A Year of Connection, Curiosity, and Growth

Last June, I made a quiet commitment to myself: to share a blog every quarter for a year. And here I am, twelve months later—goal achieved!

Where did the time go?

Take a moment to reflect:

• What has changed for you?

• Are you where you expected to be—further ahead, further behind, or on an entirely new path?

When I decided to start writing, I wasn’t sure I had much to share. But I’ve found that curiosity has a way of lighting the path. Every time something piqued my interest, I followed it—and in sharing those discoveries, I often found deeper connection with others.

If you’ve been following along, you’ll know that this year’s theme has been connection. Now, six months in, I want to share some reflections on that intention—on synchronicity, intuition, and what happens when we stay open.

“The Map is Not the Territory”

This blogging journey has reminded me of a phrase I first heard nearly three decades ago while studying NLP:

“The map is not the territory.”

At the time, I was in my 20s, just beginning my path as a therapist. The metaphor fascinated me, even if I didn’t fully understand it then.

Now, I see it clearly: We don’t respond to reality itself—we respond to our internal map of reality. Our perceptions and interpretations shape how we move through the world, and those are often partial or flawed.

That idea opened up a lifelong journey of self-inquiry—challenging my assumptions, seeking alternative views, and expanding awareness.

If something in this blog—or in any post from the past year—has sparked reflection, learning, or connection for you, I’m so glad.

This Quarter’s Focus

IFS, Study Buddies & Synchronicity

IFS: Stepping Into New Spaces

In April, I attended my first IFS “Open Space” event in Bristol alongside 60 others. It was both a leap outside my comfort zone and a deeply rewarding experience.

For those unfamiliar, Open Space is a facilitation method often used in organisational development. Open-space-method Within the IFS community, it was adapted in wonderfully creative ways. Participants ranged from newcomers to experienced trainers, authors, and podcasters.

I reconnected with people I’d previously met online, forged new relationships, and left with a renewed commitment to building my IFS network.

As a result:

• I’ve joined a new IFS group in the East Midlands.
• Delivered my first local workshop for therapists curious about IFS.
• Scheduled two more workshops on Sunday 12th October and 23rd November 2025 due to feedback, demand and enthusiasm.

The workshop content is based on what I’ve found most useful in my own journey, including material from Dick Schwartz’s The Internal Family Systems Workbook.

One of the delegates gave permission to share their reflections and drawing created during the day. (Thank you!)

👉 Interested in joining? Visit my Courses Page to learn more.

Study Buddies: The Power of Gentle Accountability

Let me ask you something:

• How many free workshops have you signed up for but never attended?
• How many books are waiting to be read, podcasts unplayed, or CPD events half-remembered?

If you’re like me, there’s often a gap between intention and action.

 

 

To bridge that gap, as you know, I committed to working with a study buddy this year. Together, we’ve been exploring Deb Dana’s Polyvagal Card Deck, one card per week.

Here’s how it works:

• We study one card individually each week.
• We share our reflections and resources over WhatsApp—keeping everything in one easy-to-access thread.

There’s no pressure, no deadlines—just gentle accountability. I’ve found that a simple message or link from my buddy often nudges me toward new learning I wouldn’t have found on my own.

• Would a study buddy support your growth?
• What could be your first small step toward that?
• Are you willing to take that step?

 

Synchronicity, Health & More Buddy Magic

Nearly two years ago, I began working with a nutritionist who also uses bio-resonance. My work with them piqued my curiosity in better understanding my own health and led me to read Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken. My reading in the impact of UPF on health continues, and earlier this year I came across Mike Collins—also known as The Sugar Free Man.

I joined his 30-day challenge, which included a buddy system. I reached out online for someone in the UK, and—amazingly—the first person to respond used to live just 20 minutes from me and now lives in Epsom, where I used to work as restaurant manager with Berni Inns!

That synchronicity blossomed into a strong connection. She’s now training as a coach in Mike’s program, and through her, I discovered Dr. Susan Peirce Thompson, neuroscientist and founder of Bright Line Eating.

I enrolled in Susan’s 10-week Bootcamp, which—you guessed it—included a buddy group. We were five people: two therapists, an engineer, and a teacher, living in three different time zones. Weekly Zooms quickly became lively, enriching conversations—not just about food and health, but also:

• Parenting
• Education
• Neurodivergence
• Inequality
• Sleep & dopamine
• Cultural differences

We brought our whole selves to the table—and connection thrived. (Plus I got lots of ideas for future blog items!)

This experience reminded me that real connection happens when we show up authentically, with openness and curiosity.

A New Journey: The Year of The Hermit

As many of you know, I have a deep interest in astrology, numerology, and tarot.

At the end of 2024, I discovered Shannon Knight’s The Year of The Hermit: A Guided Journal. Since January, I’ve been using it as a daily tool for reflection and growth, exploring new archetypes and meanings.

Last weekend, I attended her Summer Solstice Summit (June 20–22), featuring speakers with backgrounds in:

• Astrology & Tarot
• Education & Psychology
• Research, Coaching, and Journalism

Despite the time zone challenge, I stayed up late to attend—and it was well worth it. The ideas I encountered are already influencing the two workshops I’m offering this autumn (7th September and 7th December 2025), with plans to incorporate some of the new exercises and practices I explored during the summit.

If this piques your interest, keep an eye on my courses page for updates.

In Closing…

Well—this blog turned out a little longer than planned!

But I hope something here resonated with you:
💬 A reminder of the power of curiosity
🤝 An encouragement to reach out for connection
🌱 Or an invitation to follow the thread of synchronicity

If anything sparked your interest, I’d love to hear from you.
And if you’re simply here, reading along—thank you. Truly.

Go gently, and I’ll see you next time.