Scary

#contentology

#scary

Things that are scary for me: horror films and finding spiders unexpectedly!⁣
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It’s interesting that although I’m not a horror fan, I often find myself listening to others talk about scary films and tv shows as many young people I know love these. ⁣
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It is interesting that people who might be anxious in their day to day lives, can enjoy feeling scared watching scary things. Perhaps it has to do with being able to control this feeling as it’s expected when you watch it, or maybe it doesn’t actually give the feelings of terror like it does to me!⁣
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And although I would not describe myself a thrill seeker, I’m also not someone who is particularly anxious in every day situations. I know that I don’t seek to feel frightened via jump-scares or rollercoasters or other adventures that give a rush, as I feel I actually get plenty of adrenalin from pushing myself out of my comfort zone through other means. ⁣
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For example by asking myself to do new things in my business, take on new ventures, by doing presentations, doing Facebook Lives or writing about my thoughts and insights like this! ⁣
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For me these kinds of things feel scary enough for me, but they are a really good kind of scary. They are the kind of scary that means I’m learning, I’m pushing myself into new territory and there’s an excitement and thrill with that. ⁣
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As opposed to the other kind of scary, where I feel that I might actually die! I think this might be because when I was fairly young, about 11 or 12, I went on the roller coaster at the Mildura Show that would stop and hang upside down at the top and I felt that the harness in was ‘in’ way too big for me and I had the distinct feeling If I let go of the bars around me, I was going to fall straight out of the carriage. So I’ve never really trusted show rides like that since!⁣
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Very occasionally I really push myself to try new things that are physically scary for me, such as zip lining, high-top tree climbing and paragliding, but I have to be very sure it’s actually very safe.⁣
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It’s really interesting on how we can view and experience an emotion like being scared and how it can actually be both frightening and exhilarating at the same time.⁣
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So what role does being scared play in your life? Can you use it to expand your experiences, do you love the adrenalin of feeling scared (And turn it into excitement), or does feeling scared make you seek safety and calm?⁣

(Photo credit to my daughter who got into my camera role at some point and decided to ‘edit’ one of my photo’s…..which in this instance, is actually quite appropriate…it’s terrifying!)😱🤣

Cats or Dogs

#contentology

#catsordogs

Do you have a preference for cats or dogs?

For me I love them equally and I feel so sad when I hear about people with
allergies, that make having a pet like this in their life difficult. For me I love
both dogs and cats to bits and I can never answer the question of am I a dog
person or a cat person, as it’s clear I am both!
I love the companionship of my dog, their loyalty and their fun and frisky
nature. But I love cats to cuddle, their strange, quirky behaviour as well as
they agility and independence!

What does Health mean for you?

#contentology

#health

What does Health mean for you?


How much do you priorities this and where does your mental health fit in
with your physical health. Are they seperate for you or in intertwinned?
For me they go hand in hand. I like the feeling of being healthy and fit and
this makes me feel mentally strong and more in control. I like the feeling of
having a strong body and my exercise is also very enjoyable so that I get lots
of positive emotions from this as well as social connections (when group
fitness is allowed!). I love being able to do things with my kids without
hurting myself, or even encouraging my kids to try new things they are less
familiar with. This is especially true as I age as I was always an active kids
and teenager, so I actually want to continue this well into my ‘old age’.
Like all things in life, there are aspects of our health that are outside of our
control, so understanding that means I try to focus on the aspects that I can
control.
So ensuring that we care for the body that takes us through this life is giving
it the respect that it deserves. There are some simple things we can do to
nurture our bodies and health, not matter where we are in the journey. It
could be making sure we take time to nourish it with enough water through
our day, eating fresh food that agrees with us, or taking a few mindful breaths and moments of stillness that allow us to connect with our breathing
and taking a moment to be grateful for what our bodies and health is like
right now.


Kate

One Question

#contentology

#onequestion

If, 12 months into the future, everything happened how you wanted it to,
everything had worked out exactly how you had hoped-what would you be
telling me?
You’d be telling me you are a confident parent
That you still make mistakes, but can own those mistakes and make
amends.That really believes that tomorrow is a new day and new opportunity to make
connections with your child/children
That you have found a way to talk about parenting with those that share your
role as a parent
That you feel you have a shared view with them on this thing called
‘parenting’
That you are happy with your relationships with your child/children
That you are content in your job
That you are feeling healthy and rested
That you are making time to priorities your health
That you are respecting the amount of sleep your body needs
That you no longer feel as stressed as you used to, even though you are still
doing lots and are happily busy
You are telling me you feel optimistic about the future, no matter what it
might bring.
You are telling me you feel you have a good understanding of what creates
your mental health and wellbeing.
You feel like you are able to guide your children to look after their own mental
health
You feel like you have made time for relationships that nurture your soul
You are seeing the effects of your hard work and feel capable to juggle and
priorities yourself amongst many competing demands
You feel you have good boundaries to say no, when you need to
You feel you have the ability to reflect and take responsibility when you need
to and leave blame where it lies with others, when it needs to
You feel you have a good understanding of your child and how to help them
You feel you have a strong voice to be an advocate when needed.
You can seen a future that you are proud of and are looking forward to.
Can you be sure that you can confidently say that these things are on your
horizon when you look 12 months into the future?
To ensure that this happens, what is one small step you can take today, to
make this future a reality?
A small step towards prioritising your health and wellbeing.
A small step towards creating more helpful thoughts.
A small step towards taking action on those things that are most important
to you.
You deserve your ideal future, so make it happen.


Kate x

Why Do I do What I DO?

#contentology

#whydoidowhatido

It’s a calling to help ease pain, confusion and a sense of overwhelm. ⁣
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It’s a passion of mine to use information to make things that are confusing, complicated and complex make sense. ⁣
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It’s about helping others, but its also about me. Because for me, it feels great to know you have useful resources and concepts that you understand well, if understood by others, will help them with their wellbeing, mindset and mental health.⁣
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It’s invigorating when you see that the people you want to help to apply this information to their own life and make positive changes. One of the most wonderful aspects of what I get to do, is when I get feedback from people to say that they applied what was discussed and worked on in session, or that they are beginning to see results with a skill or a strategy they have been practicing. ⁣
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My drive to help others and improve the health and wellbeing for others is because I truly believe that having good mental health is the cornerstone of all other things that we might want in life. ⁣
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I believe that if you don’t have a foundation of ‘good’ mental health, (and by that I mean wellbeing that is not plagued by anxiety, depression and doubts), or know how to do something when you have those difficult days, then life is not enjoyable and you are not having the life that deserve and it’s very likely that you won’t be able to achieve all you hope and dream of. ⁣
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I especially believe that understanding how to develop these mental health skills, the better your future will be. And by having this confidence and competence, that you are able to help and support those in your immediate circle, your kids, your partner, your friends and work colleagues.
So for me, helping one person can have a positive ripple effect that I want to be a part of.⁣
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Life has enough unexpected changes and challenges that we can’t control, but our mental health does not have to be one of those. It is possible to create happiness from within, it is possible to have good self esteem and it is possible to have good wellbeing, if we learn to the skills to consistently practice this. ⁣
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And in thinking about our mental health, it is a good reminder to let you know that this Saturday (Saturday 10th October 2020) is World Mental Health Day. Which is fitting because this year has really accentuated how important our mental health is, with research coming out that up to 60% of people have felt their mental health has been impacted with Covid-19 pandemic.

So reflect on your mental health, reflect on what priority you give it in your day and your week and do something to makes it a priority. It does not have to be huge, it can be as simple as getting outside and taking a few breaths in and thinking of something you are grateful for.

In thinking about gratitude, I’m grateful for the recent announcement from the Federal government tat was announced this week. They revealed in their budget that they will be increasing the number of rebated session on a mental health care plan from 10 to 20 (for 2 years at this stage) as well as some other funding allotments to other mental health programs. ⁣This begins today, which is great if you had come to the end of your current plan.
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Although this does not address the shortage of mental health professionals such as psychologists, (because there is such a shortage of training places available at universities), it is great news for current clients that will be able to continue their therapy more easily past the 10th session.⁣

Wishing you all a very enjoyable weekend and World Mental Health Day!
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Kate x⁣

Who do you admire?

#contentology

#whodoyouadmire?

I am really fortunate and feel overwhelmingly grateful that I have a wonderful close relationship with my parents. I admire their spirit, their generosity, their ability to support myself, my siblings and our large extended family. They lead an amazing example of love and friendship through their relationship and marriage.

I love living near them. I love that after raising me to 18 years of age, I returned to the area after studying and working away for years and was able to get to know them all over again as an adult. I’ve gotten to have them as great parents, then share my children with them and have them as close grandparents and now these relationships also feel like true friendships.

They are curious, inquiring, and supportive of me and my dreams. They have a love of learning, which I’m sure they have instilled in me and an attitude of pragmatic realism as well. They have cultivated an amazing life into their retirement which I am in awe of. They are independent, love adventure and have a wonderful attitude and outlook towards life, which is fair and optimistic.

They are the safe haven for all of my five siblings and we cherish the time when we all get to be together. I’m also fairly certain that I’m not alone in this admiration of them.

So if you happen to read this Mum and Dad, this is to you both for being the best parents I could have ever asked for, love you both heaps!

(Photos: A few special occasion celebrations that capture some very special moments).

Favourite Outfit

#contentology

#favoutfit

The dress that I got for my sisters and her husband’s combined 40th
Birthday last December is one of my favourite outfits. It brings memories
from such a magical, summers evening that was so much fun.

Little did we know it, but it was the last wonderful party before the Bushfires in January
and then Covid in March 2020. It’s also a dress that I’ve decided is a
gorgeous colour (magenta) it has inspired the palette for my website and
other things.

Do you have a favourite outfit or favourite colours you like to
wear?

Something You’ve stopped

#contentology

#somethingyouvestopped

Mother Guilt. I decided I just wasn’t having it.
I was recently speaking with some mums when I first became really aware of
it after becoming a mum. I knew that I loved being with my baby and loved
my job too, so realised at some point I was going to be pulled in different
directions.
I shared how fairly early on in my parenting journey, I had seen mother-guilt
rear it’s ugly head in myself and most the mum’s around me and how I was
determined I did not want this emotion ruling my life.
So whenever I heard someone talking about how guilty they felt if they did
this or did that, I remember trying to encourage them to simply love what
they were doing and be in the moment and I would try and do the same.
I really decided that being a parent is a hard enough gig, let alone giving
ourselves a hard time if we are not able to be all things to all people, all at
the same time. I knew that the pull to be the best mother we could be was a
great one, but that this urge could also lead to the tendency to bring out ugly competitive behaviour and ‘comparisonitis’ that occurs between mothers as
well. I knew that wanting to be ‘the best mother, one could be’ meant
different things to different people and that judging ourselves or one another
was detrimental to all.
So I said no to guilt, I just stopped letting it in.
I said ‘Yes’ to doing what I felt comfortable for me at the time instead and I
encouraged other mums to do the same for them.
I said No to ‘guilt’ when I was away from my children because I chose to
work (because I knew that working was being an excellent example and role
model for them and improved my wellbeing, energy and desire to be with
them).
I also said no to work demands at times and other requests on my time and
did not feeling guilty about that-because I was honouring my decision to
spend time with my children and taking the time I felt was right to do it, how I
wanted to do it.
So I refused to let guilt guide my decisions by allowing myself to recognise
the destruction that guilt could play if I let it reside in me.
This doesn’t mean that I’ve never had a guilty moment, but once I had made
the decision not to let it rule me, to challenge it if I noticed it, I’ve not really
had it impact on me the way I’ve heard other parents talk about it. It’s been
easy to make decisions for myself and the family and I’ve not had to wrestle
with wondering if I’d made the right decision or not.
So if you are someone that has battled with mother-guilt, then invite
compassion, see if you can let go of judgement and be as a good a friend to
yourself, as you are to those around you.


Kate