There hasn’t been one specific defining moment, it’s been more like several significant wake up calls for me, which have come in both the form of a whisper, and the odd banshee scream.

One of the most interesting was noticing that my physical health was correlating with internal emotional turmoil I was grappling with. Sore throats, recurrent hay fever, and other illnesses would all flair up when I wasn’t living in my truth and acknowledging that I was struggling. Taking control of my health and wellbeing really helped me tune in to the intelligence of my body and its messages.

I also kept on seeing that the same situations and lessons were revisiting me, and getting up in my face, screaming for attention. So I got real with myself and went within to explore just what was going on, which was confronting, but has paid the most massive dividend to me.

Once I made the decision to commit to my own wellbeing (and crucially, not needing others to commit to me before I committed to me), and sought guidance for it, everything fell in to place – and continues to keep falling in to place. The right teachers, the right healers, the right books, the right articles, blog posts, conversations, opportunities, challenges, as well as painful lessons, all keep on continuing to serve me, and my journey to my highest good and potential.

Wake up and sit or lie in meditation for between 15 minutes and half an hour. The type of meditation differs according to my mood, but will include an element of gratitude giving and intention setting at some point. I’ll do a bit of gentle stretching, roll downs, whatever my body feels like doing. Shower, change, and then start getting breakfast ready which is generally a super food smoothie, which I can take with me.

If I have time I’ll do some writing and posting on Pockets of Peace, or prep to post something online over lunch.

At work I’m a program manager, so activities vary widely from planning, to designing projects, meeting with prospective partners, planning events, to researching and writing. And working with amazing people!

Generally after work finishes up I’ll fit some type of exercise in – yoga, running, maybe some type of dance. Otherwise I’ll be at an event, or connecting with friends and family over a meal.

By the end of the day I may try and fit a bit more writing in, and check in with Pockets of Peace.

To wind down, all technology goes off, and I’ll pick up one of the many books on my bedside table to start gearing down from my day. Possibly with a chamomile tea in hand. Finally a bit of meditation. This hopefully lasts longer than five minutes, after which I’ll be snoozing heavily in the land of nod.

What has been the most challenging thing to let go of so you could put yourself first (be it your health or your desires or your inner voice)?

As a woman particularly, I think that we’re taught by society that it’s noble to be a martyr and put others before ourselves, nurture, protect, serve and soothe. Which are all fine things to do of course, but don’t forget to do all of this for yourself too. Ironically, radical self-care allows you to be so much more present and ‘helpful’ to others than if you’re constantly depleting yourself attending to other’s needs and concerns all the time.

• Eckhart Tolle’s books ‘The Power of Now’ and ‘A New Earth’, and Louise Hay’s ‘You Can Heal Your Life’. These are each seminal texts in getting to know your own strength.
• Caitlyn Moran’s ‘How to Be a Woman’ because it’s side-splittingly funny. I had tears of laughter rolling down my cheeks for most of the book.
• I’m halfway through Caroline Myss’ ‘Anatomy of the Spirit’ and that’s going to be another one I’ll be recommending!
• ‘My Family and Other Animals’ by Gerard Durrell. His writing is sublime.

{Now for the Short and sweet…}

I’m interested in…people accessing the power within themselves.

I believe…the universe is inside us all.

In my experience…gratitude begets more things to be grateful for.

2013 is… about going big.

Connect with Carly here.