Tracy McKeague Counselling

07/01/2026

I used to find my style of journaling boring. That was the problem.

04/01/2026

Every year when I put the Christmas decorations away I write myself a little note that I put in with the decorations for the following year.

I love reading it when I put the decorations back up the next Christmas. I usually write about the things I hope for, for the year ahead. It can be so interesting to look at a year later. Every year it seems like that note only went away months ago, how it flies in!!

Usually what I was worried about the previous Christmas wasn’t even on my radar by the time the next Christmas came about!! (Thankfully) Our thoughts/worries can change so much in that timeframe ❤️

You can write whatever you like & it can be a lovely piece of reflection!!

All good wishes,

Tracy 🌻
Tracy McKeague Counselling Sea Swimming Mental Health

#2026

31/12/2025

🌻You Might of Had More Strengths Than You Thought in 2025!!

As 2025 comes to a close, many people look back and focus on what didn’t go to plan for them! The goals that slipped, the moments of self-doubt, the times you felt tired, stuck, or unsure. But before you rush ahead into “doing better” next year, it’s worth pausing to notice something really important here….You made it through this year using strengths you may not even recognise as strengths. Please remember that!!

You kept going on days when motivation was low. You adapted when things changed, even if you didn’t feel confident doing so. You asked for help or at least thought about it. You rested when you could, even when you might not have felt it!

Strength isn’t always very obvious. Sometimes it looks like endurance. It’s hard work & there can be plenty of tears along the way! Remember also that strength is sometimes about setting a boundary for the first time, or realising an old coping strategy no longer helps. Sometimes it’s simply surviving & getting through “it”, whatever “IT” is!!!

If 2025 felt heavy, that doesn’t mean you failed. It probably means you were carrying more than anyone could see or maybe that you acknowledged to yourself!!

As we get ready for 2026, you don’t need to become someone new!!! You don’t need to “fix” yourself. You already have evidence that you are capable, resilient, and resourceful even when you doubt yourself!

Let this year be proof that you had more strengths than you thought….. and they are still with you for what comes next.

Please love yourself this year, mind your body & mind & always, always, always hold Hope!

Much love & joy to you in 2026. May it bring glimmers of true contentment! Tracy 🌻

30/12/2025

Moose says “one day you are getting packages through the post with a daily dose of postman barking (moose not the postman) now, not a sausage”…..Christmas deliveries are over & she is forced to count sheep! It’s a dogs life!!

18/12/2025

‼️Glad to see these kind of posts! They can be helpful on many levels. Please have a little read & keep it safe, you never know when it might be needed!

16/12/2025

Make Christmas about you too! Have a little read of some of my thoughts on managing Christmas in a different way this year!

‘At Christmas, many people feel pressure to behave a certain way or provide certain things and these expectations and demands can have a negative impact on mental health’

14/11/2025

I came accross this today & it made me think about what a simple way it is to explain that we all have different needs, different capacities to hold that cup and comparing isn’t fair on anyone!!

Sometimes people get different cups and handle them & the contents in different ways and that’s ok…..You do you….I do me….

Take the pressure off yourself and add a giant slice of self-compassion along with it! This will change the focus from others, to you - in a healthier & more soul nourishing way!!!! You deserve only the best for yourself ❤️

All good wishes today & everyday!

Tracy 🌻

13/11/2025

If you find Winter challenging for your Mental Health - check out my article in Inish Times / Inish Live this week with tips & suggestions to support yourself! All good wishes for today! Tracy 🌻

12/11/2025

“Be strong!!” Maybe it’s said with a good heart but sometimes it’s not the healthiest advice to give….it can feel heavy or pressure for many…..like you need to “pull it together”

Strength isn’t pretending you’re fine, it’s being honest about when you’re not. Sometimes people don’t need strength….they need space, understanding, or just someone to listen.

Be that person!!

All good wishes, today & everyday!

Tracy 🌻

04/11/2025

Good morning folks! You don’t need to wake up bursting with positivity. Sometimes “I’ll do my best to get through today” is more than enough.
Let’s be real for real mornings, not perfect ones!!

All good wishes,

Tracy🌻

03/11/2025

You know how when you bump your elbow or get a bruise, you might tend to reach for an ice pack (or a bag of peas) because we are trying to help a situation by reducing the pain….so let’s soothe the pain by numbing it!

Emotional pain works kind of the same way. When something hurts, maybe a fight with a friend, feeling left out, or just stress piling up….we naturally want to “ice it over.” So we binge watch shows, scroll endlessly, online shop, eat junk food, drink too much, maybe even start an argument or simply distract ourselves in anyway we can! It cools the pain for a bit. It might feel good in the moment but here’s the thing….leave that ice pack on too long, and you can’t feel your arm at all.

You might not notice if the bruise is getting worse, or if something else is going on underneath. Emotional numbing does the same thing. The pain stops… but so does joy, excitement, connection and basically all the feelings you actually want to feel.

So the trick isn’t never using an ice pack❤️it’s knowing when to take it off and actually tend to the bruise. A little soothing is grand but keep numbing forever and you might lose touch with yourself and you deserve better! Just something to think about!

All good wishes today & everyday!

Tracy 🌻

24/10/2025

Friday night self-care folks! It’s an necessity not a luxury!