For many years, my life looked successful from the outside. I had a secure and well paid job as an NHS senior health psychologist, along with a loving family life and two incredible daughters. I was very skilled at holding everything together.

 

But beneath the surface, I was struggling. I felt stressed, overwhelmed, and disconnected from myself and from life. There was a seriousness to my everyday living and I felt like I'd lost the ability to have fun. 

 

As a psychologist with deep knowledge of the mind-body connection and the tools that can help rewire old patterns, I told myself I should have it sorted. On an intellectual level I recognised old and deep-rooted stories around never quite feeling “good enough” and that this was driving patterns of striving. I was exhausted. I had become so accustomed to the feeling of anxiety in my body, and the critical voice in my head, I thought I would never be able to course correct.

 

Then, during my late-40s and alongside the additional challenges of menopause, everything began to change. I started deep inner work through transformational coaching and reconnecting with my body through mindful movement and dance. I sought out communities that aligned with my desire for more joy, freedom, and aliveness in my life. Slowly, something profound shifted within me.

 

I began to let go of the struggle. I started to reconnect and befriend myself. I started giving myself permission to be a normal, imperfect, messy human, and began to show up authentically with myself and others. I resigned from my NHS job. Through meditation, coaching, awareness and movement, I discovered a deeper steadiness and wisdom beneath the noise of my thoughts, emotions, and old stories.

 

Today, I experience far more joy, fulfilment, ease, love and fun in my life. I am showing up authentically, imperfectly, and open heartedly.