FULL RETREAT DETAILS HERE If what Suzy shares resonates, she’ll be running a two-hour self-advocacy workshop at my Spring Retreat at Wilderness Reserve, Suffolk from 6-9 March 2026. Susie’s session alone will be genuinely life-changing - especially if you’re ready to stop people-pleasing and start living in a way that includes you too.

Suzy Reading returns to the podcast to unpack her new book How to Be Selfish - a powerful reframe of selfishness as self-advocacy, self-trust and learning to live like you matter too.

This conversation is for the women who:

• feel selfish for resting
• struggle to say no
• automatically apologise (even when they’ve done nothing wrong)
• find it hard to receive support, compliments or kindness
• look successful on the outside, but feel stretched and dysregulated underneath

Key themes we cover

• Why “selfish” isn’t the real problem - shame and guilt are
• How women are conditioned to be the good girl (pleasant, compliant, endlessly available)
• The “pandemic of not enoughness” - and why it’s not a personal failing
• How modern culture twists resilience into hyper-independence
• Why learning to receive is essential for healthy relationships (not a burden)
• How to advocate for yourself without becoming cold or uncaring
• Why confidence isn’t just mindset - it’s head, heart and body

Suzy’s 7 steps to self-advocacy (from the book)

1. Reclaim your mind - unpick limiting beliefs and shift from thoughts to self-talk
2. Reclaim your senses - take back control of attention and reduce overwhelm
3. Reclaim your body - regulate the nervous system so it feels safe to speak up
4. Reclaim your right to feel - emotions aren’t “negative”, they’re information
5. Reclaim your moral compass - clarify values and what actually matters to you
6. Boundaries with self - sleep, habits, energy, and keeping promises to yourself
7. Advocate with others - communicate needs clearly and receive support

Tools you can try today (simple, but powerful)

• Hand on heart + sip of tea/water
• Ask: Where am I at? What do I need?
• Then do one small thing to meet that need.
• Somatic holds (circuit breakers for stress):
• hold one thumb
• hold your own hand
• give yourself a hug
• the “face hug” - warm your hands, cradle your chin, breathe
• Posture reset for confidence
• When we’re collapsed forward, it’s harder to say no.
• Try shoulder rolls or “V to W” arms while breathing.

A gentle reminder

You don’t need to wait until you feel worthy to take care of yourself.

The feeling of worth often comes from the nourishing action.

If you like what you hear... buymeacoffee.com/alexsimms. Thanks! x

Come and connect with me!

Instagram: @cancercuredme

Website: www.balancedbodyandretreats.com

CLICK HERE TO JOIN MY NEXT LUXURY RETREAT AT WILDERNESS RESERVE, SUFFOLK 6-9 March 2026

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