WellBeing

What’s one commitment you’ve made to yourself lately? You’ve probably already made commitments to others, perhaps through marriage vows or as a parent or employee. Meeting these promises takes planning and sacrifice; you set your alarm, schedule time, turn down other plans to fulfil them. But how seriously do you take the commitments you make to yourself? To treat your own needs with the same compassion, patience and value that you would for your loved ones. Perhaps that’s your daily walk or putting aside time to paint, read or attend your favourite gym class. Or maybe it’s as simple as regularly scheduling 10 minutes for yourself before the rest of the household wakes up, to take some deep breaths, sip on hot tea, to do some stretches or yoga. Today,…

In a world that seems to trump resilience, how often do you allow yourself to be vulnerable? Perhaps as a child you were told not to cry, to hold it in, to “be brave”. As adults we often continue this charade, painting on a smile, protecting ourselves with a shield of perfectionism. But remember that vulnerability is not weakness; it takes courage to express that you’re afraid, to admit to a mistake or to let someone back in after they’ve hurt you. Embrace the perfection in imperfection; allow your worries of what others will think of you to wash away like ocean waves lapping the shore. Accept that with vulnerability comes risk; allow it to filter out those in your life who aren’t worthy of your time. As author Brené…

You aren’t the same person you were seven years ago. Literally. Some scientists say our body’s cells completely renew every seven years. But beyond our physical body, it’s also important to continue evolving, renewing our mind and soul as the seasons of our lives change. Take a moment to consider whether your values are still aligned with your purpose, your environment still serves you, or examine your friendship circle and let go of toxic relationships. If you’re hesitant to change, look to nature for inspiration. The trees continually renew, changing colours, shedding their leaves or growing new ones. The caterpillar cocoons itself before being reborn and spreading its wings. The sun rises and sets, bringing new opportunity with each new morning glow. As poet and writer Gertrude Stein wrote, “Every day…

Recent events have made clear to me that there is one ability, one essential capacity, that has allowed humans to achieve so much. Spoiler alert: those recent events involve puppies. Before we get to the puppies, let’s take a look at humans for a moment. Humans have many qualities that have made us who we are. We are talking more than upright posture, opposable thumbs, mobile shoulders and speech: we are talking psyche. By psyche I mean mind, not brain. As far as we know, humans are the only species capable of forethought. This allows us to imagine the future in various forms and create new realities. Forward thinking is the root of ingenuity and creativity, and the abstract thought it requires is essential for empathy and the capacity to care. Abstraction…

Did something resonate with you in this issue of WellBeing? Tell us! Write to WellBeing, Locked Bag 154, North Ryde, NSW 1670, email wbletters@umco.com.au, comment on our Facebook or Instagram page: @WellBeing _Magazine. We reserve the right to edit all letters. WIN! The winner of our Star Letter will win a copy of iKOU: Energise your Life by founder and CEO Naomi Whitfeld. In the beautifully designed book, you’ll learn the iKOU story, wellness tools to energise your life, meal planning and nourishing food recipes. For more information visit ikou.com.au I’ve been noticing the tensions of life lately and, in particular, the tensions of motherhood. As I navigate this new identity juggling full-time work with full-time mumming (let’s be honest, parenting is round-the-clock care), these tensions are showing up everywhere. I feel myself…

Emotional immunity I read the article “How to boost your emotional immunity” by Marie Rowland in WellBeing #199 and had many “aha” moments. I’m a foster mum to a now teenager who was part of a violent environment as a baby. I’ve often thought that even though he was removed young there were things about that time and his birth family’s own history that is still very much a part of him. In the last two years, my marriage ended, my business ceased during COVID-19 and my eldest son’s ability to hold in — what I now know to be a lifetime of anxiety — collapsed and he became, at times, non-functional. It was in the midst of all of this that my mum’s words kept echoing back to me, “If you…