Thrive Positive Psychology

16/07/2026

I've been profoundly moved by the news of Sam Neill's sudden death and I've been wondering why. Apart from his obvious talent as an actor, to those who knew and loved him, Sam was kind, humble, humorous and loving. He was also an activist in issues including environmental conservation, indigenous rights, protection of animals and support of the arts and community. Described by Jacinda Adern, former NZ Prime Minister, as "someone who was principled, unafraid of speaking his mind, and willing to take up a fight when he saw injustice." He fought a tough battle against cancer and won with the dignity and grace he is renowned for. He's the kind of all-round decent bloke that many of us women would love to have as part of our inner circle - and now he is gone. And lost at a time when violence against women and children is dominating the news - four women and girls gone in four days - three men and 1 boy charged with their murders.
I think it is perhaps the stark contrast between what Sam's life represented - a masculinity that embraced love, justice, kindness, acceptance, humility - compared with the toxic masculinity that so often leads to fear, aggression and too often to violent death.
I want a world with more Sams. Can some of you decent men out there start a "Be Like Sam" movement - please?
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08/07/2026

You take a day off and feel guilty. You say no and feel guilty. You rest and feel guilty.

Sound familiar?

For so many carers, guilt has become the thing that keeps us giving long past the point of empty.

And on top of that, it's also one of the one of the most powerful forces keeping us stuck in unsustainable patterns.

Radical Self-Care asks you to notice it, acknowledge it... and to care for yourself anyway.

Because to keep caring for others, caring for yourself is vital.

It IS possible to live without the guilt and keep caring sustainably - if you'd like to learn more about how radical self-care can help, head over to my website.

07/07/2026

It was a great (though chilly) morning and a wonderful opportunity to catch up with former work colleagues and many fondly remembered community members - proudly celebrating culture, connection and growth. 50 years of NAIDOC week and Winda Mara has participated in 35 of them.
I encourage you to visit NAIDOC.org.au to find out more about events in your local area and to access a range of educational resources.

02/07/2026

I’m so thrilled to have been asked to collaborate with CarerConnect in South-west Victoria to make a series of videos to support carers. The first in the series, Self-regulation Exercises for Carers has now been released and is available for viewing from the CarerConnect website. It offers several, evidence-based, exercises that are quick and easy to learn and incorporate into busy days. You’ll find the link in the comments.

01/07/2026

In my years of clinical practice, one of the things I heard most often from carers was this:

'I don't know who I am. I don't know what my needs are.'

And it makes perfect sense.

Many of us learnt early in life to pay attention to the needs of others.

We became skilled at reading emotions, predicting what others needed and keeping the peace.

We may have been naturally sensitive and empathic - and in order to feel safe and get our basic needs met, we turned all of that awareness outward.

We never learnt to turn it inward.

Recognising this isn't about criticising. It's about understanding.

And it's the first step toward reclaiming a relationship with yourself.

Because you do have needs. They do matter. And acknowledging them doesn't make you less caring - it makes you more sustainable.

What's one need you've been ignoring in your life lately?

25/06/2026

25/06/2026

What a fantastic day working with coordinators and volunteers from south-west region Neighbourhood Houses, delivering the Carer Fatigue and Burnout course. These women give tirelessly to the communities they serve and most didn’t even have a sense of their value, their enormous contribution and the impact their work can have on their health.
I hope they felt some of that shifted for them by the end of our time together.

Four years of research and personal struggle with burnout was validated for me when
- 100% of the course participants rated the usefulness and helpfulness of the course 5/5 Excellent
- And 100% of course participants rated their training consultant’s skills/knowledge and manner 5/5 Excellent
Thank you.

I’d like to thank all participants for your generosity in sharing your stories and supporting each other and I’d like to thank the South-west Network of Neighbourhood Houses for making this professional development opportunity available. So much respect and gratitude. 💕

24/06/2026

You can get everyone fed, dressed and where they need to be... and still lie awake that night listing everything you didn't do well enough.

Carers are hard on themselves.

We tend to measure the day by what slipped, rarely by what we held together.

But 'positive psychology' starts from the opposite end.

Instead of asking what's wrong with you, it asks what's strong in you - the qualities that have carried you this far.

It's a different question. And for a tired carer, it might also be the more useful one.

If you’d like to learn more about how positive psychology can often be the first step in reclaiming a positive mindset and changing how you feel about yourself, this blog is a good place to start 👇

https://www.thrivepositivepsychology.com.au/post/what-is-positive-psychology

20/06/2026

Stress is felt in the body before it's understood by the brain.

For me, it tends to start as a churning in the stomach. For someone else it might be clammy palms, or a racing heart.

We get so used to reading everyone else's signals that we stop noticing our own.

It's worth getting to know yours.

The more aware you are of your early signs, the sooner you can do something to help your body settle.

There are many ways we can ensure that self-reflection is part of our everyday lives.

If you'd like to know more, feel free to read my blog on the topic, which you can find here 👇

Here's five things you can do to begin exploring your Inner-World (Self-reflection) 1. Make a decision to prioritise your own self-knowledge and self-careIt may sound obvious, but I have found that unless we actually set a clear intention and develop routines we are unlikely sustain behaviour change...