Archive for category: Inspiration

Thank you to Kristina Mänd-Lakhiani, co-founder of Mindvalley, and HayHouse for an advance copy of Becoming Flawesome.

Kristina Mänd-Lakhiani is the co-founder of Mindvalley, the world’s most powerful life transformation platform with an ever-growing 20 million-strong following. She is an entrepreneur, writer, international speaker, artist, and philanthropist based in Estonia.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading Becoming Flawesome which releases on Monday 10th July 2023.

Becoming Flawesome is described as “10 years worth of therapy in one book”, a celebration of our whole selves, warts and all, and the authenticity that is to be found in living in our truth.

In her book, Kristina shares her own journey from being the Co-Founder of the personal growth organisation Mindvalley to stepping aside, and walking her path towards being more honest with herself.

Kristina states “I was 40 when I started suspecting that I was living a lie. Not a bad lie. Not a complete and utter lie. Just a little pretending, a mask here and there, a little playing along to fit in.”

And adds “I walked my path to my true self, to understanding what makes me truly me . . . and what of that unique quirkiness is simply noise. You see, your flaws and your dragons are there for a reason—they make you who you are, but they also hold the key to your biggest value, to your mightiest strengths, if you choose to look your dragons in the eye.”

Midlife definitely sends curveballs and invites deep reflection. What may have served us for many years or decades, may no longer resonate or work. Rumblings deep inside us start to stir, quiet whispers which left unattended can become loud screams from our inner knowing.

“But what if that resistance you feel is your heart and intuition giving you signals that you are going full speed ahead…in the wrong direction?” asks Kristina

Becoming Flawesome explores topics such as vulnerability, authenticity, self-criticism, habits, quality of life, optimism, awareness, perfection, imperfection, social roles and masks, self-acceptance, dealing with emotions, self-care, self-love, healing, philosophy and honesty.

Kristina writes “The only person who’s rejection you have to fear is your own. As long as you can accept yourself, the world has no choice but to accept you as well. And if it doesn’t, you won’t give a damn anyway.”

Each chapter closes with reflection points and exercises to encourage readers to explore the essence of who they truly are, what their values are, and how to navigate the sometimes overwhelming world. We can use introspection, journaling, creativity and curiosity to explore who we are now, what is changing and what we need for our future roadmap.

“It is because you feel shame or guilt for prioritising yourself that it is so intimidating to voice your priorities to the world.” states Kristina.

The more we understand ourselves and the changes that are occurring, the more we can invite in the new and share our voice.

Change has three stages – Endings, The Neutral Zone where the world seems to slow and no movement is possible akin to winter, through to New Beginnings which occurs after the first two stages. The new growth can take root and flourish as the way forward is cleared. We can develop new habits that stick and map out our journey forward.

Kristina writes “If anything, life is spontaneous, unpredictable, unique, and ever-changing. Life is full of opposites and contradictions that beautifully coexist. Night follows the day, day follows night. Darkness follows the light and light follows the darkness. Spring follows winter and autumn follows summer. Death follows birth and birth follows death. And so it goes on in constant motion, eternally changing and shifting. Put simply, every opposite is birthed from the same source. And so, life must be embraced in its entirety, with both halves of duality, as a beautiful mix of the opposites.”

This book is about finding your way back to yourself, an invitation to explore the light and the dark, about understanding who you really are, accepting your dents and scratches, your quirky uniqueness and even your flaws. It is about thriving in being unapologetically you, most flawesomely.

Becoming Flawesome is available to order via mindvalley.com/books/flawesome or via all main book retailers.

“Becoming Flawesome is a roadmap to deep self-awareness, radical self-acceptance and genuine self-love. An inspiring read for any individual prepared to embark on a journey towards their truest selves.” – Dr. Shefali, The New York Times bestselling author and clinical psychologist

“Becoming Flawesome is a refreshingly honest, insightful, and liberating book… one which frees you from the prison of beliefs and values guaranteed to destroy your Spirit and gently walks you back to the safety sanity and lasting success of your heart” – Sonia Choquette, The New York Times bestselling author of The Answer is Simple; Love yourself Live your Spirit.

 

I don’t know about you but I’m enjoying the long stretch between Christmas and New Year to catch up on reading books, listening to podcasts, watching movies and taking rest.

I have finished Seth Godin’s new book, ‘The Practice – shipping creative work’ over the holidays.  An inspiring book that encourages creatives to do the work that matters.

As we know creative work can be difficult at times and we need encouragement to keep going.  This book helps to drive creatives forward and helps people to get out of their own way.

This positive book is written in mini chapters so is a fast read and a perfect book to dip into when you need some inspiration.

Thank you Seth for mentioning “Morning Pages”, the creative practice featured in Julia Cameron’s ‘The Artist’s Way’.  I frequently use morning pages although I must admit I do dip in and out of this practice.  My focus can wander and I stop doing my morning pages even though I know that it is a valuable tool for discovering our creativity.  I’m now back to my morning pages practice.

Seth acts as supporter to all creatives and those wishing to explore their creativity.  It’s a call to action and is an easily digestible handbook for those taking this journey.  This book is about discipline and taking daily steps towards creative goals.  It is honest and supports creatives through the stages of self-doubt, fear, imposter syndrome and creative blocks.

Doing our creative work daily helps us move forward, work towards our goals, create new work, start a new business and get our work out into the world.

It’s Possible

“This book is for people who want to lead, to write, or to sing.  For people who seek to teach, to innovate, and to solve interesting problems. 

For people who want to go on the journey to become a therapist, a painter or leader.

It’s possible.  The people who came before us have managed to speak up, stand up and make a difference.  While each journey is unique, each follows a pattern – and once you see it, it’s yours.”

‘The Practice’ – Seth Godin

This is art

“Not painting, but art: the act of doing something that might not work, simply because it’s a generous thing to do.  The combination of talent, skill, craft, and point of view that brings new light to old problems.  The way we change our culture and ourselves.

Art is the work we do where there is no right answer – and yet the journey is worth the effort.  We might make art with a keyboard, with a paintbrush, or with our actions.  Mostly, we do it because we lean into a practice, trusting we have a shot at making a difference.”

‘The Practice’ – Seth Godin

How do we work with intention and create a regular practice?  According to Seth we can use this simple narrative

1. This is a practice
2. It has a purpose
3. I desire to create change
4. The change is for someone specific
5. How can I do it better?
6. Can I persist long enough to do it again?
7. Repeat.

We can learn to trust – ourselves, our audience and our work.  This roadmap is designed to be revisited again and again as we do our practice and fine tune our creative work.

If you are ready to unlock your creativity and take daily steps to do your practice, I’d highly recommend this book to get you started and to encourage you on your journey.

 

Laura’s ‘Big Emotions – Mindful Music for Little People’ book and audiobook couldn’t have arrived at a more timely period.  We are 10 weeks into lockdown and everyone, including children and their parents, are needing extra support at this time.

‘Big Emotions’ is a musical wellbeing book for 3-7yr olds (EYFS & KS1).

Emotions can be difficult to navigate especially for children.  How can they express feelings of excitement, surprise, fear, disgust, sadness, anger, trust and joy when they don’t yet have the vocabulary and understanding.

This beautifully illustrated musical book helps young children learn about their emotions and how to regulate them.  The delightful audio book provides a fun soundtrack to explore and understand the emotions.  Laura has written and recorded the calming and peaceful song ‘I am Calm’ to help soothe the emotions.

It’s a journey to understand our own feelings and emotions.  Children develop self-awareness and understanding as they learn and experience the world.  We learn how our emotions affect ourselves and those around us.  We learn that its ok to have feelings.

Children can explore and develop tools to help them navigate the emotions and to know that all emotions are valid.  This book creates a safe and fun way to explore emotions all supported by the wonderful soundtrack.

Singing and music can play a big part in a child’s development.  Parents instinctively know to use music to calm and soothe their child.  Music helps the body and mind to work together.  The book coupled with sound helps children to learn the sound and meaning of words including the big emotion words.

Laura Loft is a musician, singer-songwriter and educator based in Devon, UK.  Having enjoyed a portfolio career in music she now focuses on using music for wellbeing in children and young people’s lives.  The creative idea for this book came out of caring for her young son whilst dealing with her own challenging experiences with CFS/M.E/Fibromyalgia.  Together with her young son she spent a lot of time creating stories, adventures and games from the comfort of a bed or chair.  And this is how the story of the Little Boy and Cat was born.

Laura is a music educator using music as a creative tool for behavioural, emotional mental health and wellbeing.  “In order for children to regulate their emotions they need to be able to firstly recognise them.  They need to know that it is ok to feel these big emotions, that they will come and go and the need to know how to deal with them” said Laura.  Big Emotions has been a therapeutic tool for Laura personally, as part of her healing journey she would slowly, very slowly write the book and the accompanying music.

Internationally recognised artist and illustrator Nia Gould has provided the delightful illustrations for the book and audiobook.  This is Nia’s third book and unsurprisingly features a cat, something in which she focuses on in her art, books, pins, prints and greetings cards through her design studio and shop.

To find out more and to purchase a copy of ‘Big Emotions – Mindful Music for Little People’ visit this website.  School activity packs are available to accompany the book.  You can also access a free copy of the audiobook and instrumental track.  Check out Laura’s YouTube channel for a copy of the audiobook and workshop songs to accompany this project.  Laura is available to host ‘Big Emotions’ packages for schools in Exeter and the surrounding area.  Contact Laura directly at lauraloftmusic@outlook.com.

 

 

Libraries Unlimited and The Reading Agency launch ‘Reading Well for children’ book list to support children’s mental health and wellbeing.

The Reading Well for children booklist has been created in response to concerning data about children’s mental health in the UK. In 2018, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health reported that schools were on average making 183 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) referrals every school day, with 56% of those referrals coming from primary schools.

Libraries Unlimited, the charity that runs Devon and Torbay libraries works in partnership with the Reading Agency to bring the Reading Well for Children project to our local libraries.

The list covers areas such as anxiety, bereavement and bullying with books by Michael Rosen, Tom Percival, Zanib Mian and Joseph Coelho selected by leading mental health experts to support the mental health and wellbeing of children.

This new Reading Well for children booklist responds to concerning data about children’s mental health in the UK. One in eight (12.8%) 5 to 19 year olds had at least one mental health condition when assessed in 2017.[1] In 2018, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health reported that schools were on average making 183 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) referrals every school day, with 56% of those referrals coming from primary schools.[2] In 2019, BookTrust reported that over a third of parents of children aged 4 to 11 worried about their child’s mental health at least once a week.[3]

The Reading Well for children booklist contains 33 books covering topics relevant to the children of today, including grief, anxiety, bullying and staying safe online. In recognition of the potential impact of living with diagnosed conditions and physical disabilities, the booklist explores living well with conditions including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), dyslexia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and physical disabilities. The booklist is targeted at children in Key Stage 2 and includes titles suitable for a wide range of reading levels to support less confident readers, and to encourage children to read together with their siblings and carers. The expert endorsed reads are available free in Devon and Torbay as well as in other participating libraries across England.

Recognised by leading health bodies including the Royal Society for Public Health, the new Reading Well for children booklist has been developed by The Reading Agency, health professionals, and children with experience of the topics covered and their families and carers. The book selection panel included experts from public libraries, NHS England, Mind, the Royal College of GPs and the School Library Association. Created in partnership with Libraries Connected, the expert endorsed booklist is completely free to access from public libraries.

The books on the list, by authors including Michael Rosen, Tom Percival, Zanib Mian and Joseph Coelho, have been selected to help Key Stage 2 children (aged 7-11) understand and talk about their mental health and wellbeing. The books have been selected to encourage conversation about feelings between children and their parents or carers and to offer support outside of a clinical setting or whilst waiting for treatment.

Reading Well booklists have been created to add value to health services, and to support early intervention and prevention. The Reading Well for children booklist follows the success of the programme’s existing booklists: Reading Well for mental health, Reading Well for young people’s mental health, Reading Well for long term conditions and Reading Well for dementia. Since the launch of Reading Well in 2013, 1.2 million readers have borrowed over 2.3 million of the scheme’s expert endorsed books from libraries.

All 54 of Devon and Torbay libraries will be taking part in Reading Well for Children in order to support the wellbeing of children and their families.

Broken down thematically, the full Reading Well for children booklist includes:

Healthy minds

What’s Going on Inside my Head? by Molly Potter, illustrated by Sarah Jennings – through talking about positive self-image, emotional intelligence, relationships and mindfulness, this book develops healthy habits and good coping strategies

Healthy for Life: Self-esteem and Mental Health by Anna Claybourne, illustrated by Dan Bramall – stress reduction and mindful techniques to deal with topics such as mental illness, phobias, and eating disorders

How Not to Lose It: Mental Health Sorted by Anna Williamson, illustrated by Sophie Beer – healthy habits for staying in control of stress levels

Feelings

How Are You Feeling Today? by Molly Potter, illustrated by Sarah Jennings – a dip-in book which allows children to explore and deal with particular feelings, including notes and strategies for parents and carers

Mindful Me: Exploring Emotions by Paul Christelis, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli – mindful exercises to encourage exploring a range of emotions and relieve stress

Feeling Angry! by Katie Douglass, illustrated by Mike Gordon – using everyday situations, this book explores different reasons why children might become angry and offers advice for remaining calm, including notes for parents and teachers

Sometimes I Feel Sad by Tom Alexander – this book helps to show children that feeling sad is part of everyone’s life, and they are not alone in feeling this way

Worries

Ruby’s Worry written and illustrated by Tom Percival – an exploration of anxiety which aims to open up discussions about feelings and show that a problem shared is a problem halved

Questions and Feelings About: Worries by Paul Christelis, illustrated by Ximena Jeria – a book to help children to recognise signs of worry, featuring mindful coping tips

Grobblechops by Elizabeth Laird, illustrated by Jenny Lucander – embodying fears to help turn them from frightening to friendly

Me and My Fear by Francesca Sanna – using the examples of moving to a new country and school, this picture book shows the importance of talking about feelings of fear and worry

All Birds Have Anxiety by Kathy Hoopmann – using colourful images, explanations and gentle humour to explore living with anxiety day-to-day and how to deal with it

Worry Angels by Sita Brahmachari, illustrated by Jane Ray – this fiction book looks at dealing with your own and other people’s worries, and is particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers

Outsmarting Worry by Dawn Huebner, illustrated by Kara McHale – practical advice to help shift from thinking about worries and fears to dealing with them

The world around you

At school

Dealing With Bullying by Jane Lacey, illustrated by Venitia Dean – an interactive book offering examples of verbal and physical bullying and methods to deal with bullies and peer pressure to bully others

Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian, illustrated by Nasaya Mafaridik – a fiction book about being different, growing friendships and dealing with bullying behaviour

Ella on the Outside by Cath Howe – in addition to dealing with change (new school, physical changes) this book explores the pressures of trying to please people and struggling to fit in

Online

#Goldilocks by Jeanne Willis, illustrated by Tony Ross – a humorous cautionary tale for a new generation of internet users

In the news

Something Bad Happened: A Kid’s Guide to Coping with Events in the News by Dawn Huebner, illustrated by Kara McHale – offers advice for having tough conversations with children about world events such as natural disasters, terrorism and war. It addresses common questions and provides tools to calm fears

Dealing with tough times

When someone dies

Mum’s Jumper by Jayde Perkin – this picture book tackles coping with the loss of a parent. Developed in collaboration with Cruse Bereavement Care

Michael Rosen’s Sad Book by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Quentin Blake – acknowledging that sadness is not always avoidable, this book deals with death and loss

If All the World Were by Joseph Coelho, illustrated by Allison Colpoys – a poetic picture book about coping with the death of a loved one, specifically a grandparent

Clownfish by Alan Durant – this book follows a boy who believes that his father has been reincarnated seven years after his death as a fish and is now in his local, soon to be shut down, aquarium

Tough times at home

The Boy Who Built a Wall Around Himself by Ali Redford, illustrated by Kara Simpson – using a simple metaphor to explain how some children cope with painful and traumatic experiences, this book encourages exploration and communication around feelings

Up and Down Mum by Child’s Play, illustrated by Summer Macon – this book helps to understand the causes of mental illness and how to live with someone experiencing it. Developed in collaboration with the Wellcome Trust

The Colour Thief: A Family’s Story of Depression by Andrew Fusek Peters and Polly Peters, illustrated by Karin Littlewood – for children living with parents with depression, this book helps them to understand the causes and effects of depression, and offers reassurance that it can pass and that their parents are not lost to them

When you have a condition

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Can I Tell You About ADHD? by Susan Yarney, illustrated by Chris Martin – written from the perspective of someone with ADHD, this book encourages readers to learn about ADHD, how it feels and how others can help someone experiencing it

Check Mates by Stewart Foster – this fiction book explores dealing with ADHD and concentrating in school

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Questions and Feelings About: Autism by Louise Spilsbury, illustrated by Ximena Jeria –practical help, tips and advice as well as exploring everyday situations living with autism

M is for Autism by The Students of Limpsfield Grange School and Vicky Martin – drawing on real life experiences, this book explores the highs and lows of being different in a world of ‘normal’

Dyslexia

The Illustrated Guide to Dyslexia and Its Amazing People by Kate Power and Kathy Iwanczak Forsyth – by showing what dyslexia is and asking the reader how it applies to them, this book offers an engaging means of working out how dyslexia affects the individual specifically, and includes tools and tips to deal with it

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Double Felix by Sally Harris, illustrated by Maria Serrano – this fiction book explores what it is like living with OCD through the eyes of young protagonist Felix

Having a disability

Questions and Feelings About: Having a Disability by Louise Spilsbury, illustrated by Ximena Jeria – this hands-on picture book is designed to help children with their questions and feelings about having a disability

Cressida Cowell, UK Children’s Laureate says: “I’m delighted that The Reading Agency have put together their Reading Well list. The mental health of our children is vitally important, and books are a way into discussing lots of different issues kids and parents face every day. More widely, we know that reading anything for the joy of it gives huge mental health benefits: that’s why it’s so crucial children have access to new books in public and school libraries.”

There are additional Reading Well booklists for adults and young people on mental health, long term conditions and dementia. To find out more about this free resource please ask in your local library or visit

www.devonlibraries.org.uk/web/arena/health-readingwell

www.torbaylibraries.org.uk/web/arena/health-readingwell

[1] NHS Digital (2018). Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2017 [PAS].
[2] Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (2018). School referrals for mental health treatment rise by a third.
[3] BookTrust, (2019). ‘New BookTrust research shows half of children in the UK don’t discuss their mental health and wellbeing with their parents.’