Elizabeth's Blog

Do you ever feel not good enough?

Certainly a number of my clients feel this way.  Even though they recognise things they’re doing well in many ways, they nevertheless are excruciatingly aware of the ways in which they feel to not make the grade.  This can bring with it debilitating guilt, fear and shame.  It makes them feel vulnerable and … Read more »

It’s interesting how familiar people I work with often are with the Impostor Syndrome, even if they’re not familiar with that term.  That’s the situation where you may appear very confident, but fear you will be found out as not being as good as people think you are.

It’s funny too that many times, we think we’re the only one … Read more »

What a fabulous response there’s been to the launch of the Happiness Forum.  Thank you for all your contributions – keep them coming!

Action for Happiness was set up not long ago to help us all feel happier and more fulfilled. They have identified the key things that have a positive impact on your happiness and well-being.  These are:

Giving … Read more »

One proven method for boosting your positivity and optimism is to keep a special log which I like to call Book of Joy.  It’s an approach that a number of my clients have used and found very effective – and it’s great to do, too.

Simply buy yourself a lovely notebook – perhaps one of those with an attractive design … Read more »

I was half-way through mowing the lawn when my next door neighbour turned up and offered me a cup of tea.  I couldn’t think of anything I wanted more at that particular moment.  Thanks Clare!

It’s amazing the impact of a simple act of kindness.   I felt good, it made us both smile, and I wanted to give something back … Read more »

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our, light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.  We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?’  Actually, who are you not to be?

Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.  There is nothing … Read more »

As we were walking to school this morning, I was pointing out to my son the flowering cherry tress which are in wonderful full bloom at the moment.  They somehow seem to be more beautiful than ever this year.  

Which reminds me of another favourite quote:

“I want to do for you what the spring does to the cherry trees.”… Read more »

“A ship in a harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.”

So said John Shedd in his poem Salt From My Attic.

A great quote about daring to venture out of your comfort zone, into the unfamiliar and, at times perhaps, scary.  That’s what I have the privilege to witness so many of my clients … Read more »

My last blog, about the brave things some people were doing to celebrate the extra day we had this year on 29 February, reminded me of a favourite quote:

“You’ve got to jump off cliffs, all the time, and build your wings on the way down.” - Ray Bradbury

It never ceases to fill me with awe and wonder at … Read more »

It’s 29th February and we have an extra day because it’s a leap year.  How fabulous is that!  Some people even get a birthday today – their first in 4 years.  A friend of our son is 3 years old today – that’s 12 years in days, but only 3 birthdays.  What a long time to wait, but the great … Read more »

I was recounting recently to my daughter the horror of tragically running over our own beloved cat a few years ago.  Our cat never made it through.

My mother had sent a card afterwards with the words: “Without joy there would be no pain.”

After the 9/11 disaster, when thousands of people lost their lives, the Queen said: “Grief is … Read more »

Did you get out of bed on the wrong side this morning?  Are you a ‘glass half empty’ person? I guess we all have times when we feel less than positive.  Well, research has uncovered ways we can train ourselves to feel more cheerful, and way back in the 1970′s, Ian Dury (of Ian Dury and The Blockheads) seemed to … Read more »

As I write this, the Queen is celebrating exactly 60 years since she came to the throne.  What an achievement!  And how lucky we are to have someone as head of state who is so devoted to her job and her country.

David Cameron apparently said of her: “She asks well-informed and brilliant questions that make you think about the … Read more »

I once read an article about how to deal with all those things we have on our ‘to do’ list at any one time. It’s main message was that we are much better able to deal with the many things on our plate if we deal with them one at a time. As in juggling, unless we are very skilled … Read more »

I read a fascinating article recently. Written by Rosjke Hasseldine, psychotherapist and campaigner for women’s emotional and mental well-being, it tells of the different views on women and men as working parents.

I don’t know whether you caught it, but the BBC broadcast a programme called The Trouble With Working Women. Rosjke (pronounced ‘Roshca‘) challenged … Read more »

We’ve just made some new additions to the family. No, I haven’t just given birth (at my age?) – we’ve adopted two kittens from Cats Protection.

They might as well be babies or toddlers, though! Into everything, getting where they shouldn’t, eating things that aren’t food, thoroughly mischievous, cuddly and gorgeous. Like many young children, they even find the … Read more »

Isn’t it wonderful when you discover a hidden talent – in yourself or in someone you know?

This happened to me recently when my husband and I discovered our daughter has a natural talent for long-distance running. This isn’t something we’ve nurtured or acted as a role model for. I guess we had a hunch when she completed a run … Read more »

Ever get those moments when you just feel not to be getting very far, or somehow success or a sense of fulfilment is evading you?

That happened to me recently – around the time I was making curtains (whoever said making curtains is easy?) and one thing after another seemed to be going wrong.

How fabulous it would be to … Read more »

It’s been a heck of a time the last few weeks!

Since Christmas, I’ve helped direct a panto involving 3 rehearsals a week for 6 weeks and writing in 2 completely new parts to the original script, made a set of curtains, written the best part of a new website, given two talks, taken on several new clients, in addition … Read more »

I borrowed a necklace from my daughter a couple of days ago – a lovely heart-shaped pendant she’d received for her birthday the week before. It complemented my outfit perfectly and she’d urged me to wear it.

At the end of the evening, on removing my coat, the clasp came undone and the necklace smashed on the floor. Horrors! It’s … Read more »