For me, there was a link between body issues and my mental health. Comparing myself with others in various ways - visually, academically, in sports and in my career.

I believe I came to a point where I accepted the negative self talk - it became the norm and so I had learned not to question it. Those self talk narratives didnt feel uncomfortable at the time. I'd allowed that self talk to grow stronger and take over many areas of my life.

This podcast is about how we can disrupt that pattern, change the negative narrative and focus on strengthening our positive self talk.

We've been fortunate to be blessed with great weather during the last few weeks. I've dug out my summer clothes again, some of those that I would only wear on holidays abroad. At home, I dress more conservatively and wondered if there is a reason behind that choice.

I have also noticed that I'm still carrying around some old thoughts about the way I look and how I feel about my body. They don't help me to feel better about the way I look, and I think contribute to the low mood and lack of self esteem I have when it comes to my own body image.

So my current challenge is to address that and view my body in a kinder way. I'm exploring the source of those fears and judgment, and exploring how I can take steps daily to improve my thinking. Body empowerment means accepting what I am, losing the negative patterns of thinking, and choosing positive actions instead.

Learning to accept my body image - A bit of a personal one for me addressing my long held body issues and taking accountability to manage them.

This slower pace of life has had me thinking about how I want to live after these restrictions lift.

Are you also thinking ahead about the adjustments you will continue with after this period ends?

Something came up this week which made me feel guilty. However irrational the cause, it's a feeling thats been creeping into my thoughts.

Guilt can be very toxic. Being able to step away from this feeling of guilt helps us to process and understand it better.

If you are juggling lots of commitments and responsibilities, have a think over the next 24 hours what you are feeling irrationally guilty about; is that the guilt a reality, or is the guilt fuelling how you think and feel?

We regularly invest in material things, but have we learned how to invest in ourselves too?

It can feel unnecessary, sometimes we don't always recognise the need for it in our lives. There's always something else to invest in - Spend money on - Mobile phones, tvs, cars - whatever it is that we think will make us happy. Or it can be time that is the issue - another chore to fit into our lives. Making time to spend on yourself feels selfish if others are depending on you. If you're already in demand, where can you possibly find the time?

I admit, I haven't managed it well in the last few days. I have had a series of appointments, meetings and all sorts of things needing attention. Yet there's a big event this week in my personal life where I will need to be at my best. So to prepare, I will practice self care.

Will you invest in yourself too?

One of the things I say to help support others with their mental health is to check in on others to see how they are doing. This week, I have been on the receiving end of that.

But are we good at communicating how we feel? Poor communication can send a different message than we intend to give.

How do you communicate?
Are others misinterpreting what you mean?

A little more information about what happened in the first of this workshop series which focuses on improving the support we can offer to athletes and sports coaches. Through open discussion and collaboration, many thinking points were addressed and positive action is being taken. We're hoping to keep the conversation going at our next workshop event, by sharing our stories and working together. Be a part of the solution.

I want to offer my thoughts on the subject of acceptance - particularly in accepting things aren't going the way we want them to.

When and why do we accept this as our new normal?
Why do we resist the need for change?
Let me know your thoughts.

One of the things we often have to work during the coaching sessions is giving ourselves permission to be better, to be happier, or any of those emotions we are feeling in the moment. We often fight these emotions - using self punishment, the guilt, the fear . Instead, by focussing on acceptance, changes everything.
Some people have never felt they were allowed to be better, they didn’t think they deserved to feel the way they do.
Lets knock the self punishment on the head.