Emotional Regulation
48 articles
The Meadow of Memories: What If Every Experience You've Had Deserves Equal Ground?
It stretches as far as you can see in every direction. And in it, flowers. Hundreds of them. Thousands. Each one is a different colour, a different height, a different shape. Some of them face the sun. Some of them are bent slightly from the weather they have lived through. Some are in full bloom. Some are past their peak.
More tagged “Emotional Regulation”
Meditation Myths Debunked: How to Actually Begin (Or Begin Again)
I have lost count of how many people have told me they can't meditate. Sometimes they say it with a kind of proud resignation, I've tried, I'm just not that kind of person. Sometimes, with a frustration that suggests they genuinely wanted it to work. Sometimes with a faint embarrassment, as though they've failed at something that seems to come easily to everyone else.
The Architecture of Awareness: Using Yoga as a Framework for Self-Study
Self-awareness is rarely accidental. It is built: slowly, deliberately and through practice. What drew me to yoga was movement. What kept me there was something far less visible: the framework it offered for understanding myself.
A Softer Way to Begin: Introducing the Words & Contemplations Podcast
Words & Contemplations starts her podcast journey, bringing you blogs in audio format as well as meditations, gentle practices and talks. Come along for the journey; we'd love to have you tune in.
10 Mindful Practices for the Unravelling Soul (On the Go)
When we left our work/life roles, I thought the hardest part would be the logistics. I quickly learned that the true challenge is the unravelling of the "doing" mind. Here are ten practices I’ve gathered from the road that you can do anywhere.
A Symphony of the Self: The Science and Soul of Sound Medicine
“Every illness is a musical problem—the healing, a musical solution.” In our modern world, we often perceive our bodies as solid, static structures. Yet, if we look closer—through the lens of both ancient wisdom and modern physics—we find that we are actually a symphony of oscillatory patterns. From the rhythmic beat of our hearts to the subtle hum of our cellular membranes, every cell, tissue, and organ in the human body possesses its own unique resonant frequency.
What You Consume Matters; Food, Ideas, Beliefs & The Story You Live
You are the creator of your experience. Everything you consume—food, ideas, thoughts, and beliefs —shapes not just your body, but also your brain, your mood, and your reality. We used to read stories that took us into imagined worlds. Today, we scroll through feeds hoping something will make us feel. However, passive consumption creates noise, doubt, and fragmentation. This blog invites you to become active and choose what you consume, so your mind, body, and spirit are lifted, not drained.
Lived Wellness: Moving Beyond Consumption to Everyday Being
In a world where wellness is often sold as “buy this product,” “subscribe to this service,” “follow this influencer,” it can feel like well-being is something external that you purchase. But what if true wellness was the opposite? Lived, found, built from the inside out, free and accessible. What if it wasn’t about what you buy, but what you do, what you think, what you become?
Lived Wellness, Beyond the Thinking Mind
Food, thoughts, emotions: these are all attachments we can become addicted to, especially the ones that reinforce our worldview. We crave confirmation, whether through accolades, achievements, or approval for our choices. But that’s all they are, choices.
Beyond the Past: Rewriting the Stories We Live By
There comes a time when we begin to notice that the patterns repeating in our lives are not coincidences; they are mirrors. The way we love, react, protect ourselves, and withdraw often stems from stories we didn’t consciously choose. They are scripts written by earlier versions of ourselves, shaped by our experiences, emotions, and beliefs.
Learning to Trust Through Love
We often speak of love as something we either have or don’t, something we fall into or out of. Yet few of us pause long enough to consider its deeper purpose. What if love is not the destination, but the lesson itself?
The Things I thought I needed (and what I actually found)
When I set out on what I half-jokingly called my adult gap year, I had a very clear picture of what I was chasing. I wanted adventure. Something new every day. A change of scenery. Access to incredible things for my photography.
The Light We See in Others: A Story of Gratitude and Human Connection
There are moments in life when we meet people who feel like mirrors. All the qualities we long to recognise in ourselves appear so effortlessly in them. And then, as you spend time together, you realise something extraordinary: what you see in them is what they see in you. The connection becomes something rare and beautiful — a space where you bring out the best in one another, even though just days before you were strangers.
Yoga as a Framework for Wholeness
Yoga has always been more than movement. Long before it became a practice of postures, it was described in the ancient texts as a complete framework for living with steadiness and clarity. The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali remind us: “Yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind.” (Yoga Sūtras I.2)
Everyday Moments That Are Yoga (Without You Realising)
Yoga is often thought of as postures on a mat or quiet studio time. Yet the ancient texts describe it far more broadly, as a framework for cultivating steadiness, awareness, and presence in every aspect of life. The Yoga Sūtras tell us:
Transformation: What It Is and Why Yoga Retreats Promise It
Transformation is a word we see everywhere these days, especially on retreats. But what does it really mean? And why are so many retreats offering it as part of their experience?
Saying No Without Guilt: Gentle Practices for Self-Respect and Balance
In times past, people could retreat into caves or forests in search of clarity, stepping away from the noise until answers arrived in silence. Today, life feels far less simple. We are constantly pulled in different directions, with advice, expectations, and ideas about wellness and success coming at us from all sides. Each day presents countless small choices: what to eat, how to spend our time, who we spend it with, and even how we speak up for ourselves. Learning to say no with kindness and without guilt is not just about the big decisions; it’s about honouring these small choices, nurturing self-respect, and creating balance in everyday life.
The Multi-Dimensions of Wellness Part 2: A Gentle Guide to Living Well
Wellness is often spoken of as a set of practices or a checklist of what we should do, but in truth, it is far more subtle, far more intimate than that. It is the quiet tending to our inner landscapes, the noticing of our energy, our thoughts, our relationships, and the spaces we inhabit. In the first part of this exploration, we wandered through the many dimensions of wellness—physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and beyond. In this continuation, we move from awareness into gentle application. How do we invite these dimensions to speak to us in our everyday lives? How do we bring wellness into the rhythms of our days without it feeling like another task to complete?
Exploring How Culture Shapes Your Experience: A Reflective Guide to Wellbeing and Place
There are places in the world that make you feel whole, grounded, and deeply nourished, and there are places that quietly take from you, chipping away at the equilibrium you’ve worked to cultivate. It can feel as though the culture of a place seeps through your skin, shaping your energy and attitude before you’ve even noticed.
When Your Environment Sets Your Limits: Rethinking Boundaries and Self-Worth
There’s something quietly profound, and often overlooked, about the boundaries and standards that shape our lives. Not always the ones we consciously set, but those gently handed down to us by the people and spaces we inhabit. Whether in work, friendships, family, or romantic relationships, these invisible lines quietly frame what feels possible, what we believe we deserve, and ultimately, how we see ourselves.
Yoga as Life’s Lens: Reflections on Autobiography of a Yogi
Paramahansa Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi is more than a spiritual memoir; it’s an invitation to see life through the lens of the soul. In his telling, the extraordinary becomes accessible, not as far-off miracles but as a way of living rooted in self-awareness, discipline, and love.
20 Reflections from The Surrender Experiment by Michael A. Singer
I read The Surrender Experiment just days after walking away from my corporate job, twelve months into the unknown. No guarantees, no structured plan. Just a quiet knowing that something had shifted.
20 Moments from The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer
A journey inward to awareness, stillness and freedom. Some books arrive like whispers. Others arrive as gifts. For me, The Untethered Soul was both.
Wellness Beyond the Surface: Living the 8 Limbs of Yoga in Daily Life
In the modern wellness world, the surface often appears to be a glow: luminous skin, green smoothies, gym schedules, lymphatic drainage, and cold plunges. And while all of these can support well-being, they don’t touch the deeper layers of what it means to be well.
Self-Love Isn’t What You Think: It’s an Inner Homecoming
There’s a common belief in the wellness world that everything begins with self-love. But I’ve come to learn that it’s not always true. You don’t need to force love upon yourself, or convince yourself that you are worthy, or even forgive yourself first to love yourself. And while an at-home facial or a scented candle might offer a moment of stillness, they aren’t the same as true self-love. I’m talking about the kind of quiet recognition that lives deep within you, the inner knowing that you are already loved, already whole.
How You Can Build a Nervous System-Supportive Routine
A personal guide to tuning in, slowing down, and finding your way back to yourself. There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to nervous system support.It’s not about following a strict wellness checklist or chasing perfection — it’s about tuning into your own rhythms, your own seasons, and your own signals.
Packing Wellness: A Conscious Approach to the Way We Travel
There’s a certain beauty in packing not just clothes or chargers, but your rituals. A yoga mat, a journal, snacks that feel good, shoes that let you walk for miles — these are tools that shift travel from hectic to healing.
Yoga as Remembering
When I look at the modern world of yoga, I see familiar patterns: the yoga studio, the teacher, the aspirational "yoga body." Much of the messaging circles around self-improvement. But the deeper message, the one that stayed with me through all my trainings, is that yoga isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about remembering who you've always been.
What I Didn’t Do in Bali This Time
Or, what happened when I threw out the itinerary and finally listened to that quiet inner voice. This isn’t an anti-blog. It’s not a rebellion against to-do lists, or a rejection of all the amazing things Bali has to offer. It’s simply an invitation to do things your own way.
Journaling Prompts: Redefining Value & Worth
Without any expectations, write the answers to these questions. Write freely and as if you are talking to yourself, someone safe and silent. See what comes up with out judgment, but curiosity see where these questions take you.
Learning to Sit With Yourself (and Everyone Else Too)
Regulating our emotions is a journey. You might be someone who feels deeply. Who notices the shift in the room when someone else enters. Who picks up on unspoken tensions, unmet needs, and unsaid apologies. You might be empathetic, curious, creative—and sometimes, exhausted. You may have learned to manage your emotions with a certain grace, yet still find yourself undone by the sudden sharpness of disappointment or frustration.
19 Free Ways to Feel More Connected to Yourself
In a world that constantly demands our attention—from deadlines and devices to the never-ending to-do lists—it’s easy to drift away from ourselves. But coming home to yourself doesn’t require a retreat or a spa day. (Although you should do these things too.) Sometimes, it doesn’t need to cost anything. Sometimes, it’s about the smallest gestures—things we can do right now, wherever we are, to re-centre, ground, and feel more us again.
Outgrowing the Hands That Once Held Us: Letting Go, Growing Stronger, and Knowing Your Worth
Friendships are supposed to uplift, support, and encourage us to grow. But sometimes, what we believe to be friendship is something else entirely—manipulation disguised as loyalty, control masked as care. True friends want to see you thrive, even if that means watching you walk away into something better. But not everyone in our lives fits that definition.
9 Books For Psychological & Spiritual Growth
It’s all about finding the right book at the right time. I have said it before, but it is taking on a life of its own; every time I get to the end of a book, I am a little more open, a little further along my path and a little deeper into my journey. These recommended books combine philosophy, ancient wisdom, spirituality, meditation, health and well-being. It’s an incredible reading list and I wanted to share it with you.
Learning To Trust Yourself: A Guide To Inner Knowing
Finding trust in yourself so that you can trust the journey you are on. Choosing to believe that not to know that what is happening at any given time is ok it’s part of the process. It's all part of what will one day make up your story. The right here, right now can feel heavy, uncomfortable or painful but it is temporary. It will pass. You cannot feel the depths of every experience if it is only the fear you let in. What if you were to explore beyond the fear? Beyond the pain, there will be a message, a lesson or something stuck that you have yet to explore. Without delving into what it means, you are missing the lessons your life tries to show you. The parts of you that will make you all you know inside you already are. The parts of you that you long to share and be at ease with, the raw the vulnerable, the real you. Moving through the pain, into understanding is how you find freedom in letting go.
Is It Timing, Trust, or Divine Intervention? Navigating the Unknown
This last month marks the halfway point of my accidental transformation year, 2024 has been a wonderful journey filled with unexpected and incredible opportunities. Look for the signs, lean into the opportunities, and jump in. If you have ever heard these phrases, but dismissed them I urge you to look again.
The Stories We Tell Ourselves
One day you will look back upon the things you believed and it will seem as if someone else’s voice was directing you. The voice inside will evolve if you let it, allow it the space to learn from your mistakes, and test the theories that the child version of you learned to believe. Trust, be brave and create new beliefs for yourself to live by. Once you start to listen, you’ll embark on a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you.
Why Is Gratitude So Powerful?
Practising gratitude is said to improve sleep, reduce stress and improve mood. I think it also helps you find presence, for a moment, when you think about all the things you are grateful for you look back of course but you look at it from the present. The moment you are in, the moment that holds you that very second.
20 Small Shifts for a Wholehearted Life
Simple, soulful ways to feel more grounded — right where you are. Living well doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, some of the most powerful lifestyle changes cost nothing at all — just attention, intention, and a willingness to show up for yourself.
The Power of Journaling
Writing regularly is something that is said to free the mind, to process one's thoughts, to download the noise. For some, it is a collection of thoughts that were, in the moment of writing important. For others, it's a way of making sense of the hundreds of thoughts we carry every day.
10 Quick & Easy Ways To Feel Grounded
Everyone you meet in this world of ours has some form of anxiety, fear or stress that will show up in their body and most of us do not know what it is. It might be butterflies, headache, dizziness, feeling overwhelmed or some other sense of unease. Whatever it is that your body does to send you a signal, here are a few simple tricks that you can use anywhere, to feel grounded.
Sensitivity and Introversion - Susan Cain's book Quiet
The overarching message that I got from this book was that you can unleash the power in the quiet and learn to be more of yourself in the not-so-quiet. Social and other so-called extroverted activities are learnable skills that can be scaled gradually so all introverts can enjoy both the solace and the social, in a setting and environment that nurtures them. It’s ok to be the person looking for the most interesting conversation in the room,
3 Reasons Why You Should Have a Spiritual Practice
Daily practice has been a feature for me over the last 5 years. Over that time it has morphed (just like everything in the last 5 years), depending on what I need at the time and my intention for practice. It is my one non-negotiable, I will move heaven and earth to make sure I have time to sit, connect and be.
Yoga, The Long & Short Of It
The benefits are out there, if you have ever followed someone who does Yoga on instagram you can see their slimline strong body move through poses with elegance and poise. I’m here to share the process. (just in case like me you don’t look like them.) Why it should be hard and the benefit after the undiscussed strength building on and off the mat. Anything is possible in that body of yours but time and practice are built into yoga and that is the transformative nature of it.
10 Gentle Shifts for a Happier, Healthier Home
A sanctuary is not a place, but a feeling you can cultivate. Our homes are an extension of our nervous systems — what we surround ourselves with, breathe in, listen to, and look at daily plays a direct role in how we feel. When your space is calm, intentional, and aligned with your needs, your mind and body can begin to relax into a deeper state of rest and ease.
How Breathwork & Yoga Helped me be a Better Runner
The breath-work I learned in Yoga gave me control and understanding of breathing that I had never been taught. I know that sounds silly but our bodies do so much for us automatically, and many of us are never shown how to control our breath, to control our bodies. An understanding of the combination and how they work together was never something I was aware of.
The Power Of Saying- No, Thank you
Do you need to say no? Or at least consider it as an option more often. I believe what the world has shown us recently, more than anything else is that underneath all the noise and so-called ‘being busy’ we might only need a few key basics. Looking around some of these basics can be seen in the form of comfortable clothing and natural hair colour but other basics like the quality of relationship are a little more difficult to identify, although are ever more important.
You’re Already Helping: Finding Peace in Imperfect Climate Action
Wellness begins with how we treat ourselves — not just on the good days, but especially when the world feels overwhelming. Right now, the news is heavy: a global pandemic, wildfires across continents, and an ever-growing sense of ecological urgency. It’s a lot to carry. And while fear is a valid emotional response, it doesn’t have to be where we stay.