I would get there eventually. (And I did, almost on target.)

Finding my voice

As I began to shift – inside my mind – from my diplomatic identity to that of a coach and mindfulness teacher, another transformation was happening in parallel.

I became a writer. My newest role, where I’ve found my voice, one word at a time.

It took me ages to own this identity and take the label seriously. To embrace it. To feel proud in saying out loud, “I’m a writer”.

I first clicked publish on Substack in July 2024, but didn’t begin to inhabit the writerly identity until nearly a year later, in June 2025.

After enjoying ’s International Women’s Day workshop, I signed up on a whim (and in a hurry) for her next event, without reading the small print.

Imagine my panic, when a few days beforehand I realised that it was a Writing in Progress circle, and that I needed to submit a piece that I was working on. A piece?!!

My heart was thudding when I stepped across the threshold into the group - an imposter. Who was I to be there, with these real writers?

But something shifted again that day. No one questioned my participation. They didn’t laugh at my amateur efforts and critique them. Quite the contrary.

They offered kind, considered feedback and suggestions of how I could better shape my work and connect with readers. And with that, a door cracked open.

I began exploring creative writing and fell in love with haiku. I’ve shared poetry on Substack and even read my work in front of an audience at WRITE UP.

How quickly things can change, with the right support and encouragement.

Alongside this creative writing, I’ve delved deep through journalling, exploring the core of me: my motivations, my experiences, my memories, my urges. My identity. Who I really am. Who I want to be. Who I’m becoming.

Professionally, I now feel confident in saying I AM a writer, coach, mindfulness teacher and solopreneur.

And beyond the professional? That’s a story for another day…

Self-reflection and journal prompts ✍️

• How different are your professional and personal identities?

• Do you show your “whole self” at work? If not, why not?

• How has your professional identity shifted over time?

• If you changed careers tomorrow, how would this impact your identity?

Share your perspective ✨

I’d love to hear your reflections on professional identities. What does yours mean to you? Do you see your job as “just work”? Or is it a core part of who you are?

Leave a comment

This was Part 2 of a 3-part series on the identities we hold, the labels we accumulate, and those we shed or hold onto. In Part 1, we explored Identity Inventories. In Part 3, I share my experience of embracing my evolving identity.

If you enjoyed this post, please comment, like or share with others. Thanks for your support! ✨

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                      --- Fire Goddess Rising ---

Do not douse these embers,

Questioning the wisdom

                              of your choices.

Nor ask for permission

                              to exist,

When everything is non-sensical.

Fan them tenderly, 

		              Smiling.

As the world fractures,

Kindle the smouldering spark

		             that ignites your silent fury.

Launch headlong into

		             the raging blaze,
		
		             the indignant inferno,

		             without worry.

Her fierce flames of protection

                             will burnish 

                             your angry heart.


--- Poetry by Holly Bailie ---

A slow, spacious start

I wrote last weekend about my quest to explore my evolving identity/ies, following my shift from diplomacy to solopreneurship.

Maybe you took the chance to dive deep too, journalling on your Identity Inventory.

I’ll tell you more about my personal story of shifting professional identities in my regular Weekend Reads post tomorrow. Today is a little bonus share.

This year, I chose to have a gentle January, easing into 2026 slowly without pressure, allowing plenty of time for introspection and DISCOVERY (my word for 2026).

I don’t want to hurry into my new life and business. I prefer steady and spacious progress, that allows me to grow sustainably, at my own pace.

Hi, I’m Holly, a career/life coach and mindfulness facilitator. Here at Zestful Zen, I share tips on self-care, creativity and personal growth, to help you live mindfully with zest, zen, and purpose. Subscribe to join our supportive community and our Gentle Gatherings. Come inside and cosy up by the fire. You’re so welcome here. ☕️💕

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Embracing my creative spirit

Giving myself this gift of gentle exploration is also enabling me to own my new identity of writer, to follow my curiosity and sense of wonder.

I’m on a journey of tuning into my voice and exploring my imagination.

As well as diving deep into self-discovery through journalling, I’ve treated myself to Ink + Flame, ’s 7 week immersive writing course.

We’re encouraged to share our words as part of the creative process, so you can expect more bonus posts over the coming weeks.

I hope you’ll enjoy these snippets of my evolving creative voice.

Maybe they’ll encourage you to share from your imagination too. I’d love to read or hear your words.

Work with me! How I can help you ✅

• For career clarity, navigating change and personal growth: 1-to-1 coaching.

• Manage stress, build mind-body connection and be fully present through mindfulness (live group classes and self-paced e-courses).

Self-reflection and journal prompts ✍️

• What aspect of your identity would you like to explore this year?

• When do you tap into your imagination the most?

• When/where are you most comfortable expressing yourself?

• What would following your creative voice look like for you?

Share your perspective ✨

I’d love to hear your reflections on identity, creativity and imagination. What supports your creative practice? When do you feel most inspired and imaginative?

Leave a comment

If you enjoyed this post, please comment, like or share with others. Thanks for your support! ✨

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Whatever ignited it, I’ve been contemplating identity a lot recently. Wondering where I fit as the things I used to define myself by drop away, leaving space for new aspects to emerge. It’s exciting but perplexing too.

Who am I (now)? Who was I before, and who am I becoming? Who do I choose to become?

What does my identity depend on? Who do people perceive me to be? (Do I care?) What do I want to be known for?

Maybe you’re also feeling this pull: the urge to explore, to delve inside yourself as you experience identity shifts.

If you are, why not join me to reflect on your identity?

Hi, I’m Holly, a career/life coach and mindfulness facilitator. Here at Zestful Zen, I share tips on self-care, creativity and personal growth, to help you live mindfully with zest, zen, and purpose. Subscribe to join our supportive community and our Gentle Gatherings. Come inside and cosy up by the fire. You’re so welcome here. ☕️💕

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We contain multitudes

Our identities comprise many components. But some of the most visible are the roles we play and the labels applied, by us or others. Some we choose, some are forced, a lot just happen.

Their visibility and impact on us make them a good place to start exploring, with a bit of journalling.

• I’m going to offer lots of prompts, but there’s no need to do them all! Think of this post as a bank of prompts you can dip into.

• Choose the prompts that call to you and ignore the rest. Or pick a few for now and come back later for more.

A little trigger warning: Some of the prompts might bring up big emotions. Take a break if you need it, skip what doesn’t serve you, and be kind to yourself.

If you’re ready for a deep dive, grab a cuppa. You’ll need a pen and paper too. Maybe light a scented candle. Get comfy and let’s reflect together.

Allow the words to flow. Think about all the labels you apply to yourself, and those that others use to describe you.

Write down all the roles or labels that spring to mind, whether you like/agree with them or not. No need to edit or justify, just put down what comes to you.

Then pause and consider:

• Which are you happy with? Which would you rather jettison?

• Which do you need to let go of?

• Which are aspirational? Inspirational? Plain frustrating?

• Which can be changed? (If you want to.)

• Which feel like a cosy comfort blanket?

• Which require a big crazy leap of faith? (Believe in yourself!)

• Which strengthen you? Which help you grow?

• Which are limiting you in some way?

• Which do you want to make more space and time for?

• Are there any roles/labels that others apply to you, but which don’t feel like you?

Work with me! How I can help you ✅

• For career clarity, navigating change and personal growth: 1-to-1 coaching.

• Manage stress, build mind-body connection and be fully present through mindfulness (live group classes and self-paced e-courses).

Probe a little further

Are there things missing from your list that you wish were there?

Is there something new that you want to become, if you could? What would it take to make this a reality?

For roles/labels that are limiting you:

What is it about them that’s limiting you? If you took a different perspective, could you flip these limitations on their head and find some opportunity in these roles? Or is it just time for them to go?

For roles/labels you don’t want, don’t like, or find difficult:

What is it about them that’s problematic? Can you drop them? Is there something you can do that would make them easier? What would help you to let them go?

For roles/labels you’d like to shift into:

What do you need to make this change happen? Is there action you need to take? Are there fears you need to overcome? Do you need support from friends or loved ones?

For roles/labels you’re struggling to adjust to:

What would help you settle in? Are there old parts of your identity you need to let go of first to embrace this new role? Do you need a bit of a confidence boost?

Who are you beyond the labels?

Now we get into the broader facets of identity. Things that are maybe less obvious, less easy to define, but that we feel, deep inside, when we think about who we are.

What makes you, you?

Maybe it’s the things you love to do; how you like to spend your time; aspects of your personality; your secret desires, longings and frustrations; your dreams and fears; the things you feel guilty about or question yourself over.

What comes up when you delve more deeply under the surface of what you’re perceived or pushed to be?

If nothing bubbles up, try journalling on these prompts:

• I am….

• I am a person who…

• I wish…

• I was…

• I am becoming…

• I can…

• I choose…

• I will…

Picking up patterns

When I journal, themes or patterns often come up repeatedly, even for different questions. That might reassure me that I’m on the right path or highlight where a longing remains unfulfilled. It’s all a matter of joining up the dots.

And then there’s the aha moments, when fresh insights appear and I realise what’s been lurking underneath all along, waiting to be discovered.

How about you?

What emerged from your journalling? Is it what you expected? Are there any big surprises? Or did this exercise reinforce what you already felt or knew?

Whatever came up, I hope it’s inspired you to think about what you want out of life this year and how you can get it.

You might be feeling a little tender if you dove deep, so be kind to yourself and remember that you’re perfect as you are!

Share your perspective ✨

I’d love to hear your reflections on identity, the roles we play within different spaces and letting go of labels that no longer serve us. What comes to mind when someone asks you to describe yourself? How do your friends describe you?

Leave a comment

This was Part 1 of a 3-part series on the identities we hold, the labels we accumulate, and those we shed or hold onto. Next week, I’ll share my experience of shifting career identities.

If you enjoyed this post, please comment, like or share with others. Thanks for your support! ✨

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Curiosity.

Following inspiration,

Sparks lead me forwards.

—x—

Creativity.

Senses and ideas flowing,

Where will they take me?

—x—

Cultivating space,

For imaginative forms.

My vision appears.

—x—

Haiku poems by Holly Bailie

Hi, I’m Holly, a career/life coach and mindfulness facilitator. Here at Zestful Zen, I share tips on self-care, creativity and personal growth, to help you live mindfully with zest, zen, and purpose. Subscribe to join our supportive community and our Gentle Gatherings. Come inside and cosy up by the fire. You’re so welcome here. ☕️💕

Subscribe & join our community ✨

What is creativity?

I see creativity in many forms. There are the obvious ones. Art in all its infinitesimal categories, crafts similarly wide ranging (many with geographic specificity), and the abundance of writing (umpteen genres).

Then there’s the diversity of building (actual buildings, bridges, tech, furniture, businesses, communities…)

Add on the innovation we can bring to projects of all kinds (marketing, policies, publishing, cooking…) plus the imagination of pure wondering, and it becomes clear that you can bring a creative flavour to just about anything.

What does creativity mean to you?

Work with me! How I can help you ✅

• For career clarity, navigating change and personal growth: 1-to-1 coaching.

• Manage stress, build mind-body connection and be fully present through mindfulness (live group classes and self-paced e-courses).

Creative curiosity

At the heart of creativity, for me, is curiosity. That spark that makes you reflect, “I wonder…” That prompts you to look at something from a different angle. That gives you the urge to explore, to make something, just to see.

Creative curiosity is energising and absorbing. A unique form of mindfulness, where we’re fully focused and in flow.

We could be making something as simple as a doodle. Or as intricate as a filigree necklace. Either way, we’re all in. We can drop into flow for a few precious moments or escape into our creative world for hours.

What sparks your creativity?

Sensory stimulation

The world around us and our senses’ interpretations of it are endless sources of creative inspiration.

• Perhaps a ray of shimmering sunlight sparks an idea. Maybe you spot a beautiful pattern, or gaze at bold, bright poppies that make your heart sing. Or the depth of flavour of some smooth, earthy chocolate prompts a poem.

• Touching the sinuous curves and rugged texture of tree bark might take your mind on a journey.

• Hearing birdsong or an unusual beat could inform a composition. Maybe you inhale cinnamon deeply and instantly conjure up a scene in your imagination.

• A conversation with a close friend might jar a memory loose or set you off down a rabbit hole of discovery and debate.

Movement as muse

Moving my body often helps unconscious ideas rise to the surface. I’ll be out on a walk and suddenly words spill from my mind into my Notes app (safety disclaimer: I still look where I’m going!)

I might be vacuuming, sweeping, doing the dishes or ironing and a nascent project will take clearer form. There’s something about repetitive motion that frees my mind to ideate without pressure or barriers.

I could even be jumping around in Zumba or posed in downward dog when a solution or pathway suddenly becomes obvious. When my body is in flow, my creative mind comes along for the journey.

The power of place

Do you have a creative “home” that inspires you?

Have you settled in an airy art studio, or a cosy nook for writing? Perhaps you prefer the buzz of a busy cafe, or there’s a favourite park bench where people-watching gets your creative juices flowing.

You might take yourself off on retreat to the seaside or mountains for a few days to dive deep on a project. Or maybe it’s easiest to ideate with the world whipping past your window on the train.

I mostly bounce between my sofa, surrounded by my kitties; my kitchen table; and a selection of local cafes and libraries. These familiar places have the essentials I need: light, space, sounds, comfort (and ideally a cuppa).

But I dream of one day devoting a whole week to writing surrounded by nature, either deep in the UK countryside or the jungles of Bali. Birthday wish list…?!

Inspiring individuals

We can also take inspiration from others. Something in a piece of art might spark an idea. A person’s style may send you exploring. Feedback from creative counterparts could help you better shape a piece (thank you Writing in Progress circle!)

We can harness the power of prompts generously crafted and shared by creatives. I’m fascinated by the diversity of pieces that emerge from the same simple prompt (case in point: the single-word themes of WRITE UP).

In 2026, I want to follow my innate curiosity plus try creative sparks provided by people who inspire me. Join me? For heaps of imaginative prompts, check out these creators:

• Artist ’s Creative Snacks: playful exercises to spark inspiration. Also check out Georgie’s Instagram for her stunning pen and ink drawings.

• Visual strategist ’s Creatively Wondering including her LIVE Sparks sessions on Substack Live and her recent 12 Days of Winter Wonder series on Notes (Links here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. I’m still catching up on these prompts, why not join me?)

• Designer ’s Wonderlust including her Creative Sparks series.

• Event Queen ’s in-person and online gatherings for inspiration and encouragement, including Monday Morning Pages and Substack meet-ups.

• Author ’s Winter Writing Sanctuary and #TinyAutumnPoems challenge (both free) helped me experiment, and I’ve subsequently fallen in love with writing haiku. Also check out her book The Way of The Fearless Writer and her SoulCircle membership.

Who inspires you to create, and how?

Self-reflection and journal prompts ✍️

• When are you at your most creative? Why?

• What would you love to create, but haven’t dared to?

• If you could try one new creative practice tomorrow, what would it be?

• What holds back your creativity? How can you overcome this hurdle?

• Where can you practice creativity in community?

Share your perspective ✨

I’d love to hear your reflections on creativity, curiosity and imagination. What fires up your creative spirit? When do you experience flow and focus? What’s your favourite creative spot?

Leave a comment

If you enjoyed this post, please comment, like or share with others. Thanks for your support! ✨

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We’re only 3 days into 2026, yet perhaps you’re already overwhelmed by a flood of “new year, new you” advertising, exhortations to set resolutions (“make this the year you finally stick to them!”) and a preponderance of posts about setting goals.

So, if you’re thoroughly fed up of reading about 2026 intentions, feel free to press delete!

On the other hand, if you’re enjoying the liminal space of Twixtmas, with the opportunity to slow down and ponder, then stay with me…

Hi, I’m Holly, a career/life coach and mindfulness facilitator. Here at Zestful Zen, I share tips on self-care, creativity and personal growth, to help you live mindfully with zest, zen, and purpose. Subscribe to join our supportive community and our Gentle Gatherings. Come inside and cosy up by the fire. You’re so welcome here. ☕️💕

Subscribe & join our community ✨

Looking gently forwards

I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions. They feel heavy with obligation and “shoulding” on ourselves.

While I’m passionate about personal growth, New Year resolutions often seem rigid and more about guilting us into buying self-improvement. No thank you!

Calendar years are arbitrary too, and not aligned with nature – trying to turn over a new leaf in the depths of winter hardly seems like setting myself up for success.1

But I love the chance a new year offers to slow down and think about what I want out of life. What really matters to me. What I want more of, what I’d rather be without and how I’d like to feel when I look back this time next year.

Thinking about my passions and priorities, without guilt, obligation or shoulding, feels spacious and like a generous gift to myself.

So, I’ve spent a lot of my Twixtmas downtime journalling. ✍️

I’ve completed my Goodbye 2025 Hello 2026 journal, worked through ’s Calm Christmas prompts, plus numerous others plucked from my imagination.

And I’ll be carrying this practice forwards less intensely for the rest of the month with my Gentle January Journalling simple daily prompts. Please join me!2

Work with me! How I can help you ✅

• For career clarity, navigating change and personal growth: 1-to-1 coaching.

• Manage stress, build mind-body connection and be fully present through mindfulness (live group classes and self-paced e-courses).

Choosing a Word of the Year

If journalling all sounds a bit much, but you’d still like to set an intention, why not simply choose a guiding word?

Perhaps you’ve already come across this recent trend: picking a “word of the year” to guide you. This is one New Year bandwagon I can happily jump on.

Though you could argue that I was greedy or indecisive last year when I chose three…

My 2025 Choices

My words for 2025 (ambition, surrender and curiosity) served me well as compasses:

• I maintained my ambition to become a full-time solopreneur (taking the plunge in November).

• I surrendered to my intuition and had faith that I would find the right pathway.

• I embodied my value of curiosity: experimenting and enjoying the journey without rigid expectations.

When I look back now, I can also sum up 2025 with one word: RESILIENCE.

I powered through multiple challenges. Some were by choice, others outside my control: grief from losing my mum; death admin; mindfulness teacher training; maintaining professional excellence in a stressful career I no longer loved; moving countries; and finally quitting my job.

So, 2025 was a LOT!

Did you choose a guiding word for 2025? What would your retrospective word be?

My 2026 Word of the Year

This time around, I’m choosing one expansive guiding word as my compass: DISCOVERY.

To me, discovery means:

• Freedom, flow and flexibility. Taking risks. Being open to opportunities, seeking them out and seizing serendipity.

• It’s about bringing an attitude of curiosity and a beginner’s mind to how I approach challenges and learning.

• It’s about experimenting, exploring and expansion, without self-criticism.

• And it’s about fun and laughter. If I can’t bring a bit of humour to my mistakes, where would I be?

What’s your word?

Will you join me in choosing a guiding word for the year ahead? If you’ve not picked one yet and need some inspiration, here’s a few prompts to get you started:

• How do you want your year to feel?

• What do you want to add into your life?

• What would you like to be different about 2026?

• What one value could be your guiding star?

• If you were looking back in 12 months, how would you want to sum up your year?

• What feels like a big, bold, expansive word?

• What feels like a kind, caring, self-compassionate word?

• What word might a close friend choose for you?

January Bloom & Grow workshop

If you’d like to dive a bit deeper on intention-setting, please join me for our free January Bloom & Grow workshop, where we’ll be Setting Gentle Intentions for 2026.

I’ll lead us in meditation, visualisation and journalling.

• The session will be held on Thursday 8th January from 18:00-19:00 UK time (currently UTC/GMT). 10:00-11:00 PST / 12:00-13:00 CST / 13:00-14:00 EST / 19:00-20:00 CET.

• Check your time-zone here. Register for free on Luma.

I hope to see you there to nourish your wellbeing and nurture your creativity. 💕

Self-reflection and journal prompts ✍️

• How would you like to begin your year?

• How could you approach 2026 with self-compassion?

• What feels like a supportive intention to set?

• What would help to make 2026 your best year yet?

• How can you prioritise your own wellbeing this year?

Share your perspective ✨

I’d love to hear your reflections on setting intentions, looking ahead and allowing space to ponder. Do you prefer New Year resolutions and clear-cut goals? Or focusing on feelings?

Leave a comment

If you enjoyed this post, please comment, like or share with others. Thanks for your support! ✨

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The chaos of Christmas prep has passed. The expectations around presents, hosting and creating memorable experiences are over.

Now you have space to just be. To curl up with a book.

To gaze into the hearth flames. To close your eyes and listen to the crackling snap of wood.

To breathe. To pause and reflect.

Not to ruminate or judge. But to look back over your year and let it all sink in slowly.

Hi, I’m Holly, a career/life coach and mindfulness facilitator. I’m here to help you lead a mindful life of zest, zen, and purpose. Subscribe to join the supportive Zestful Zen community.

Subscribe & join our community ✨

Press pause before pushing

Often, we rush from one thing to the next: pushing, achieving, completing. Without taking time to recognise our efforts, our learning, our growth.

Perhaps there were difficult periods you’d rather move on from and forget. But within those dark clouds can be nuggets of wisdom and personal expansion.

Or maybe you already feel the pull of New Year, the urge to reset and start afresh. To tackle exciting challenges, aim high for stretching targets. New Year, New You.

But before setting off blindly, savour the Twixtmas spirit for a while, and contemplate the year that was. A little introspection will serve you well on your journey.

Work with me! How I can help you ✅

• For career clarity, navigating change and personal growth: 1-to-1 coaching.

• Manage stress, build mind-body connection and be fully present through mindfulness (live group classes and self-paced e-courses).

Prompts to ponder

If you read my essays regularly, you’ll know I love journalling and questions that prompt self-reflection. These can be forward leaning (“I want to feel…”, or retrospective, “what did I learn from..?”)

In this Twixtmas twilight time, I usually start by looking backwards, then use these reflections to help me move forwards.

If you’d like to join me in pondering your experiences in 2025, here’s some prompts:

• I’m proud of…

• What have I learned…? (…about myself…others…my work/business…my creativity…)

• What went well?

• What could’ve gone better?

• What small successes am I overlooking?

• How did I grow?

• What do I want to do differently next year? (more of…/less of…)

• If I had to sum up my year in one word or phrase, what would it be?

Self-reflection that serves you

Use these prompts in whatever way serves you.

• Cosy up by the fire and put pen to paper, letting your writing lead the way. Maybe set a timer for 3 minutes per prompt. Or write until the words stop flowing.

• Or take a wander through the woods, pondering as you put one foot in front of the other – sometime movement really helps us think.

• Or perhaps lie back with your eyes closed, listen to the voiceover and pause as needed, treating these prompts as a meditation or visualisation. What do you picture or feel in your body when you hear each prompt?

  

Introspective insights

In the spirit of encouragement, empathy and connection, I’ll share a few excerpts from my journalling (I won’t bore you with all the details!)

1. I’m proud of…

Completing all my mindfulness teacher training modules, my contributions to wellbeing in my workplace, putting myself out there.

2. What have I learned…? (…about myself…others…my work/business…my creativity…)

That I need culture, creativity and the arts in my life to inspire me. That I have valuable skills that benefit others. That I can slow down and take my time.

That I can still do hard things. That it’s okay to build one part of my business at a time. That I need to rest and flow with my energy.

3. What went well?

Maintaining my professional integrity and doing an excellent job right until the end, even though I’d been ready to leave for a while (I finished my public sector career in November, moving on from 15 years of diplomacy and international engagement).

Experimenting with writing on Substack and creatively. Performing at WRITE UP!

4. What could’ve gone better?

Taking care of my physical health. Prioritising nutrition, exercise and sleep over churning out work. I could’ve done “good enough” more often, instead of chasing excellence and overdoing my support to others.

5. What small successes am I overlooking?

The impact I had at work (it’s easy to overlook successes that aren’t your passion anymore). The slow but iterative progress I made in building my Substack community – thanks for being here!

6. How did I grow?

I learned to prioritise the things that matter to me over other obligations; to say no to things in order to make space for what’s most important.

I put myself out there and took big chances (leaving a “safe” career, in relative terms – no job is ever 100% secure, and I’m betting on myself instead).

7. What do I want to do differently next year? (more of…/less of…)

I want to be more realistic about my goals and timelines as a new solopreneur. It’s okay to slowly build a sustainable business that serves me and my clients.

I want to build more space for creativity, play, fun, and adventures.

I want to declutter and let go of things. I want to consume less.

8. If I had to sum up my year in one word or phrase, what would it be?

Incremental progress and growth.

Over to you

So, there you have it, my year in review (the abridged version!)

I hope you find the space and some kind curiosity with which to explore your year. Who knows what insights you might discover…

Wishing you a wonderful Twixtmas season of rest, reflection, and restoration. I’ll see you again in 2026!

P.S. If you enjoyed this pause to ponder, join me for Gentle January Journalling: 31 Days of Self-Reflection. I’ll send out the free workbook to all subscribers next week.

Self-reflection and journal prompts ✍️

• What stands out to you most when you think of the past year?

• When were you most content? Energised? Satisfied?

• What excited you this year? What made you feel alive?

• What support did you need and receive? Did you ask for help often enough?

• What do you most want to celebrate?

Share your perspective ✨

I’d love to hear your reflections on looking backwards to move forwards. What do you like to reflect on at the end of the year? How do you slow down and ponder during Twixtmas?

Leave a comment

If you enjoyed this post, please comment, like or share with others. Thanks for your support! 🙏

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How often do you laugh so hard that tears spring from your eyes? Have you been moved by a piece of art recently that spoke to your soul?

Can you remember when you last felt a piece of dark chocolate slowly melt on your tongue, its bitter sweetness hitting your tastebuds – without your attention being distracted by scrolling?

Hi, I’m Holly, a career/life coach and mindfulness facilitator. I’m here to help you lead a mindful life of zest, zen, and purpose. Subscribe to join the supportive Zestful Zen community.

Subscribe & join our community ✨

Putting joy first

With the hectic pace of modern life, it can be hard to find space to slow down and smell the coffee, so to speak. Tricky to set aside time for yourself, for things that sustain you.

Maybe it feels selfish to put self-care first, when there are so many unfinished tasks on the to-do-list. Perhaps you tell yourself, “If I don’t do X now, no one else will, and it’ll never get done. This is more important than…”

And yes, sometimes tasks must come first. But more often the world isn’t going to end if you delay the ironing so you can do something that brings you joy.

What’s the worst that could happen?

Work with me! How I can help you ✅

• For career clarity, navigating change and personal growth: 1-to-1 coaching.

• Manage stress, build mind-body connection and be fully present through mindfulness (live group classes and self-paced e-courses).

Slipping into the exhaustion funnel

During tough times or busy periods, it’s easy to let our sustainers slip away, pushed out by obligations or while striving to meet our goals.

Bit by bit, you drop the things that energise or restore you.

Maybe you skip your mid-week yoga class, ditch a homemade dinner in favour of takeaway, or decline a friend’s invitation to see a new exhibition (guilty as charged!)

And progressively, the scales become unbalanced.

Without sustainers to uplift you, the drainers weigh you down, and you fall into the exhaustion funnel, edging towards burnout (well hello again, old “friend”).

Maybe you notice that you’ve become snappy with colleagues, frustrated at trivial things as your resilience ebbs away.

And you wonder, “how did I end up here AGAIN?”

As the adage goes, you need to put on your own oxygen mask first. Being a martyr won’t do you or your loved ones any favours.

You’ll be a kinder, more compassionate, more patient person if you strengthen your resilience through making space for sustainers in your life.

Read more about the exhaustion funnel model here:

Prioritising your self-care prescription

The good news is, sustainers can be both prophylactics and recovery prescriptions.

If you notice that your sustainers are beginning to be crowded out, take action to prevent this. You could:

• Choose your non-negotiable sustainers and put them in your calendar first, to avoid them being crowded out. Remember the story about the jar of pebbles and sand…?

• Enlist support. Perhaps you need family to take on some obligations to free up your time. Maybe you need accountability from a friend, meeting them at the gym. Or you need to delegate some work tasks or ask for help from colleagues.

• Embed sustainers into your daily/weekly/monthly routine. Try doing them at the same time/day/week if consistency works for you. Join your local Sunday park run, take lunchtime walks, read a book on your commute instead of checking emails.

• Habit stack. If it’s hard remembering to do your sustainers, add them to things you already do routinely. Try pairing toothbrushing with a five-minute meditation, or go out for a run while listening to your favourite podcast.

• Book time blocks. If you find routine stifling, try booking in time blocks instead for more spontaneous sustainers. Commit to doing something sustaining in these slots, even if you choose on the fly when the time comes. Just don’t skip it!

• Micro-dose. If time is tight, or you struggle to focus attention for long periods, try sustainer sprints – five-minute bursts interspersed throughout your day will add up, refreshing you sustainably.

• Savour them. Slowing down to really focus attention on your sustainer activities (no multitasking!) and letting the pleasure they give you sink in will multiply their impact, activating your parasympathetic nervous system.

And if you’ve already discarded most of your sustainers?

• Take it gently. You don’t need to rush to add them all back in overnight, when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Self-care isn’t another thing to “should” on yourself about. Start small.

• Pick one thing. Choose one sustainer to begin with. Maybe your favourite one, or one that’s easiest for you to manage amidst overwhelm.

• Begin briefly. It might feel impossible to carve out an afternoon, or even an hour, of me-time. But 5 or 10 minutes is manageable, and even micro-moments of self-care can have impact if you’re fully focused on them.

• Build up over time. Scale up from 5 minutes to 15, 30, 60…gradually making more space for sustainers. Try adding in an extra sustainer every week or two, until you regain your balance.

• Experiment. Our needs change with time and circumstances. Maybe your old sustainers no longer serve you and it’s time to try something new. It’s okay to shake up your routine, explore new hobbies, and make new friendships.

Recognising your sustainers

Grab a pen and paper and take some thinking time, NOW.

1. Give yourself at least 5 minutes to brainstorm as many sustainers as you can think of. No need to overanalyse, your list can include:

• Activities, people, places, things that bring you joy, make you laugh, relax you…

• Things that used to sustain you but have fallen out of your routine.

• Things you’re curious about that might sustain you, but you’ve not tried yet.

2. Now go back and look at your list, and reflect on these questions:

• When did you last do these things?

• Are any of them part of your routine? Did they used to be?

• Does anything surprise you about your list? What makes you curious?

• Which would you like to reinsert into your life? Which no longer serve you?

• Are you waiting for permission to restore your sustainers?

• Which sustainers would be easiest to reinvigorate today?

• Which ones do you need a bit of help with?

• Which will you commit to making non-negotiables?

Seeking out and savouring my sustainers

Daily walks, mostly in nature, are my non-negotiable. They restore me and I’m committed to getting out there even on miserable days.

I also make time for meditation and quality time with my partner and friends.

But doing the sustainers brainstorm exercise recently, I realised I’d let things slip over 2025. I’m gradually building them back in.

• I’ve booked a monthly sports massage (now if I could just habit-stack more stretching into my routine…)

• I took myself off on a solo weekend in York for some history/culture and a mini break to Cambridge with my boyfriend.

• I tried a new craft (cyanotype printing, simple and fun) and committed to make space for creative inspiration: writing, reading, creating, visiting exhibitions.

• And in 2026, I’ll do more day trips from London and weekend jaunts around the UK (having lived overseas most of my adult life I’ve not seen much of the country!)

Which sustainers will you commit to in 2026?

📣 If you need some accountability or encouragement, I’m here to cheer you on! 📣

Self-reflection and journal prompts ✍️

• What lights you up and brings you joy?

• What’s been crowding out the sustainers in your life?

• What’s on your sustainers bucket list for 2026?

• What support do you need to help you find space for your sustainers?

Share your perspective ✨

I’d love to hear your reflections on self-care, sustainers and making space for things that restore you. What helps you find time? What new sustainers would you like to try in 2026?

Leave a comment

If you enjoyed this post, please like ❤️, comment 💬, share ♻️, or recommend Zestful Zen 💕

Thanks for your support! 🙏

Mine has been full of connection, community and creative inspiration, especially through last night’s fantastic event, WRITE UP: Christmas Edition.

I was thrilled to join the line up of writers reading their work. In my case, it was my debut of a short piece of memoir: The Forever Christmas Tree of Number 92.

Hi, I’m Holly, a career/life coach and mindfulness facilitator. I’m here to help you lead a life full of zest, zen, and purpose. Come join the supportive Zestful Zen community. ✨

Subscribe & join our community ✨

Thrills and thank yous

The second WRITE UP didn’t disappoint! It was a gorgeous gathering of generous souls who wanted to support the arts and writing.

I’m sorry that I don’t have any photos to share, but I put my phone away to be fully present at this exciting experience.

As a total newbie to writing, and having never publicly read a creative piece before, I was unsurprisingly a wee bit nervous!

But ’s kind coaching and the warm and welcoming audience put me at ease. I couldn’t have asked for a nicer crowd to speak in front of.

Amy put much careful consideration into event choreography and the pieces flowed beautifully from one to another, spanning a whole range of genres and emotions.

I’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone who made last night possible:

• First and foremost, Amy for her vision in creating and growing WRITE UP. Her energy, drive and encouragement are so inspiring.

• and Emma Simpson for judging the submissions with Amy and speaking so eloquently on stage.

• for being such a warm and welcoming host, making everyone feel at home right away.

• for being our resident paparazzi, I can’t wait to see the photos!

• Everyone who supported WRITE UP: Those who made financial or in-kind donations, the volunteers who helped pull it all together, the wonderful audience, and Hammersmith Council for their generous match-funding.

• The fantastic writers: both those who read their pieces with passion, and those who submitted but didn’t get the opportunity to read this time. I hope you’ll share your pieces here on Substack, I’d love to see them.

My sincere apologies if I’ve missed anyone off the list! Your support is appreciated even if my perimenopausal brain forgot to namecheck you.

Why not give it a go yourself?

WRITE UP is going from strength to strength, and I’m pretty sure Amy can be persuaded to make it a hat trick next year, after a well deserved rest. #WRITEUP3!

If you might fancy submitting a piece and performing, I’d strongly encourage you to give it a go, whether you’re a total newbie like me, or an experienced writer. Even if you aren’t selected to read, the writing and submitting experience is invaluable.

There’s plenty of opportunity to get involved and support WRITE UP, through fundraising, volunteering and spreading the word. Together, we can build momentum for this movement. ✨

Work with me! How I can help you ✅

• For career clarity, navigating change and personal growth: 1-to-1 coaching.

• Manage stress, build mind-body connection and be fully present through mindfulness (live group classes and self-paced e-courses).

Lights, camera, action!

I decided to enjoy being in the moment and didn’t record my performance, so I don’t have a video to share. Instead, I’d love to read my piece again to you today.

I hope you’ll enjoy this reflection on family quirks with a Christmas flavour.

The Forever Christmas Tree of Number 92

Spiky pine-green plastic, oddly dust-repellent, unlike the grubby surfaces surrounding it.

It was a typical tree of its time. Pleasant enough to look at, but not so attractive as to be mistaken for the real thing.

Mind you, no eejit would be daft enough to make that error in August anyway, would they?

On its branches hung an odd assortment of ornaments.

The stray survivors from our 80s childhood: mismatched, chipped metallic painted baubles – plastic of course.

The fair-trade recycled coke can angels, hand-sewn candy canes, and delicate glass spheres I’d gathered as gifts from my travels.

And the pretty decoupage cats, lovingly crafted by my sister-in-law.

Jostling for space among the tatty tinsel and three strings of fairy lights.

Two multicoloured, one set of blue. An accidental discount purchase? Who knows.

A strange jumble of delights, each ornament with its own story to tell.

Of course, there was the obvious question which most visitors were too polite to ask.

Why is the Christmas tree still up in summer?

Why indeed?

I can’t remember when it began, mum’s rebellion against Christmas convention. Her stubborn refusal to put away the tree.

Down by the 12^th night? Nonsense. None of that silly superstition for her. The tree now permanently housed in the dining room, filling all available space.

“But mum, it won’t feel Christmassy if you have the tree here all the time!”

“Sure, I don’t switch on the lights until December.”

I vividly recall the summer I tried to pack the decorations away. The fury I unleashed in my attempt to be helpful.

How dare I presume to make a seasonal alteration. Didn’t I know what a nuisance it would be to hang them up again? Put them back right now!

My bad.

A stranger might presume that a fondness for festive cheer lay behind mum’s ever-Christmas eccentricity.

But no. As she aged, she seemed to care less about the season every year.

Gone was the greenery I remembered from our childhood hearth. Not a Christmas jingle was heard.

Therein perhaps, lay a clue.

My dad LOVED Christmas. Carols at Kings, Aled Jones, Once in Royal David’s City. He had CDs playing morning, noon, and night, all through December.

He’d heft a real tree up the driveway. His favourite, lodgepole pine.

In later years, he’d unpack the plastic tree and fight to find the solitary busted fairy light that kept the tree unlit.

I think I understand Mum’s odd behaviour now.

Last Christmas, she didn’t get the chance to turn the lights on.

As I returned from the hospital, it was a bittersweet victory, removing the decorations.

Packing up my eclectic collection. Giving the elegant handicrafts back to their creator to hang on her Good Housekeeping-worthy tree.

Yet, as spring came around again, I imagine mum’s spirit chuckled a last “up yours!” to conformity, one final daft rebellion.

We’d left that bloody tree, standing proudly in the corner, to greet the estate agent.

Self-reflection and journal prompts ✍️

• What does Christmas mean to you?

• What’s unique about your family holiday experiences?

• How could you look through a compassionate lens at your loved ones’ quirks?

• What holiday traditions would you like to maintain or create afresh?

Share your perspective ✨

I’d love to hear your reflections on family, holidays, connection, and creative inspiration. How do you like to spend the festive season? What supports your creative practice?

Leave a comment

Ways you can support my writing 💖

• Help our community grow: subscribe for free or recommend Zestful Zen ✨

• Help people find this post: Like ❤️, comment 💬, share - spread the love. 💕

• Buy me a coffee ☕️ (or a brownie if I’m being naughty…) 😁

• Connect with me: Website 🔗 LinkedIn 🖇️ Instagram 📸

Thanks for your support! 🙏

As the evenings grow darker and Christmas snacks appear on supermarket shelves, it seems crazy that 2025 is almost over!!

It’s been a year of big shifts for me – moving from Belgium to London, training as a mindfulness teacher, quitting my 9-5 (just two weeks ago) and transitioning into full time solopreneur life.

What changes have you been through in the last 12 months?

Hi, I’m Holly, a career/life coach and mindfulness facilitator. I’m here to help you lead a life full of zest, zen, and purpose. Come join the supportive Zestful Zen community. ✨

Subscribe & join our community ✨

Easeful experimentation

Substack has been a big part of my journey. It’s my creative space for experimentation and was a refuge when I struggled with my day job.

I started writing Zestful Zen back in July 2024, which feels like a lifetime ago now. Back then, my mum was still alive, and self-employment was only a dream.

Now, I’m easing into running my own business. I’m taking it gently, making space to think about how I design my business to work for me, instead of squeezing my life in around the edges.

It’s a time of self-reflection, intention-setting, and slowing down. I’ll write more about this in my next essay.

In this pensive frame of mind, I’ve also been thinking about this newsletter, and how I shape it going forward.

Over nearly 18 months, I’ve written, expressed myself online, and connected with people far and wide. What a privilege.

I’ve tried different ideas. Some came and went (like my 30-week adventure challenge). Some stayed consistent (Weekend Reads essays and a 65-week streak of Wellbeing Wednesday roundups).

And I recently launched the bite sized Monday Magic reflective prompts, to help us start our weeks with intention.

But this week I’ve been wondering, is this all a bit too much?

Work with me! How I can help you ✅

• For career clarity, navigating change and personal growth: 1-to-1 coaching.

• For less stress and more zest: build mind-body connection and be fully present through mindfulness (live group classes and self-paced e-courses).

Mindful multimedia

I know I’m not alone in feeling that Substack is a faster, busier place these days. The pace has picked up as platform growth climbs.

It’s become a multimedia ecosystem, with connections made via Notes instead of discovery through recommendations.

Some might long for the halcyon days of just slowly reading essays, without the social media aspects. Others eagerly embrace the creative possibilities of mixed media.

My sense is that among the overwhelm many of us feel, we’re craving less content, but more connection.

• For some, connection can be found in the comments section – meaningful conversations exchanged in text, asynchronously.

• Others want to gather and share space, whether it’s via Zoom, Voxer, or in-person.

• Some of these options are more accessible than others, but they all have value. Personally, I love a combo, they each nourish me in different ways.

What works best for you?

Surfing the shifting sands

As we move towards 2026, I want to flow with the shifts in the Substack ecosystem, not resist them. So that’ll be my next experimental pivot.

I’m going to scale back the volume of posts but scale up connection opportunities. I want to hold space for us to come together, in community. Going forward:

• I’ll publish Wellbeing Wednesday roundups on the first Wednesday each month.

• I’ll continue Weekend Reads essays, but might publish on alternate weekends, depending on my creative flow. I’d love to know what frequency you’d prefer.

• I’ll keep the bite sized Monday Magic prompts for now. I’d love to know whether you enjoy these and find them valuable. Or do you send them straight to your bin?

• I’ll create opportunities to connect, initially offering three monthly gatherings: a meditation circle (15-20 mins), co-working session (90 mins), and workshop (1hr).

I’d love to hear your thoughts on these ideas. I want to keep building community and connection, without adding to overwhelm.

Coming together

Gatherings will be free for now, but I’ll reevaluate in six months and may consider a paid membership in the future.

✨ I might also try to organise in-person workshops in London - watch this space. ✨

Sign-up info for the meditation circle and co-working session is TBC – I need to ponder what timings work best across time zones. Views welcome!

But I’ve got the December workshop booked in and I’d love for you to join me. ⬇️

❄️ Winter Wellbeing Workshop ❄️

I’d love to invite you to a free one-hour Winter Wellbeing workshop, ahead of the holidays.

Together we’ll journal, meditate, and pause to reflect on what we need for our wellbeing: right now, in this moment, and in the coming weeks and months.

• Maybe you’re feeling the pull of this slower season, the craving for hygge and comfort. Do you need a spot of wintering?

• Perhaps you’ve slogged through burning the candle at both ends, and now you want to pause and regroup.

• Or at the other end of the spectrum, maybe you’re gearing up for a busy southern hemisphere summer Christmas, and you need permission to prioritise self-care.

Whatever your motivation for joining, I’ll offer a safe, cosy space and guide us gently in practicing self-care.

I’ll run the workshop twice, to accommodate different time zones, so please sign up for whichever slot works better for you.

• Wednesday 3rd December: 10:00-11:00 PST / 13:00-14:00 EST / 18:00-19:00 GMT / 19:00-20:00 CET (Check your time-zone here)

• Sunday 7^th December: 10:00-11:00 GMT / 11:00-12:00 CET / 17:00-18:00 WIB / 21:00-22:00 AEDT (Check your time-zone here)

I can’t wait to welcome you for this cosy self-care session.

Self-reflection and journal prompts ✍️

• What shifts have you experienced this year?

• What helps you to manage digital overwhelm?

• How do you find connection and community?

• What do you need to support your winter wellbeing?

Share your perspective ✨

I’d love to hear your reflections on transitions, overwhelm and community. What helps you to connect to others online? What sort of community spaces are you drawn to?

Leave a comment

Have a fabulous rest of your weekend, and any feedback you have on Zestful Zen and the future of this space would be so welcome!

Ways you can support my writing 💖

• Help our community grow: subscribe for free or recommend Zestful Zen ✨

• Help people find this post: Like ❤️, comment 💬, share - spread the love. 💕

• Buy me a coffee ☕️ (or a brownie if I’m being naughty…) 😁

• Connect with me: Website 🔗 LinkedIn 🖇️ Instagram 📸

Thanks for your support! 🙏

It feels good to be here writing to you today, after my October hiatus.

I hadn’t planned to take an autumn essay break, but my body and soul told me I needed one. 💖✨

Hi, I’m Holly, a career/life coach and mindfulness facilitator. I’m here to help you lead a life full of zest, zen, and purpose. Come join the supportive Zestful Zen community. ✨

Subscribe & join our community ✨

Learning to listen to my inner wisdom

As I often note in mindfulness courses, when we become more mindful, noticing what’s happening in ourselves and around us, we can make better choices.

I used to ignore burnout warning signs, resist slowing down, and keep on pushing through exhaustion, with caffeine and chocolate powering me “forward”.

Nowadays, I know better. When my body and soul raise their voices, I listen and respond with kindness and care.

Sometimes they urge more excitement, inspiration, and adventures! Energising activities or intellectual stimulation. Space to wander.

Other days, they whisper to slow down and rest.

In October, they reminded me that you can’t pour from an empty cup, and that squeezing out my last reserves to write would just leave me creatively depleted.

So instead of tapping away on my keyboard, I rested.

Work with me! How I can help you ✅

• For career clarity, navigating change and personal growth: 1-to-1 coaching.

• For less stress and more zest: build mind-body connection and be fully present through mindfulness (live group classes and self-paced e-courses).

Focusing on what matters most

Well, to be more accurate, when I wasn’t at work I rested. There was plenty of typing in office hours!

On Halloween, I wrapped up a career of 15+ years in the UK civil service. While I’d had my exit date front and centre of mind for months, inevitably my final to-do-list became stuffed. Couldn’t I squeeze in just a few more things before leaving?!

When you don’t have a successor in place, it’s tempting to try and get it all done. But suffice to say, I had to scale back my ambitions.

Instead of trying to achieve the impossible, I prioritised what really mattered: good handover notes and valuable final sessions for my in-house coaching clients.

Then I let the rest go.

Dropping the nice-to-haves and perfectionism

It’s easy to get caught up in ideas and keep adding to your pile. Especially when you feel like time is running out to make a difference.

Yet it can be truly liberating to recognise and admit that you can’t do it all!

• Sometimes you need to be ruthless in your choices, drop the non-essentials, and settle for good-enough. Things don’t have to be perfect or 100% complete.

• The world won’t end because you didn’t send an email, attend a meeting, or draft a report. But if you allow it to, work will never stop. Don’t let it swallow you up!

If you needed to hear that, please take this as your permission slip to stop and say no to the things that don’t fill you up.

And maybe even say no to a few things that do, if you’ve got a bit too much in your pile right now?

Recalibrating for the season you’re in

When life feels full-on, even things that normally sustain us can drain us. Sometimes we need to press pause for now, take smaller doses, or switch things up a bit.

• I’ve been leaning into slower exercise this season – extra yoga and Pilates, instead of high-energy Zumba and Body Combat.

• I’m also drawn to spending time in nature, taking long woodland walks alongside scurrying creatures and bright berries.

• And as the dark nights draw in ever earlier, you can often find me cosied up on the sofa with my kitties, meditating and journalling.

An invitation to choose seasonal sustainers

• Maybe you’re also feeling the pull of this slower season, the craving for hygge and comfort. Do you need a spot of wintering?

• Perhaps you’ve slogged through burning the candle at both ends, and now you want to pause and regroup.

• Or at the other end of the spectrum, maybe you’re gearing up for a busy southern hemisphere summer Christmas, and you need permission to prioritise self-care.

Whatever your situation, I’d love to invite you to join me for a free one-hour Winter Wellbeing workshop, ahead of the holidays.

I’ll offer a safe, cosy space and guide us gently in practicing self-care.

Together we’ll journal, meditate, and pause to reflect on what we need for our wellbeing: right now, in this moment, and in the coming weeks and months.

I’ll be running this workshop twice on Zoom, to accommodate different time zones, so please sign-up up for the slot that suits you best.

🌟 Yes please, sign me up! 🌟

Wednesday 3rd December: 10:00-11:00 PST / 13:00-14:00 EST / 18:00-19:00 GMT / 19:00-20:00 CET (Check your time-zone here)

Sunday 7^th December: 10:00-11:00 GMT / 11:00-12:00 CET / 17:00-18:00 WIB / 21:00-22:00 AEDT (Check your time-zone here)

I can’t wait to welcome you for this cosy self-care session,

Self-reflection and journal prompts ✍️

• How does your energy flow with the seasons? Are you trying to override this shift?

• What stops you from prioritising self-care?

• What support do you need to boost your wellbeing?

• What do you need to say no to? What do you need to say yes to?

• Where could you cut back perfectionism and do “good-enough” instead?

Share your perspective ✨

I’d love to hear your reflections on self-care, prioritisation and slowing down. What supports your seasonal wellbeing? When do you feel most in tune with your body’s needs?

Leave a comment

Ways you can support my writing 💖

• Help our community grow: subscribe for free or recommend Zestful Zen ✨

• Help people find this post: Like ❤️, comment 💬, share - spread the love. 💕

• Buy me a coffee ☕️ (or a brownie if I’m being naughty…) 😁

• Connect with me: Website 🔗 LinkedIn 🖇️ Instagram 📸

Thanks for your support! 🙏

Welcome back to our Autumn Reset. If you missed the earlier weeks, check them out:

• Week 1: Intuitive goal setting

• Week 2: Options and Actions

• And the post that prompted me to write the series: Set aside some me-time for a September Stocktake

This week, we’re looking at the barriers that often pop up and hinder us reaching our goals, plus thinking about how we can overcome them.

Side note: I’d originally planned for today’s post to be the last in the series, and to cover both barriers and boundaries. But it turned out I had a lot to say just on barriers, and I think the topic of boundaries merits a post in its own right - coming next week! 🌟

Hi, I’m Holly, a certified coach and Breathworks mindfulness facilitator. I’m here to help you lead a life full of zest, zen, and purpose. Come join the supportive Zestful Zen community. ✨

Subscribe & join our community ✨

Getting stuck in first gear

Often when we have a big goal, we start with a burst of enthusiasm and energy. We’re excited by the possibilities, imagining how great we’ll feel when we cross the finish line.

We can picture the transformation, the new us, the magical outcome. And with that dream comes the motivation to get going: “This is it! This time, I’m going to do the thing, get the result, reach my destination...”

And then life happens, hurdles appear on the track and suddenly that sparkly vision seems a bit fanciful or even impossible to reach. So how do we move forward?

Where to begin?

There are many ways we could approach this, but personally, I find it comes down to taking some space for self-reflection first, then using the insights I’ve gained to help me chart my way.

The same applies when I’m helping my coaching clients to tackle obstacles – having that conversational space to think out loud (and sometimes be gently challenged) allows them to see things from a new perspective.

Work with me! How I can help you ✅

• For career clarity, navigating change and personal growth: 1-to-1 coaching.

• For less stress and more zest: build mind-body connection and be fully present through mindfulness (live group classes and self-paced e-courses).

1. Identifying the barriers

Identifying the barriers to action can be a good place to start. When you dig deep and really think about it, what’s blocking you from moving forward?

• Are practicalities getting in the way? Maybe you don’t have enough childcare, there’s no quiet space to work in, or your to-do-list seems impossibly long.

• Are limiting beliefs holding you back? Maybe you think “who am I to do X?” or “I was silly to think I could…” or “I’m not good enough at…”

• Is fear paralysing you? Are you worried that you’ll fail and maybe it’s safer to just not try in the first place? Are worst-case scenarios spiralling through your mind?

• Are you prioritising others’ needs and desires? Do you let your wishes and dreams fall to the bottom of the pile, as ‘less important’?

• Have you got unrealistic expectations? Are you judging yourself for not moving mountains in a matter of days? Or have you fallen into the trap of comparing yourself to others who are ‘doing better’?

• Are you lacking motivation? Does it all just feel too hard and you’re wondering why you bothered to set off down this road?

2. Overcoming obstacles

If practical barriers are your problem,

are there ways to get around them?

• Could a friend help you out with childcare?

• Could you pop to your local library for a quiet, comfortable space to write in?

• Could your partner take on some of the chores from your to-do list?

Remember, asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it means you’re human!

Maybe you just need some foundations in place first, before you can get started.

If limiting beliefs are your nemesis,

think back to things you’ve achieved before, obstacles you’ve overcome, growth you’ve experienced. You succeeded before, and you can succeed again!

And if that’s not enough evidence to convince you, bring in reinforcements. Can your friends, family, colleagues or partner be your cheerleaders?

Or could a coach or mentor help you to build your confidence and self-belief ? (Shameless marketing plug: I’ll be taking on new 1-to-1 coaching clients from November if you’d like to work with me.)

If fear has put you into freeze mode,

pause and realistically assess the risks.

• Are you catastrophising?

• What’s the likelihood of your worst-case scenario happening? And if it did, what would be the real impact?

• Can you have a Plan B in your back pocket?

• What practical steps can you take to mitigate the risks you’re afraid of?

If putting others first is your kryptonite,

remind yourself that it’s NOT selfish to pursue your ambitions, desires and goals.

People who genuinely care for you want you to be happy and fulfilled.

Take a moment to share your dreams with those closest to you, and they might become your biggest supporters and champions.

If unrealistic expectations are making you feel like a failure,

pause and reevaluate what success would really look like, and what’s a feasible pathway for getting there.

• Maybe you need to choose a different goal that better meets your needs.

• Or maybe you need to adjust your timelines and targets.

• Remember, you’re a human, not a superhero. It’s alright to go at your own pace and to dance to your own beat.

• Don’t measure your success by how you think you shape up against others. You’re on your own unique journey, and you’ve got no idea what’s going on in someone else’s life.

It’s not a competition, and there’s no trophy for burnout.

If your motivation has fizzled out as things get challenging,

go back to your why.

• Why did you decide to start this journey?

• What’s the benefit of putting in the work? How will life be better for you if you keep pursuing your goal?

• What’s the impact if you do nothing and stay right where you are now?

And remember, there’s nothing wrong with giving yourself little rewards along the way if you need some extrinsic motivation to keep you going.

Perhaps a nice massage, a trip to a local gallery or a fun evening with friends is just the incentive you need to knuckle down and get back on track.

Moving forward

So, where does all this self-reflection leave us?

Hopefully, you’ve got a better understanding now of what specifically is standing in the way of your goals, and some ideas for how to tackle those barriers.

For me, after a bit of soul-searching, I recognise that my expectations are probably too high.

• I need to slow down, cut myself some slack and adjust my timelines.

• My deadlines are self-imposed and there’s no need to rush as much as I am! There’s always time...

I also need to work on maintaining my boundaries better, so I have space to breathe and to go after what matters most to me, not just do what others want me to!

On that note, I hope you’ll join me again next week to focus on building (and reinforcing) our boundaries. 💪

Self-reflection and journal prompts ✍️

• What’s the biggest thing holding me back from moving forward?

• Where am I getting in my own way? Why?

• What am I doing that’s moving me towards or away from my goals?

• What’s worked in the past to get me unstuck?

Share your perspective ✨

I’d love to hear your reflections on feeling stuck and overcoming obstacles. What supports you to move forward? When do you feel most motivated to take action?

Leave a comment

Ways you can support my writing 💖

• Help our community grow: subscribe for free or recommend Zestful Zen ✨

• Help people find this post: Like ❤️, comment 💬, share - spread the love. 💕

• Buy me a coffee ☕️ (or a brownie if I’m being naughty…) 😁

• Connect with me: Website 🔗 LinkedIn 🖇️ Instagram 📸

Thanks for your support! 🙏