Sup4thesoul

27/05/2026

It took me a while to realise that burnout wasn’t necessarily about workload… and please remember, this is only my experience and interpretation.

For me, it was more about boundaries. Struggling to say no. The stories and patterns I’d carried through my younger life. The pressure to keep giving, keep helping, keep holding everything together.

That’s why I believe supervision matters so deeply. Not just for the work itself, but for the person doing the work.

So, now, I will lie in the sun a little longer, I will delegate, I will keep practicing my nos', I will keep reminding myself I have nothing to prove and no one to impress.

It's not always easy, but, YOU are who you take to your mahi'. So you, better be ok' (at the least).

How, we show up matters and is felt by those around us.

25/05/2026

I have to say I am loving the use of AI (a paid, professional subscription with privacy locks etc).

I am creative and visual so this really appeals.

This was another more general, non specific recent korero in supervision, and how we chose to incorporate Te Awa Whiria model (that we use in professional retreats BTW) for understanding.

Isn't it beautiful?

I hope it helps with perspectives.

25/05/2026

Somewhere along the way back to balance from burnout, I began the smallest act of journaling I guess you'd call it. I don't particularly like that word as it feels too much like work, bit it's not, if you break it down into meaning.

I guess it was a wee commitment to me.
To show up everyday in some small way and be intentionally aware of my life and yes, grateful.

My child and I practiced gratefulness for many years of their wee childhood. In bed every night talking about the sweet' things before they drifted off to sweet dreams. I remember one if theirs was their wee Peter rabbit snack plate and that occasionally they'd be a choccy biccy amongst the veges, fruit and yoghurt.

This journaling' is an extension of that. Every year I buy a pretty book and most mornings I show up. It's just an a5 page and sometimes I fill the page with doodles. And, that's ok! There are no rules.
Recently I added a gifted book and now a random page is added to reflect on.

I also pull a card to ponder. They don't always make sense, but I note them for a moment regardless.

It's a small but simple routine that I practice in the sun over my first coffee. Sometimes it's by candlelight in the dark before the sun is even up.

I encourage you to become present in some small way before the day gets a little crazy.

Show up for you first.

22/05/2026

Still reading and loving Dr Lucy Hone's book How will ever get through this?'. Still so good!

Here's some practical tips she created. Of course, it would be better read in context of the book, but I'm sure you'll get the picture.

And, I don't think you need to be going through anything for them to be a thoughtful process using pen and paper while slowing down and becoming reflective too.

📚👓🌞☕️

18/05/2026

Behold 'the junk drawer'! And all it held!

Because when you free up energy/declutter in your environment, you allow and invite the wairua/soul/mauri/tipuna in and to move through the spaces and find YOU easier 🙅‍♀️💜🌈🙏🦄

The amount of wasted energy I felt everytime I had to forage through that drawer!

Done, sorted, dusted.

What's one thing you can do today? Your work desk, 'that cupboard' o your junk drawer?

16/05/2026

Ever since being gifted this book, I have opened it on a random page most days.

I did 2 today cos I wanted to!

They really resonated! They always do.

Hope they are little reminders for you too.

15/05/2026

In a recent supervision kōrero, we explored how the experiences of stress, grief, frustration, emotional holding, and over-responsibility were possibly showing up physically, emotionally, and spiritually for the practitioner

Using a blend of Te Whare Tapa Wha and wairua focused and Te Ao lens, we reflected on what the body may be holding and what the wairua may be carrying — and the importance of returning to flow rather than forcing outcomes.

Sometimes the work is not to grip tighter.
Sometimes it is simply to observe more clearly.

Part of the reflective practice and plan moving forward included grounding via what I call seawalking (walking barefoot in the wave shallows), meditation (I'll soon be offering my own guided meditation online to support you to connect to source' and cleanse stagnant energy), conscious pattern observation (to reveal any triggers/misalignment), and using what I call the “drone perspective” to see the bigger picture clinically while remaining deeply human.

The body speaks.
The wairua speaks.
Our role is learning how to listen.

In doing so, we align our own practice for the better and the whaiora/clients re support.

SUP 4 THE SOUL
Authentic and intentional self-care.

PS: Gosh I love how AI can create what I invision!

14/05/2026

I work with around 60 professionals across the motu. I'm priveleged to get a snapshot of them inside their agencies. I believe some workplaces (and society/humanity) are misunderstanding burnout.

You cannot keep increasing caseloads, expecting endless emotional capacity, ignoring moral distress and world events, while not seeing the being inside the professional, then offer a wellbeing webinar or occasional mental health day as the solution. That's not to say these aren't helpful.

Burnout is not always poor self-care. And, putting the soul' responsibility there is a little unfair in my humble opinion.

Sometimes it is:

* carrying impossible workloads
* working against your values
* absorbing constant crisis
* performing professionalism while quietly depleting yourself
* feeling unseen as a human being within the work itself

Practitioners do not just need policies and productivity targets.
They need leaders and workplaces that actually see the person behind the role.

Many workers are not failing.
They are responding normally to environments that have become disconnected from humanity.

I don't have all the answers.

What's your thoughts?

13/05/2026

Our next professional development retreat is coming - The Supervision Retreat and Setting up Private Practice.

The venue is booked for Sept 28 to October 1, 2026. It's only a few months away, and at the rate this year is travelling, it's like next week!

So, maybe get thinking about it. Have a chat with your boss. Give them plenty of time to consider it.

We're staying here:

https://www.tauharacentre.org.nz/

I know I can't wait!!✈️🏃🏃‍♀️🧘‍♀️🧘

Tauhara Centre, Taupo, New Zealand, NZ, Conference Rooms, Gardens, Accommodation, Events, Gatherings, Food, Taupo Attractions, Zuvuyaland, Venue

12/05/2026

I’m reading 'How Will I Ever Get Through This?' By Dr Lucy Hone. I remember when she lost her daughter (and other loved ones - in a literal moment) — it was awful and so tragically sad. It's an easy read and provides action steps you can work through if you want to. It's thought provoking and really helpful.

One concept I loved was what she refers to as “living losses” and the idea or reminder that grief is not only connected to death, but to all the losses we experience through life.

The earthquakes.
The home lost.
Divorce.
Relationship endings.
Financial stress.
Infidelity
Estranged whanau
Job loss.
Health changes.
Loss of identity.

So many forms of grief are carried quietly and often minimised.

She also challenges the well-known Kübler-Ross Grief Cycle, reminding readers that it originally came from research with dying patients, not the bereaved - those left behind. The cycle literally became universal, but what Dr Lucy explains is that grief itself is deeply individual and rarely linear. So, putting expectations on it, is likely futile.

It also fits within my ideas around trauma. That trauma is trauma to the individual. It doesn't matter how big or small it is, or how long ago it was. If it was traumatic or horrific or however it's described, then it is simply that. This also confirms my ideas that there really are likely alot of people wandering around traumatised and/grieving living losses'.

I hope this challenges your thinking a little more - professionally and personally. As they say', be kind.

Maybe this is your sign to go read it. I challenge you to.

11/05/2026