Consciously Thrive

// Self-worth. It affects how we show up in life regardless of our age.

It’s often confused with self-esteem and self-respect. Self-esteem is what we think, feel and believe about ourselves. Self-worth is recognising I am of value, I am lovable, and worthy.

It underpins confidence, self-esteem and self-respect among others. Building self-worth first is crucial. It gives us a stronger foundation to build self-esteem, self respect and confidence. Without self-worth, self-esteem is shallow and unstable.

This is why we focus heavily on building self worth first. We do this in a number of ways as different approaches work for different people. We love working with tweens to find the right combination for them.

// The teen years are where we begin to really discover WHO we are. They are also the years when other people's opinions of us can sway how we see ourselves, and in most instances, not in a positive way.
Part of growing up is learning how to place less value on what other people think of us and this can be particularly difficult for girls. But with the right tools, self-awareness and time, we can become better at caring less what other people think of us and this gives us true freedom.

// So many girls unconsciously tell themselves every day in a thousand different ways the message in the poem read top down. It's time to reframe and flip it on its head.

You are worthy.
You are loved
You are a beautiful soul.
Let no one tell you otherwise…..especially yourself.

// What types of thoughts do you pay more attention to? Those that build you up or those that tear you down?

Maybe it's time to let go of some of your thoughts.... ✨

// Positive emotions are powerful. They can affect our brain and body in many ways, from enhancing our performance to boosting our memory and so many more.

//When you're stressed and anxious your ‘thinking brain’ (the prefrontal cortex) shuts down, making it much harder to think clearly and recall the information you need.

The key to performing better in exams and tests is through managing emotions of stress and anxiety.

Heart Focused Breathing helps us do just that! It’s a bit like hitting the pause and dim buttons on your emotions. It’s simple, fast, and can be done in the middle of an exam hall.

Taking one to two minutes in the middle of an exam to calm the nerves actually gives you MORE TIME, because it gives you back the ability to recall information faster and think more clearly.
To do Heart Focused Breathing, first, take a couple of seconds to notice and name the emotions you feel. Are you anxious, fearful, frustrated, etc, whatever the emotion happens to be for you?

When you're ready, bring your attention to your heart area. If it helps, place your hand over your heart. Breathe slowly and casually, a little deeper than normal, making the out-breath slightly longer than the in-breath.

As you inhale, imagine your breath flowing in through your heart, as you exhale, feel it leaving through this area. Continue breathing with ease until you find a natural rhythm that feels good to you. If your mind wanders gently bring it back. Do this for a minute or two until you feel calmer and more centered.

Now go smash that exam!

// // When we get upset, it's because our mind interprets the facts of an issue in a certain way, we give it a personal meaning and this 'meaning' triggers our emotions.

And that's a good thing because most often we can’t control whatever is outside of us, the stressors in life, like exams and difficult conversations but we can learn to better manage and change how we respond to the things that trigger us.

// Teens are known for being emotional and impulsive, and for good reason. The part of their brain that thinks rationally, controls impulses and considers the consequences of their actions is still years from being fully developed (when they are about 25). So they rely on the emotional part of their brain to make decisions much more than adults do.

That’s why teens can become easily overwhelmed, driven by their emotions and not be able to explain later what they were thinking.

Showing them how to develop self awareness and giving them tools to help regulate and balance emotions puts them a few steps ahead on the road to maturity.

I'll just leave this here. Thanks Cherie for sharing this xx

DON’T PRIORITISE YOUR LOOKS

Don’t prioritise your looks my friend,
they won’t last the journey.
Your sense of humour though, will only get better.
Your intuition will grow and expand like a majestic cloak of wisdom.
Your ability to choose your battles, will be fine-tuned to perfection.
Your capacity for stillness, for living in the moment, will blossom.
And your desire to live each and every moment will transcend all other wants.
Your instinct for knowing what (and who) is worth your time, will grow and flourish like ivy on a castle wall.

Don’t prioritise your looks my friend,
they will change forevermore,
that pursuit is one of much sadness and disappointment.

Prioritise the uniqueness that makes you you, and the invisible magnet that draws in other like-minded souls to dance in your orbit.

These are the things which will only get better.

From ‘the right words’ by Donna Ashworth: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B095MZ3XFP/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_6QX0Y2EW59QD6JXJ635M

Image: Phillipe Vogelenzang
getting older

//Thought awareness. We are the sum of the thoughts we have.
Thoughts 👉 Emotions
Thoughts create our emotions. When we repeatedly experience negative, anxious or fearful thoughts we create matching emotions and these emotions, put our body into a state of stress. Over time causing chronic stress and health issues.
By developing thought awareness we can begin to tun the tide to experience greater calm within ourselves and more happiness in life.

//Event+Response= Outcome. When something you don't like happens to you, how do you react? Play the victim? Become angry and defensive? Avoidance? Often we can't control what happens to us or around us but we can chose to pause, take a breath, and respond in a better way.