I’m five weeks into a Writing for Wellbeing course that I’m facilitating for Brecon and District Mind, and I’m blown away by the group of women who are participating.

Forgiveness can be immensely difficult to put into practice. And yet the art of exoneration is so powerful.

When my first book was published a couple of years ago – Wearing Red, One woman’s Journey to Sanity,’ I experienced a devastating period of acute anxiety.

Last week I wrote about procrastination in decision making.

This week I’ve been asked to write on the subject of overcoming procrastination.

Looking at the events that trouble us with a level of optimism is another tool that can help us feel better about ourselves.

This is the final part of my first aid kit of tools I use to keep me grounded.

I’m continuing the theme from last week, sharing my thoughts on anchors I use to keep me grounded, especially when I feel low or stressed out.

I can’t believe it’s February already. I often find this month to be a long one, as it’s still Winter and it can be cold and dark. Spring is just around the corner but my impatience for the warmer days and lighter evenings gets the better of me.

This is my 100th blog of life strategies for well-being!

Believe in your ability to heal. Validate your own experiences and feelings. Value your own humanity. This is the essence of focusing on ourselves.

Expectations can limit our experiences. And life is too short to let that happen.

After the business of Xmas and the New Year, it can be hard to ‘get back on track’ with our daily lives. Being gentle with ourselves is a good antidote as winter sets in.

At this time, as one year is about to end and another begins, I remind myself of my two favourite quotes/prayers…

This week I’m sending you some Xmas wishes in my poems. Every year I make my Xmas cards (apparently they’ve become a collector’s item!) and I include a poem I’ve written. So I decided it would be a gift to you all, if I sent you some of the poems from my past Xmas cards – from my heart to yours.

At this time of the year, as we approach Christmas, it can be so easy to keep pushing ourselves forward with all the things we have to do in preparation. If you’re anything like me – this means that we can deplete our energy tanks.

This is going to be shorter than usual, as we have new windows being fitted throughout the house. There are lots of people buzzing around being busy. Big holes in the walls where the windows were and it is very very cold!!

Well, this is Part Three of the ‘Becoming Emotionally Mature’ series.

As I said last week in Part One (17th Nov) there are many aspects that contribute to becoming an emotionally mature person and we will explore more of these here in Part Two .

Would you believe this is my 90th mental well-being blog? Our tool kit for staying afloat and mentally healthy is ever expanding.