Self-care is essential for both mental and physical health. Self-care is "the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one's own health” and “the practice of taking an active role in protecting one's own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress” (Oxford).

There appears to be some misconception that self-care is something of a luxury, an indulgence or ‘selfish’. However self-care (caring for oneself) is a necessary part of staying well. It involves basic things such as choosing the right food to eat, engaging in exercise, nurturing relationships, committing to forming good habits and paying your taxes on time, as well as sleeping in, getting a massage, speaking up or walking out.

The issue comes from what people interpret as self-care

I recently gave myself a little Instagram challenge - “100 ways in 100 days of Self-Care”. I set myself the task of really getting into ‘What is Self-Care?’ Because self-care is often thought of a bubble-bath, a massage or a date night - fantastic short term relaxation or time out.

However, sometimes self-care is a big plate of vegetables and a good hard walk.

The challenge in our life is

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW). Although we may not suffer from mental illness directly - we all have days and times in our life where we are in excellent mental health and well-being and times that - well - we are not. Mental health is on a continuum - at the one side there is mental illness - and at the other side - mental well-being. There is an awful lot of goings on in between.

Sometimes the ‘not so good’ end of the scale can last for a significant amount of time. And although we may not be officially diagnosed as being depressed or anxious - we can get into a bit of a rut - and struggle to find our way out. This may be due to

Whether recovering from period of mental or physical illness - the basic recommendations are the same. Here are some top tips to help recovery and support wellness.

This was written by me but originally published at: https://www.bepure.co.nz/blogs/news/mind-reset-for-reaching-your-health-goals.This was written to support individuals who wish make changes in their diet in order to improve their health and well-being.

Recently I saw a client who was having nightmares. They were a reflection of an event that happened in her past as a child. A recent event had the memories rise to the surface, resulting in reoccurring nightmares.

I gave her one of my favourite tips for dealing with them.

A few weeks later she returned.

'How are the nightmares?' I asked.

'Gone' she said. 'Thanks to a flying pineapple'.

We all think and perhaps even daydream about our future – how it all might look – and try to hope for the best. Many times we can’t see a clear path from now to that gleaming future.

The ‘Best Possible Self’ exercise was developed to help us visualize what we might be in the future and through increasing optimism and improving mood, help us get there. The best possible self is a researched and studied approach to changing our mindset, improving coping skills and elevating levels of happiness.

To understand how to implement the Best Possible Self Exercise in our daily routine, we will first discuss the origin of this approach and then move on to the instructions and step-by-step guide.

We've all experienced those moments. The ground moves beneath us, what we though was stable is not. As a friend hashtagged the other day #whathappenedtothecertaintiesoflife ! And it is a bit like that. We feel groundless.

Pema Chodron, Buddisht nun, teacher (and in my eyes a goddess) tells us to make friends with the groundlessness to sink into it. To breathe it all in.

If you've ever been in such a position - it is easier said than done. Some  events literally take our breathe away, as if we have been punched in the solar plexus. Our initial urge is to stop breathing, to tense, to get ready for the fight or the fligh