For a long time in our hustle culture we have had perfectionism on a proverbial pedestal. We have believed that to be perfectionist is to be excellent.

Times are a changin', my friend. Perfectionism is no longer the aspiration.

Read on to find out why and what the alternative is.

I have come here to share an epiphany I had this week.

Epiphany: Feeling content is actually super easy.

It is us that makes it hard. Hear me out…

Flow is when you have that magical experience of becoming so immersed in your focus on a task, be that for pleasure or work, that you forget about all other distractions, including the time! I know I am in flow when I am not conscious of where my phone is - tragic, I know.

Statistically speaking, most of you will have dropped off with something by now. But we are here for effective change. We want actualisation. So let’s recalibrate.

Here is a quick strategy to support you in your journey. Ask yourself the following questions:

Research has proven time and time again that motivation cannot be relied on when creating new habits. That is why I am so obsessed with consistency. Once you have confirmed an aspiration or goal is genuinely aligned and something you want on a soul level, then consistency is the only way to arrive there.

Gratitude allows you to become more cognisant of all that you have. It is easy for our possessions, achievements and special people to be taken for granted. But if you take the time to be intentionally appreciative, you'll be amazed at how much abundance you really do have already.

How I went from chronic illness to a romanticised life:

I was ultimately diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome but it took almost a year for that very vague label. I let go of needing to name my experience - it was eventually redundant. It didn't change the reality of my existence. However that reality changed SO MUCH for me.

I genuinely thought I was going to die.

When I started getting better I felt full to bursting with gratitude. Not in a cheesy #grateful way, but on a soul level. I would shower my legs with adoration for carrying me to the art supply shop and home again. I was on cloud 9 when I simply had enough energy to paint.

INSTEAD of setting new years resolutions, revel in the feeling that you get when you imagine all of your answers to those ten questions and remember that vision. Hold this front and centre. The answers combined create a life. A life that is totally within reach. A life that you are entirely worthy of living.

I pushed my son up the hill and saw this patch of grass near a couple having a picnic. I sat there when I was newly sober and shook with grief and pain that I had numbed for so long. I starred at the pub in eyesight and tears ran down my cheeks. I didn’t know how to exist without escapism. I imagined walking into the pub and beginning the descent into freedom from my thoughts. However I now knew that it would ultimately only exacerbate my pain. And so I was stuck in between a rock and a hard place.

Ooft. December is a challenging month when it comes to wellness and self-care.Yet arguably it is a month when we need it most.

Our calendar is suddenly full to bursting. We're exhausted from all the socialising (as nice as it sounds in theory). It is darker and colder for those in the northern hemisphere. We are uninspired to honour our fitness routine. Work deadlines are mounting. People are drinking more, which might make you feel pressured to as well. And we're supposed to be having the most fun we've had all year.

The awesome thing about habit formation is that when you really enjoy the benefits it turns from something you have to hold yourself to, into something you either do without thinking, or feel grateful you get to do.

Part of being our best selves (which is what we all want, right?) means being cautious and thoughtful about the words we use. This is for a plethora of reasons.