Category: Self-awarness

Categories
New Beginnings Personal Growth Reflection Self-awarness Wellbeing

Stepping Into What’s Beginning

 

Nothing tests our ability to stay open quite like finding ourselves in a space we do not yet know.

There is a particular kind of shift that happens when we step into a rhythm that is only beginning to form, one we have not found our place within yet. We may become a little more alert, a little unsure, listening for cues we have not learned and finding our way as we go.

Yet beginnings have a way of revealing things. Where we are adaptable. Where we hesitate. What draws us forward. What we might need to loosen our hold on. And sometimes, what we are ready for before we quite know it ourselves.

Staying open in these early, forming spaces is not about having everything in place. It is about presence: the willingness to let things unfold, to notice what is emerging, and to allow ourselves to be opened by what is unfolding around us.

May be that is what beginnings offer us, a chance to enter without knowing exactly where everything will lead.

To arrive.
To notice.
To remain open.

And, little by little, to find our way.

Categories
Carl Rogers Counselling Personal Growth Reflective Practice Self-awarness Uncategorized

The Mirror as a Doorway

 

Sometimes the person we need to meet is ourselves.

There was a time when I stood in front of a mirror simply to practise speaking.

Over the years, I have often encouraged counselling students and clients, particularly those struggling with low self-esteem or self-confidence, to do the same. Speaking aloud in front of a mirror can feel uncomfortable at first, but it offers something far more valuable than practising words. It offers an opportunity to notice ourselves.

Recently, I found myself reflecting on this practice again. I realised that the mirror had never really been about confidence or presentation. It had quietly become a doorway.

A doorway to greater self-awareness.

A doorway to self-acceptance.

A doorway to authenticity.

For Carl Rogers, therapeutic change begins with congruence, the willingness to be genuine, rather than hiding behind a professional role or carefully constructed image. Before we can truly meet another person, we must first be willing to meet ourselves.

Perhaps this is why the mirror can be such a powerful teacher.

It gently asks questions that no one else can answer.

Can I look at myself with kindness?

Can I hear my own voice without judgement?

Can I accept the person looking back at me?

For me, the mirror is no longer about improving how I speak. It is about developing the courage to be present with myself. The more comfortable we become with who we are, the less energy we spend trying to become someone else.

As therapists, students and human beings, we often search for confidence as though it were something to acquire. Yet confidence frequently grows from something much quieter: self-acceptance.

Sometimes the greatest doorway is not the one that leads us somewhere new.

Sometimes it is the one that invites us home to ourselves.

 

A Moment for Reflection

When was the last time you truly met yourself with kindness?

 

Categories
Minfulness Personal Growth Self-awarness Wellbeing

Self-Care in the Heat: A Gentle Reminder from the BACP Ethical Framework

 

As temperatures continue to rise across the UK, many of us are being reminded to drink plenty of water, seek shade, and avoid the hottest part of the day.

These are sensible reminders.

For those of us working in the helping professions, however, the warm weather also offers another gentle reminder: the importance of looking after ourselves.

The BACP Ethical Framework reminds us that self-care is not a luxury or an afterthought. It is part of our professional responsibility. The quality of the care we offer others is closely connected to the care we give ourselves.

Self-care does not always have to involve grand gestures or expensive retreats.

Sometimes it is found in the ordinary moments.

An early morning walk before the day becomes too warm.

A cool breeze.

The sound of birdsong.

A quiet cup of tea.

A nourishing meal.

A few moments to pause and breathe before welcoming the next client.

Small moments matter.

As therapists, supervisors, educators, and those working in caring professions, we spend much of our time supporting others. Yet we can sometimes forget that we, too, need rest, nourishment, and compassion.

Self-care is not selfish.

It enables us to remain present, think clearly, make sound professional decisions, and continue offering safe and effective care.

As the weather reminds us to slow our pace, perhaps we can also take a moment to ask ourselves:

  • Have I had enough water today?
  • Have I taken time to rest?
  • What do I need today in order to care well for both myself and others?

The answers may be simple.

Sometimes the smallest acts of self-care have the greatest impact.

Take care of yourself.

Your wellbeing matters too.