(A Warrant-of-Fitness is the New Zealand equivalent of an M.O.T. in the UK, being a certificate to say your vehicle is road worthy.) Nature hates a void, a vacuum. I am a lover of words, a logophile, and when I found this name for “a lover of words”, I was delighted! I love playing with …
Continue reading Your Mental and Emotional Warrant-of-Fitness #6 Avoidance
Nurture the Seed and it will Blossom. I saw these words on an add on my FB page for planting a native tree. I couldn’t help but relate this to raising a child. What a beautiful metaphor. You may not have been nurtured the way you needed as a child but you can nurture yourself …
(A Warrant-of-Fitness is the New Zealand equivalent of an M.O.T. in the UK, being a certificate to say your vehicle is road worthy.) Assertiveness is that sweet spot, where you can speak up about your needs or opinions. You are neither passive nor aggressive, the two opposites on the continuum of communication styles. To be …
Continue reading Your Mental and Emotional Warrant-of-Fitness #5 Assertiveness
I made myself laugh out loud today when I was thinking about my writing. The neighbours probably think I’m crazy walking about, talking and laughing away to myself! But the older I get the less I care what others think. For example, I have low tolerance for technology not doing what I want it to …
Continue reading Can I have a dose of self-discipline please?
Mental and Emotional Warrant-of-Fitness #4 I’m writing from a bit more of a personal perspective this week as I’m trying to practice what I preach by listening to myself. Balancing the desire of my heart to be there for others with the reality of what I can manage without the wheels falling off is a …
(A Warrant-of-Fitness is New Zealand’s version of car roadworthy inspection like the M.O.T in UK) #3 People pleasing and Boundaries Healthy boundaries = Healthy relationships Difficulty setting boundaries and saying “no” are common traits, particularly for adult children of alcoholics or those who’ve experienced abuse or neglect in childhood (neglect IS abuse by the way). …
Continue reading Your Mental and Emotional Warrant-of-Fitness
(A Warrant-of-Fitness is New Zealand’s version of car roadworthy inspection like the M.O.T in UK) Last week I talked about how boundaries are fundamental to mental and emotional health and wellbeing. Guilt and fear are two things that get in the way of us setting boundaries to protect ourselves, our time, resources and things that …
Continue reading Your Mental and Emotional Warrant-of-Fitness #2 Boundary Building Strategies
(A Warrant-of-Fitness is New Zealand’s version of car roadworthy inspection like the M.O.T in UK) I’ve had a lot of therapy in my adult life. Recently I've come to a place where I feel I'm "good enough". So I asked my therapist, “If I were to come to you and ask for a mental and …
Continue reading Your Mental and Emotional Warrant-of-Fitness. #1. Boundaries
Words from the Lighthouse 