Did I miss the memo? Is the pandemic over? I ask not because life is slowly but surely creeping back to normal in much of Europe and the US. Nor because of the rising vaccination rates, the opening of borders or the fact that…
Inspired Mental health exercises New Sad Stressed Writing exercises
Writing exercises: Getting to know your inner critic
In last week’s post, I wrote about the inner critic and why it’s important to get to know yours. I’ve put together some writing exercises and prompts that I’ve used in the past to help me in the process of paying closer attention to…
When I finally reached the top of the Mardi Himal viewpoint – the 4,500 metre peak of my three-day Nepal trek in October 2020 – I thought I’d feel something akin to elation. Instead, if I’m honest, I felt bloody cold. It was freezing…
It’s now been a couple of weeks since the lockdown in Nepal started to be eased. As I reflect on the three months that have undoubtedly changed the course of world history, the first thing that strikes me is just how resilient humans are. …
I am sat writing at the dining table in my flat in Kathmandu on a sunny and sweaty afternoon in June. From my big windows, I can see a middle-aged man in a red and black check shirt tending to his rooftop garden, the…
Anxious Fear Happy Inspired Mental health exercises New Sad Stressed
Dear Me: Writing a letter of self-compassion to yourself
You probably won’t be surprised if I tell you that the writing process has helped me immensely throughout my journey to better mental health – I am a writer, after all. For example, just after my breakup four years ago, I signed up for…
Anxious Inspired New Notes From my Journal Stressed
Notes from my journal: On how to make a decision
I’ve decided to start a monthly series on musings I have on various mental health topics. It could be anything from an issue that I’m struggling with during that week, through to something new that I’m trying out (like a mindfulness app or a…
“If you could travel back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?” might sound like the kind of question we’d ask someone at a dinner party, but it’s something we should perhaps be asking ourselves too. Research suggests doing so can…
“Ma’am, you have discolouration. Would you like to speak to a dermatologist about this?” These were the words of a beauty therapist as I was trying (in vain) to enjoy a facial a few months ago. To this day, I don’t know what discolouration…
Today, I’m sharing a story that’s deeply personal. It’s one that, until now, only a handful of my closest friends and family know. I’m doing this because this story is what led me on a journey of self-discovery and healing that, four years later,…