Public speaking is one of the most valuable skills in today's professional world. Whether you're presenting to a boardroom, speaking on a panel, or delivering a virtual talk, the ability to communicate clearly and confidently can open doors to new opportunities. Yet, for many, the mere thought of standing in front of an audience induces anxiety.
For those who live with anxiety, are neurodivergent, or feel the weight of societal expectations, 'masking' can feel like a shield. It's the act of blending in, suppressing the parts of oneself that feel too 'different' or 'much' in order to fit a mould. Masking can be a survival tool, a way to navigate environments where we fear rejection or misunderstanding. It can give us temporary relief: "If I just act like everyone else, I'll feel safe." And, our nervous system spends a lot of time looking for signals in our environment that tell us it is safe. Masking can also be exhausting, alienating, and denying our most authentic selves. Over time, it chips away at authenticity, leaving us wondering: Who am I beneath the mask?
I recently revisited Nan Shepherd's masterpiece, 'The Living Mountain'. It is a revelation, a rare gem of nature writing that transforms the act of walking into a profound exploration of beauty, mindful observation, and healing. Initially hidden in obscurity, it has since been rightly celebrated as one of Britain's finest works ever written about nature and landscape. Shepherd's poetic reflections on the Cairngorm mountains are a spellbinding reminder of the wonder that awaits when we slow down, immerse ourselves in the wild, and simply observe.
Five Tips To Help You Cope With Uncertainty In 1948, the mathematician, electrical engineer, and cryptographer Claude Shannon stated that 'information' is 'reduction of uncertainty.' (Shannon, 1948). Living with so much uncertainty is challenging. Humans crave information about the future in the same way we crave food and other primary rewards. The brain perceives [...]
Promote mindfulness in the workplace According to recent figures, 526,000 workers suffered from work-related stress, depression or anxiety (new or long-standing) in 2016/17, and 12.5 million working days were lost due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2016/17. Stress and anxiety seem to come hand-in-hand with working life these days, but that shouldn’t have to be the [...]
Living with IBS? Hypnotherapy can help IBS is a complex, functional gastric disorder. While there is no cure for irritable bowel syndrome, there are certain treatments and lifestyle changes that can help manage symptoms. Tension, stress and anxiety that can be created by living with conditions such as IBS can exacerbate the condition, and this [...]
Stress vs. Anxiety: What’s the Difference? We’ve all felt symptoms of stress at some point in our lives, our body responds to a new relationship, job promotion, or moving house by creating panic symptoms such as heart-thumping or tense muscles. However, many individuals confuse stress and anxiety - and these are two very different responses. What is Stress [...]
How to boost your confidence by working with your inner critic The critical inner voice, inner critic, inner chimp, monkey, bully...many guises, many different names. It manifests as nagging, negative thoughts, self-talk such as self blaming, shaming and character assassination. This can often be the route of a lot of our self-destructive behaviour. Experienced as thoughts within your [...]
Manage anxiety, stress and improve well-being by walking in the woods It doesn't have to be limited to breathing techniques and talking therapy. In Japan, there is a term, 'Shinrin-yoku' that means 'forest bathing.' or 'being amongst the trees.' Forest Therapy has become part of the Japanese lifestyle, and there is a robust body of evidence on [...]
How to achieve goals? I see a lot of people who become despondent when it comes to achieving goals, and in the process, they stop enjoying themselves. I’ve done it myself, I’ve focused too much on the idea of the goal, and less on the journey, and become frustrated and unhappy because of it. But [...]
