Alright fam, I've been a bit more MIA in the past two weeks doing things in the outside world, buuuuut I'm still here and still planning on contributing to skool, still planning on nurturing relationships, collaborating and adding value when I'm here. I suspect that I'll be a little less active for the next few weeks due to some other aspects of life being tended to, but I'm not gone. :) Just wanted to send you guys some love, even if I've been a bit more 'quiet'. :) Again, I still plan on being here and will likely add some things, but please feel free to post some things as well in the meantime if you are so inclined. Love you guys!! Unrelated to what I just stated, I noticed that in some of your profiles, you have your personality type added and I'd love to hear and learn more about you! QUESTION: What is your personality type? Do you agree with it? I'm an INFJ (also known as The Advocate or The Counselor--fitting). I definitely embody this. Since the letters are on a spectrum (0-100%), my goal is to be as close to center for all the letters. Not forcefully, but naturally. I want to be able to embody the strengths of each and work through some of the challenges that I also have. It's been interesting to see the progression of this for myself over the years. If you'd like to take a free test, here's a link: Free Personality Test | 16Personalities There's also a cognitive function piece to it as well--it kind of reminds me of shadow work a bit. https://www.michaelcaloz.com/personality/main-hero-2400.jpg Here's an explanation of cognitive functions, if you're interested: https://www.assessfirst.com/en/cognitive-functions-mbti/

"𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀?" "What if they leave?" "What if this ruins everything?" "What if I fail?". What if, what if, what if.... Ever notice how if we engage in "what if" type thinking, it's often towards the negative? Our brains (unless we've trained them well) have the tendency to default to looking out for the negative/looking out for problems. It's wired for safety and so the "what if" is a question that can feel productive, but if we end up stopping there, is often very not productive. We get stuck in the loop and it leaves us anxious. We don't always go to the solution part of that...It's not only not always productive but it ends up stealing joy from the current moment. Here’s the problem:“What if” pulls you into imagined futures where you have zero control and infinite variables. It creates emotional consequences for events that haven’t happened and that may never happen. It also doesn't take into account that future self--the self that has more information, the self that may be well equipped to handle whatever comes. "𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝒅𝒖𝒆" and " 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝒅𝒆𝒃𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒆"are two quotes that come to mind when it comes to this....but okay, instead of saying "just stop with the What ifs"...let's redirect this energy and use some strategies! :) 𝕋𝕣𝕪 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤: 1. Turn “What if?” into “What’s likely?”Anxious brains deal in possibility. Grounded brains deal in probability. Most catastrophic outcomes are low likelihood but high emotional intensity. 2. Follow it with a plan.If the feared outcome did happen, what would you actually do? 3. Ask a better question.Instead of “What if this goes wrong?”Try: “What if this goes well?”Or even better: “What would the strongest version of me do next?” This is related to the point above about planning for it! Planning is different than worrying. But, remember, you can't plan for absolutely every single outcome...(think about the mental energy/time spent thinking/planning vs. what it would take to deal with the situation when it arises)

Today, as the UK celebrates Mothering Sunday, the air is often filled with a singular narrative that doesn't always reflect the complexity of our lived experiences. Mothering Day often carries a heavy weight, especially when the traditional narrative of a maternal bond doesn't align with the reality of our own lives. Reframing this day as a celebration of all forms of caregiving allows us to honour the love that shows up in every shape and form, from the friends who hold space for our growth to the way we nurture ourselves and our chosen families. It is a powerful shift to move away from the grief of what was missing and instead focus on the warmth we actively cultivate, whether that is through being a devoted "cat mumma" or simply showing up for the people who truly see us. Choosing to "love on" yourself is perhaps the most radical act of care on a day like this, as it acknowledges that the most important nurturing often comes from within. When we release the expectation of accountability from those who cannot provide it, we reclaim our capacity to celebrate every caregiver, every honorary figure, and every woman who leads with a heart of service. The expression of this care is rarely a single, uniform note, as it lives in the quiet dedication of showing up, the fierce protection of boundaries, and the gentle compassion we offer to our own healing. Whether it manifests as the steady presence of a mentor, the playful loyalty of a companion, or the profound strength it takes to mother oneself, these different facets of devotion all weave into the same essential fabric of love. By acknowledging that motherly care is a quality of the heart rather than a biological obligation, we open the space to value every person who provides safety and warmth. This day belongs to every one of those manifestations, honouring the resilience it takes to give and receive care on our own terms. Recognising these varied expressions of love naturally leads us back to our own centre, where the practice of nurturing others finds its necessary balance in the way we sustain ourselves.

I’ve noticed that my “I just need a better plan” moments usually show up right when I’m actually ready to move. It feels safer to keep tweaking the plan than to risk taking the next small, visible step. What’s helped is treating planning as a way to support action, not avoid it - good enough has started to be truly good enough. When you catch yourself reworking the same plan again, what might happen if you trusted the version you already have?

Let’s revisit a classic question we were all asked at some point. You know the one. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Some of us had crystal clear answers. Some of us panicked and copied the kid next to us. Some were wildly realistic. Some were pure fantasy. It’s a fun (and slightly revealing) way to get to know each other and maybe reconnect with a younger part of ourselves that dreamed without spreadsheets or supervision contracts. I have a very clear memory of being asked this at school when I was little. Teacher: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Me: “An artist… or a mermaid.” Honestly? Still feels aligned. 🧜‍♂️🎨