Hello. :)

I’m a bit of a Radio 4 junkie. There always seems to be something interesting to listen to and learn about.

While I got my lunch yesterday I was captivated by a short interview from the 1960's with a World War 1 veteran – one of the Voices of the First World War series of oral history.

It was one man telling his story of a torpedo strike. He survived without physical injury, but the psychological effects followed soon after and stayed with him for the rest of his life.

It is quite possible that it was one of the first times he talked about the emotional impacts of his experiences.

For me, the interview highlights the importance of having an opportunity to talk and  be listened to.
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​I think it can be quite difficult to talk about things that are important.

Sometimes it can take a while to even realise that there’s something that you need to talk about.

Sometimes you know you need to talk but you just don’t know who will listen.

Not only do you need the opportunity, but you need to know that you will be listened to and that you won’t be judged for what you say.
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I’m a great listener!

At the end of their initial consultation, my clients frequently tell me that it felt good to talk.

That they’d never had the opportunity to talk about ‘everything at the same time’ before.

The things that I frequently hear about in my consultations can pretty much be grouped into the following categories:

Issues from childhood and parents;

Humiliation or mortification;

Destructive relationships;
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Loss.

These things might have happened decades ago, but they remain a powerful force. 

They might be the cause of anxiety, a feeling of 'never being good enough' or a fear of rejection.
 

It might have happened years ago, but you don't seem to be able to forget about it.

You might not have mentioned it to anyone else, or perhaps you mentioned it to your GP and all they could offer were anti-depressants.

I use natural and gentle homeopathic remedies and herbs to help you get through whatever it is that is affecting you.

Now might be the right time for you to talk. :)

If reading this makes you think of a friend or family member I would love for you to pass this on to them. 

If you'd like to find out more about working with me you can book a free Introductory Call, give me a call or email me. 

I look forward to hearing from you. :)

​Sarah

​This post was inspired by a newsletter that I sent out soon after Mother's Day earlier this year. I talked about the fact that for many of us, it can be extremely difficult to cope with a specific day in the calendar if it reminds us of someone that is no longer with us. It could be Mother or Father's day, a birthday, anniversary, Christmas or anything else that acts as a trigger for you.

I received  some lovely replies to that newsletter which i really enjoyed reading. It made me think that it touched a chord with many of you, so I thought I would rework it as a blog post. I decided to focus on using gratitude to help get through a difficult time, which I hope you enjoy reading.

When my parents died it was a very sad and difficult time, but of course you can't make the assumption that losing a parent, or anyone, is always a sad thing. There could be any number of reasons why it's not. What is certain, is that whatever the situation, there will always be emotions involved. I feel that using gratitudes can be helpful to cope with any emotions, but also a helpful way to approach life generally. It's not just about facing times of difficulty, so I hope everyone will be able to take something away from this post.
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Gratitude is actually big business now. Many large companies have increased staff morale, leadership qualities and productivity, amongst other things, by incorporating gratitudes into their work model. It doesn't only benefit those in the workplace though.

Research has shown that being grateful has a positive impact on the central nervous system and can actually affect the molecular structure of the brain. The result is that we are happier, healthier, less stressed and we're also likely to sleep better. What's not to like? If you're interested in understanding a bit more, read this article by The Power of Ideas on the power of gratitude for more details.
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Eleven years on, I'm happy to say that Mother's Day is no longer a traumatic day for me. I often think about my mum, but Mother's Day is now a day when I am particularly grateful for having her be my mum and can enjoy happy memories of her.

For the last few years I'd been trying to use gratitudes to help get me through difficult times like Mother's Day without realising that they were a 'thing'! Now I know a bit more about it, I have worked gratitudes in to my daily life with more purpose.

I use the Best Self Journal​ most days to keep myself organised, and one of the nicest parts about using it is the space to write three things you are grateful for morning and evening. I now find that even on days when I haven't used the journal, I am much more likely to take a step back from whatever I'm doing, long enough to think about what I am thankful for. It has definitely put me in a more positive frame of mind, and more importantly I think, it's helped me become a more thoughtful person.

Of course this changes day to day. This morning when I went for a run through my local woods, I was grateful for the shade of the trees (it was about 28 degrees at 8:30am!), for my health so that I can run, for my running partner who gives me the incentive to keep up the running and for having somewhere as beautiful as Highwoods Country Park just a few minutes from where I live. 

At times like Mother's Day it may well get a bit more deep and meaningful. ​As I mentioned in my newsletter, I will sometimes find old photos to help me remember my mum and dad and be grateful for them. These are a couple of my favourites.

The first one is in 1969 I think. My parents both worked in what was then Rhodesia (my mum was a nurse out there and my dad helped to run a school for local children on a Methodist mission). They met, married and my big brother and sister - the twins - were born out there. This is them all coming home to Britain for good on the ship SA Oranje. I don't know why, but I've always loved this picture, even though I wouldn't be around for another 5 years! ​

On their way back to England, 1969 
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Mum, Dad and Sophie - proud grandparents, 2003
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It's very simple to make gratitude a part of your everyday life. Here are a few pointers:

If you are interested in finding out more about working with me, and how I can help you, please get in touch using the form below and we can find a time to speak. I'm easy to talk to and a really good listener :)

You might also be interested in reading my posts on anxiety and tips on de-stressing and slowing down.