Gutsofthematter

02/05/2026

Do you have a space in your life that is just yours? That you can decorate and embellish just the way you like it? Environmental wellness focuses on making the spaces you occupy calm, grounded, cosy and welcoming - so that your nervous system feels still and happy in more places.
Comment ‘environment’ to learn more.

30/04/2026

It’s easy to picture meditation as a completely calm, still mind. Sometimes it is.

And often, when we allow ourselves to become quiet, our inner world grows louder.

We begin to notice what’s actually here—
the patterns, habits, and stories moving through the mind.

Meditation doesn’t require getting rid of any of it.

It’s a space to notice what’s here,
to listen, and to stay present.

This is svādhyāya, the practice of self-study.

Seeing how the mind moves, without needing to judge or fix it.

And in that space, something begins to soften.

Less grasping, less pushing away.
Just awareness, and the willingness to be with whatever arises.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re fighting your thoughts in meditation, you’re not alone.

Mindfulness of Mental Content with Sean Feit Oakes offers a way to work with what’s arising—observing, noticing, and gently returning to the present.

https://yogainternational.com/meditation/mindfulness-of-mental-content/

29/04/2026

29/04/2026

Looking for some peace of mind? Join us for our Mindfulness Workshop on Thursday 30th April from 6-8pm. Here you will learn and practice a range of techniques to foster a calm mind and build resilience. That's $20 well spent! Buy your tickets now at https://www.trybooking.com/DKHWA and we hope to see you there

28/04/2026

Boundaries are not walls. They're the agreements you make with yourself about what you will and won't tolerate.

Research on chronic stress consistently links the absence of healthy boundaries, the inability to say no, the over-giving, the people-pleasing, with worsened mental and physical health outcomes. Cortisol rises. Sleep suffers. Burnout follows.

A 2025 study in Brain Communications identified stress management as a key factor in brain aging. Boundaries are one of the most powerful stress management tools we have.

But many of us were taught that saying no is selfish. That being helpful means being available. That our worth depends on what we do for others. All of this is false. And all of this is making us sick.

In my practice, the most depleted patients are almost always the ones who can't say no. They give and give until there's nothing left. Then they wonder why they feel empty.

Here's the reframe: when you say no to something that drains you, you're saying yes to your nervous system. Yes to your sleep. Yes to your health. Yes to the people and things that actually matter.

Boundaries don't require justification. "No" is a complete sentence. "I can't commit to that" is a complete answer.

Start small. Decline one thing this week that doesn't serve you. Notice how the world does not end.

You are not responsible for everyone else's feelings. You are responsible for your own health.

What's one thing you need to say no to?

28/04/2026

Do you have a space in your life that is just yours? That you can decorate and embellish just the way you like it? Environmental wellness focuses on making the spaces you occupy calm, grounded, cosy and welcoming - so that your nervous system feels still and happy in more places.
Comment ‘environment’ to learn more.

27/04/2026

Learn more about sustainable, long term wellbeing and how to achieve it - comment 'wellness'.

27/04/2026

The pursuit of perfection is one of the most effective ways to sabotage real change.

Research on goal setting and behavior change consistently shows that rigid, all-or-nothing approaches lead to burnout, abandonment, and shame. Flexible, forgiving approaches lead to lasting success.

A 47-year study on physical activity found that consistency mattered more than intensity. A 2025 systematic review on plant-based eating found that the greatest health benefits came from sustained patterns, not perfect adherence.

In my practice, patients often quit when they have one "bad" day. They eat the cookie. They skip the workout. They miss the meditation. And then they think: "Well, I've failed. Might as well give up."

No. One cookie is not failure. One missed workout is not failure. Real failure is when you let one slip become a permanent stop.

Here's the mindset shift: you are not trying to be perfect. You are trying to be mostly good, most of the time, for the rest of your life.

That looks like: eating well most days. Moving most days. Sleeping well most nights. Being kind to yourself most of the time.

The goal isn't 100 percent. The goal is 80 percent, sustained for decades.

In my practice, I tell patients: drop the perfectionism. Pick up the persistence. One is a prison. The other is a superpower.

Progress isn't a straight line. It's a mostly-forward squiggle. And that's enough.

What's one area where you've been too hard on yourself?

25/04/2026

Self care is so trendy - but if you want to go deeper and achieve WELLNESS - comment 'wellness' and I'll send you more info.

22/04/2026

What does Self Care, Balance and Wellbeing mean to you? Learn more about what the science says. Comment 'wellness' to learn more.

20/04/2026

FREE Come and try class - sign up now! Zero obligation or pressure to continue - this first session allows you to get a taste of what the rest of the term looks like.
Experience a nervous system-first approach to self-care. Move from overwhelm to calm clarity, by building sustainable self-care habits rooted in mindfulness and body awareness.

20/04/2026

Are you a carer? Do you need to put self-care on your to do list ? Sign up for this course to help you make some time for YOU.