Building Resilience

I used to think resilience meant keeping going no matter what, pushing through exhaustion, showing up, holding it all together.
But that version of resilience left me depleted.
It took illness, setbacks, and a long recovery to realise that real resilience isn’t about gritting your teeth. It’s about adapting with compassion, finding steadiness when life wobbles, and allowing yourself to bend without breaking.

When Life Knocks You Off Course

Setbacks happen — an illness flare, a project collapsing, a plan falling apart. In those moments, it’s easy to slip into self-criticism: “Why can’t I just cope?”
But often, what looks like “falling behind” is actually your body or mind asking for a pause. Just like a muscle needs rest after exertion, our whole system needs recovery after challenge.

Instead of seeing setbacks as failure, try asking:

• What is this moment teaching me?

• What support do I need right now?

• What is still possible, even if it looks differe...

Summer is supposed to be relaxing, right?

Longer days, warm weather, and time outdoors are all the ingredients for feeling calmer and lighter. But in reality, July can bring its own kind of pressure. Work doesn’t stop, family schedules fill up, and social invitations roll in. Before you know it, you’re overwhelmed, wondering where the calm went.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Stress is part of being human, but it doesn’t have to rule your days. With a few simple strategies, you can shift from “just getting through” to actually enjoying the summer on your own terms.

Here’s how to stress less and live more this July:

Tune Into Your Body’s Stress Signals

One of the first lessons from Your Health Comes First is that our bodies send us signals long before burnout sets in. Tension in your shoulders, shallow breathing, or a racing mind are all red flags that you might be carrying too much.

Instead of pushing through, pause. Even a 60-second body scan can help you spot tens...