A Thought I Kept

In this episode of 'A Thought I Kept,' host Claire Fitzsimmons talks with her friend  Irena Meštrović Štajduhar about redefining the concept of strengths. 

Irena, based in Croatia, is a life observer who shares insights on how traditional metrics of success often lead to burnout and disconnection. They delve into Marcus Buckingham's idea that true strengths are activities that bring joy, and discuss how personality tests can sometimes limit us. 

This conversation emphasizes the importance of recognizing and nurturing personal passions, even if they are not conventionally acknowledged as strengths, and the idea of 'internalized capitalism.' 

The episode concludes with reflections on how reclaiming joy and love in one's work can create a meaningful and fulfilling life.

Support the show

This is A Thought I Kept — Weekly conversations about the ideas that stay. Listen every Monday morning for a new thought to hold onto this week.

About Claire Fitzsimmons

Claire is the host of A Thought I Kept, a wellbeing writer, author and the co-founder of If Lost Start Here. As a Certified Coach and Emotions Coach Practitioner, Claire helps people navigate the everyday lost moments and all the feelings, from anxiety to grief, overwhelm to disconnection. 

Buy Claire's first book, If Lost Start Here: Wellbeing for the Anxious, Disconnected or Uncertain here.

Subscribe to Claire's Substack newsletter here.

Find out how to work with Claire here. 

Like what you heard? Follow, rate or review this podcast. 

The music for all episodes from August 10th was made by Leon in the Wilderness.

In this episode of 'A Thought I Kept' hosted by Claire Fitzsimmons, brand designer and creative mentor Sarah Robertson discusses the lasting impact of a saying from her Scottish grandmother. Sarah shares how this phrase has been an anchor throughout various personal and professional challenges, offering comfort and encouragement. She reflects on the insights gained from creating and launching her design studio, balancing creative pursuits with client work, and the importance of both stretching oneself and returning to zones of comfort. The conversation emphasizes trust, resilience, and the delicate balance between striving and acceptance in creative endeavors.

00:29 Meet Sarah Robertson: Brand Designer and Creative Mentor

00:50 The Wisdom: What's for You Won't Go By You

01:36 Applying this in Life and Business

10:53 The Creative Process and Overcoming Self-Doubt

15:18 Launching the Brand Seasons Play Deck

21:17 Reflections and Future Aspirations

27:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Sarah is the writer behind Brand Seasons and a brand designer and creative mentor at These Are The Days, where she collaborates with clients to define their vision, craft beautiful visuals and discover their voices. 

Claire is a writer, certified emotions coach practitioner, and co-founder of wellbeing company If Lost Start Here, and is on a mission to help get people who are lost, lonely, disconnected or simply curious to a better place. You can subscribe to Claire's substack at MoreGoodDays. 

Subscribe for future episodes on the ideas that last a lifetime.  

Support the show

This is A Thought I Kept — Weekly conversations about the ideas that stay. Listen every Monday morning for a new thought to hold onto this week.

About Claire Fitzsimmons

Claire is the host of A Thought I Kept, a wellbeing writer, author and the co-founder of If Lost Start Here. As a Certified Coach and Emotions Coach Practitioner, Claire helps people navigate the everyday lost moments and all the feelings, from anxiety to grief, overwhelm to disconnection. 

Buy Claire's first book, If Lost Start Here: Wellbeing for the Anxious, Disconnected or Uncertain here.

Subscribe to Claire's Substack newsletter here.

Find out how to work with Claire here. 

Like what you heard? Follow, rate or review this podcast. 

The music for all episodes from August 10th was made by Leon in the Wilderness.

In this episode of A Thought I Kept, host Claire Fitzsimmons talks with Emily Charlotte Powell about the one idea that has guided her creative journey. Emily shares her realisation that prioritizing joy and personal fulfillment in her creative pursuits over external validation and algorithm-driven demands is everything. They discuss the importance of staying true to one's own interests, the therapeutic nature of creating, and the balance between sharing work and internal satisfaction. This episode invites listeners to reconsider what truly motivates their creativity and to find joy in the act of creating itself.

Emily Powell is an illustrator, accountant, creative adventurer and the writer behind the Substack publication: While I Was Drawing.

Claire Fitzsimmons is the host of A Thought I Kept, as well as a writer, emotions coach, and co-founder of If Lost Start Here, a wellbeing company for everyday life.

00:00 Introduction to 'A Thought I Kept'

00:40 Introducing Emily Charlotte Powell

01:05 Emily's Guiding Thought: Create What You Love

01:25 The Origin of the Thought

03:53 Balancing Joy and Consistency

08:16 The Joy of Creating for Yourself

12:50 The Power of Joy in Creativity

19:47 Staying True to Your Creative Joy

22:11 Reflections on a Creative Life

Support the show

This is A Thought I Kept — Weekly conversations about the ideas that stay. Listen every Monday morning for a new thought to hold onto this week.

About Claire Fitzsimmons

Claire is the host of A Thought I Kept, a wellbeing writer, author and the co-founder of If Lost Start Here. As a Certified Coach and Emotions Coach Practitioner, Claire helps people navigate the everyday lost moments and all the feelings, from anxiety to grief, overwhelm to disconnection. 

Buy Claire's first book, If Lost Start Here: Wellbeing for the Anxious, Disconnected or Uncertain here.

Subscribe to Claire's Substack newsletter here.

Find out how to work with Claire here. 

Like what you heard? Follow, rate or review this podcast. 

The music for all episodes from August 10th was made by Leon in the Wilderness.

A Thought I Kept is a weekly wellbeing podcast about the one idea that stayed when we've probably forgotten all the rest.

Hosted by Claire Fitzsimmons, each episode features a different guest sharing the one idea they’ve carried with them through life. A line from a book, a sentence said at the right moment, a realisation they couldn’t un-hear. These are the thoughts that changed something. The ones that stayed.

In a world overflowing with life advice, inspiration, and self-help ideas, A Thought I Kept is about what actually makes it off the page, off the stage, even off the podcast and into our everyday lives.

In this trailer episode, Claire introduces the idea behind the series:

• Why we need space for the thoughts that matter

• How one moment of insight can shape a lifetime

• What to expect in the episodes ahead

You’ll also meet Claire — a writer, author, creative entrepreneur and emotions coach, and someone always on the lookout for ideas that mean something. This podcast is her way of tracing how those ideas shape who we become especially in times of transition, challenge, and self-discovery.

What kind of ideas will you hear on the show?

Guests include writers, creatives, therapists, coaches, entrepreneurs and academics — each sharing the one thought they kept that changed how they approach their life.

You’ll hear about:

• A quote remembered since teenage years

• A thought passed down by someone loved

• A lesson learned the hard way

• A line in a book that shifted everything

And maybe one of them will land with you, too.

Why listen?

Because in a culture obsessed with big, bold transformation, A Thought I Kept is about the ideas that last a lifetime — the ones we make our own. The kind that don’t just change our perspective for a moment, but shape how we live, connect, and move through our days.

Whether you’re navigating change, seeking clarity, or simply curious, this podcast will give you something to hold onto.

New episodes arrive Mondays — start your week with a thought-provoking conversation and a new idea to live by.

Host: Claire Fitzsimmons

Claire is a writer, certified emotions coach, and co-founder of If Lost Start Here, a wellbeing company that helps women feel better in everyday life. Her work explores emotional clarity, self-connection and how to find meaning in modern life  especially in the face of a noisy, fast-moving wellbeing culture.

Follow Claire on Substack at MoreGoodDays where you'll find videos and bonus content for each episode.

Subscribe now to A Thought I Kept for weekly conversations with inspiring women about the ideas that last a lifetime.

Support the show

This is A Thought I Kept — Weekly conversations about the ideas that stay. Listen every Monday morning for a new thought to hold onto this week.

About Claire Fitzsimmons

Claire is the host of A Thought I Kept, a wellbeing writer, author and the co-founder of If Lost Start Here. As a Certified Coach and Emotions Coach Practitioner, Claire helps people navigate the everyday lost moments and all the feelings, from anxiety to grief, overwhelm to disconnection. 

Buy Claire's first book, If Lost Start Here: Wellbeing for the Anxious, Disconnected or Uncertain here.

Subscribe to Claire's Substack newsletter here.

Find out how to work with Claire here. 

Like what you heard? Follow, rate or review this podcast. 

The music for all episodes from August 10th was made by Leon in the Wilderness.