Claire Gibbs Coaching

January 1st isn’t some magical reset date. If you feel energised and motivated by it, great…if not, don’t beat yourself up about it.
Listen to your own body, rest is not a reward.

I’ve had Epilepsy since I was 8.
I was told I’d grow out of it, at 52, I’ve kinda given up on that idea!
Today is to help raise awareness about all kinds of Epilepsy and the effect it can have on people’s lives.
Would you know what to do if you saw someone having a seizure? 🤔
Why not let today be the day you head to or and get clued up!

Rare but real. 💜
Today is . A day to shine a light on the millions living with rare conditions.
Some of these will be visible to others, some will be hidden, just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there. 👀
Living with long term conditions can sometimes feel overwhelming and isolating.
Especially when drs have to Google your condition (it’s happened to me many times!

Let’s raise awareness, amplify voices, and push for more understanding and support. 💙💜

Love is all round…😍 So why not show some extra love and support to yourself today -and everyday. 🥰

As another Valentine’s Day reaches us, focus is often on the subject of love and partners. But what about loving yourself?
It can be easy to say negative stuff to ourselves that we would never say to someone else we cared for. So today…and everyday, remember how bloody fabulous you are. 🥰

Here are 5 ways to help you boost self-love.

1. Treat yourself with kindness and compassion: Just like you would with a best friend, be gentle and understanding with yourself. Forgive yourself for mistakes and be proud of yourself for your successes big and small. 💫

2. Surround yourself with positivity: Surround yourself with people, activities, and things that bring joy and positivity into your life. Limit your exposure to negativity and criticism. 💫

3. Take care of your physical well-being: Exercise regularly even if that’s movements whilst sat down, your body and brain will thank you for it, (I can find this really difficult, but my ADHD brain is always thankful for the dopamine hit it brings), eat great foods, and get enough sleep. Taking care of your body will help you feel good on the inside and out. 💫

4. Practice self-care: Take time for yourself to relax, recharge, and do things you enjoy. This can be as simple as reading a book, a dance in the kitchen, taking a bath, or going for a walk. 💫

5. Celebrate your successes: Celebrate your accomplishments, big and small, and give yourself credit for all you’ve achieved. You deserve it! 💫

Remember, self-love is an ongoing journey, It takes time and effort, but the reward of feeling confident, strong, and happy is well worth it.
So go for it, be your own best friend and treat yourself with love and care! 🥰

✨ “But you don’t look unwell” ✨

For many of us living with chronic conditions, our reality often looks very different from what you might see. These photos reflect the side you don’t normally see 👀
Someone might look fine on the outside, but behind the scenes, they could be battling pain, exhaustion, or a flare-up.

Comments like “But you don’t look sick” are usually said with kindness, and I personally don’t mind, but they’re a good reminder that appearances can be deceiving. What you don’t see is the effort it takes to show up – or the crash that usually follows. 😵‍💫

So I invite you to be kind to everyone you meet – because you never know what challenges they might be facing behind the scenes.
Your understanding could make a bigger difference than you realise. 💫

P.S. No need to worry – the black eye, broken ribs/punctured lung are all past injuries I’ve picked up over the years from ongoing conditions. I’m not collecting any new ones right now! 🤞🏼 😊

ALT text: the first photo is of me a white 51 year old white woman with longish dark hair sat smiling in the sun on a wooden path the caption says ‘But you don’t look unwell’. With an ‘hmm’ emoji. The following photos each show me either asleep from exhaustion and or pain, fingers going white, then black/blue due to raynaurds, wearing heart monitors, MRI of my brain which ‘accidentally’ diagnosed cerebellum ataxia when looking for something else. These pictures show the what you see and the other side of my everyday life.

‘Surround yourself with people that want to see you grow’.
A simple, but important reminder.
If the people you spend a lot of time with, are the type to put you down, or discourage you from trying things you want, or perhaps not understanding of your life and tell you to push further than you know you should, it’s really not good for you.

Living with physical chronic conditions and neurodivergence’s, I know my limits, sometimes I push myself too far crash and burn/flare, but that’s my own doing, lesson learnt. But when others are making you feel bad for not living up-to their expectations, you just don’t need that negativity in your life.
You can’t always remove these people from your life if they are colleagues or family members, but try to distant yourself from their point of view if it’s not supporting you. Remember to keep your own boundaries 💪🏻

You know yourself best.

ALT text. A mainly blue image with bokeh background with pictures of various plants surrounding the text that says ‘surround yourself with people that want to see you grow’.

Today is often referred to as ‘Blue Monday’ the gloomiest day of the year. (This was started many moons ago by a travel agent company to sell more holidays!)
Does that mean it will definitely be full of doom and gloom?
Nope, of course not…. But what if you only allow yourself to think it will be an awful day from start to finish?

Our brain is great at finding more of what we focus on. So if we focus only on the crap stuff, guess what we see more of? 🤔

I’m not suggesting to just think happy thoughts and you’ll feel better if you are struggling with your mental health today- or any day, I can’t bare that kind of message and have been on the receiving end of it many a time when I had depression, it’s never useful. 🙄 I would never belittle real depression, If you are ever truly struggling, always reach out to a professional or organisation such as the Samaritans.

This is simply a message about trying to turn a single possibly sh*tty day or moment into a better one. If one not so great thing, like being in a long traffic jam happens, it doesn’t have to define your entire day.
I am inviting you to notice today…and everyday…where your focus is. Small mindful moments can really help to begin to shift a rubbish feeling day into something else. These might look like really noticing something as small as how much you are enjoying your favourite cuppa or something you are eating, maybe noticing signs of Spring on an otherwise dull weather day, seeing your pet so happy to see you after work, the feel of the warm shower on your skin, or celebrating your small wins at work or at home, whatever they are, even if that win is you got out of bed today!

When you begin to notice the small things, more good things seem to appear, because that’s where our focus lies.

Where is your focus today?
📷 blue square saying ‘Blue Monday’ and underneath is says, ‘or is it?’ With a pondering face emoji. My website www.clairegibbscoaching.com is also displayed.

I hope 2025 is a kind one for us all, both individually and on a global scale.

The new year often brings about the whole ‘New Year, New Me’ shizzle.

Whilst I appreciate it can be a good time to set intentions, think about the year ahead etc, why are we almost always steered into becoming ‘something or somebody’ else?

How about taking time to appreciate, accept and love who we already are.

What might we need to support us best?

It’s only then we can grow, truly flourish and thrive.

I shall of course be unapologetically shining my weird little light for all to see throughout the year and I hope you all will too. ✨

📷 A blue patterned background with Happy New Year written on it above a white box with a string of decorations. The white box has text reading ‘May your year be filled with… Being kind to yourself. Embracing the wonderful person you already are. Letting your wonderfully weird light shine.

*t #2025

🎄 Merry Christmas to all celebrating!
Behold my ‘totally real’ Pinterest-worthy Christmas living room... 👀

(Fun fact: It’s just me superimposed onto a perfect fake backdrop, while in reality I’m still in my PJs, surrounded by a wrapping paper explosion from days ago!) 😅

Truthfully, December has been rough with a major flare-up of my conditions and more seizures than usual. I’m exhausted, and honestly? Christmas naps are definitely on my wishlist this year!

But that’s okay—Christmas isn’t about social media perfection. It’s about being present (even if that means on the couch!). Those perfect Christmas scenes you’re scrolling past? They’re usually just carefully chosen moments. No one posts about missing toy batteries, overwhelmed feelings, or the cat’s well-timed vomiting on someone’s favorite shirt!

Remember: Your presence matters more than presents. Whether you’re celebrating big, small, or taking it easy—do what works for YOU. Be gentle with yourself these coming days ❤️
Merry Christmas,
Hugs Claire x

[Image Description: A playful, edited holiday photo of me superimposed into a cozy Christmas scene. I’m wearing glasses, a leopard print dress, and holding a pink mug. A digitally added Santa hat is on my head, and a candy cane has been added to the mug. The backdrop features a warm living room with a fireplace, a twinkling Christmas tree, and wrapped presents. Text reads “Merry Christmas! Hugs Claire x” in red script, with my website at the bottom in turquoise.]

Whether we say it to ourselves or we feel it from others, there is sometimes pressure to feel like we have to be on or cheery during the holidays. It’s Christmas right? The most wonderful time of the year? But that’s not always the case. Sometimes the holidays can mean financial stress, grieving the loss of someone you love, a reminder of strife within family, busyness that feels overwhelming…and the winter days can feel tough…so today is your reminder that it doesn’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to be perfect. The days can be uncertain and tough. But I do hope you can still find little glimmers of hope and joy in each day. ❤️ and again, be gentle with yourself.

“Confessions of a Proud Dissectologist 🧩 -who knew it had a name….not me 🤷🏻‍♀️

Call it nerdy, call it uncool - but I’ve found my zen one puzzle piece at a time in piecing together retro 80s and funky or cute artwork, I mean snacks with faces, what’s not to love?!
I have to be invested in the picture, a horse in a field, or a twee cottage etc and I totally cba.

For my neurodivergent brain, jigsaw puzzles are pure magic. Each perfectly placed piece? That’s a tiny dopamine celebration 🎉 It’s like my brain throws a mini-party with every connection. Talk about mindful meditation - I’m fully present, focused, and flowing, one piece at a time. No thoughts, just pure puzzle zen. 🧠✨

Spatial reasoning? Check.
Memory boost? Double-check.
Stress relief? Triple check.

For those of us managing chronic conditions, this is more than a hobby - it’s a gentle way to give myself permission to rest and be kind to myself. An activity that doesn’t demand too much, but still feels accomplishing.
Now I just need it to become a trendy past time like knitting and crochet has made a come back, so I don’t feel quite so ancient!

Anyone else like a puzzle? 🧩

📷 Three completed jigsaw puzzles are displayed. Two puzzles feature distinctly 80s-inspired designs, capturing the vibrant and nostalgic aesthetic of the decade. The third puzzle stands out with a playful, kawaii-style cartoon illustration featuring snacks with cute faces.
The term comes from the 18th century when jigsaw puzzles were called “dissected maps,” as they were originally maps mounted on wood and cut into pieces for educational purposes.