It has been full on! In addition to the coaching group supervision session that I led last week I attended three supervisions: I was in an all day supervision training to further enhance my skills (always a student!), I had a group supervision session with my colleagues, and I had a creative supervision session too! Too many supervisions, right? Well, that is a thought I had when I started the week but at the end of the creative supervision — where we explored my week — I realize that the combination of these things is what gives me balance, helps me to maintain strong boundaries, and actually enables me to be emboldened about the decisions and choices I have made about work and home and everything else.  

We all need a space to reflect, ponder, and pause. Where is that for you? Could you find 2 minutes right now to consider the following questions: 

— What gives you balance?

— Where are your boundaries?

— How can you be emboldened to do things that you want to do, for yourself? 

The answer to these questions will help you identify areas that give you personal power. They might be small or big, or anything in between. It is all right, and they are all yours. I encourage you to do what makes you feel you and not worry about others. 

I often spend too much time worrying about what others think of my desire to learn and study, and I have to say that one of the most liberating gifts I have given myself in my 50+ years of existence is to deliberately decide that I will no longer pay attention to what other people think or comment on about my learning. It is something I am doing for me, and it has a direct positive impact on my family and friends, as well as those I work with and for. 

It was the combination of the 3 supervision spaces that enabled me to work that out. And I felt so much lighter having done so. Go back to the questions and ponder them. You will thank yourself later :-) 

(A quick side note, I just had to pop out to drop something off at the William Morris Gallery. The round trip took me 10 minutes. Why am I sharing that because whilst it was an errand I was running, it was also a writing break, it was a space to clear my head of thoughts because I was walking and engaged with my body. You too can find 5-10 minute active tasks in your day that act as a break or a bridge to a different activity.)

It has been a long week, I feel like its been a month in a week! I've been busy and as I always want to say to people who say 'I'm sorry' when I tell them I am busy... I am doing things I love doing, getting involved in projects that stimulate me, and am helping solve problems that are a real challenge. So while I may be uber busy, I am actually enjoying what I am doing... despite some of that being hard. 

'Is it a positive disposition?' you might be asking.  

And I think you are right to pose the question. I have thought about it myself... but then I remember all the times when I have been far from positive. We often know what we want to achieve, have a plan, know what our objectives are — and how to achieve them... but something gets in the way. In January I had just that experience and as a result of my exploration going back to the positive psychology books I devoured for my Masters, the material I have encountered in my various coach trainings I have identified a gap and I am currently writing a journal article about it. I will share what I believe is the gap between goal and achievement and how one can make the step despite *not always having a positive disposition* in the next few months.  I will share draft findings with you — that is something for you to look forward to :-) 

Last week was a matter of finding short times of sanctuary, moments like:

— a 8 minute break in a coffee shop because the bus I took to pick up my sisters kids from school was early (a lovely surprise break!)

— a tube journey where the carriage was quiet and I closed my eyes and breathed a little more deeply into myself

— a coaching call that came to a natural end 15 minutes early and the client welcomed back the time... while I also welcomed the gift of time

— a meeting being cancelled so I could catch up on emails and phone calls

— rearranging my day so that I could have an extra 30 minutes in bed with what I call a slow cup of coffee... 

There is nothing special in these, right?

I wonder where you might find moments of sanctuary in your days next week?

Finally, I took part in a day of systemic mapping and constellation work on Saturday. To be honest when I got into the room I said it had been a busy week and I wasn't sure if I needed to be there but I was here anyway (interesting use of the word need there, right?). In the end it transpired that the space expanded my heart, enabled me to serve as someones heart in a piece of work that we did, and gave me the ability to breathe more lightly into my own heart. As I was leaving to go home I noticed the hearts in the picture below... I had to stop and take a picture to share — it was if the heart representation was following me even as I left the building. 

And perhaps that is what I needed — a reminder that what we hold in our hearts is important and while they keep working, and we keep breathing, the world can benefit from us and our being. 

I invite you to take more of your heart into the week as you start it. 

Thank you for being here and for reading this. As always, I'd love to know of any insights or reflections you have that you'd like to share with me. 

All my best to you, 

Saiyyidah 

The Space

PS — I thought I'd breakdown the selection of photos in the collage for you. 

1. A Coke Zero can representing a scene we did in my improvisation class about how fizzy drinks are flat these days!

2 & 3. Pictures from a meal I had with a friend. We have been wanting to meet since the pandemic but it took several years to finally get there! 

4. The surprise slow coffee which was my 8 minute break (mentioned above)

5. The hearts from Saturday

6. Cards that I picked during my creative supervision session. 

7. A symbol for giving the gift of time... and finding sanctuary.