Letting go of plans and embracing the unknown

Hello hello! Sending you much love this Friday!

As I’m sure you’re aware, there’s much heaviness around. I feel like I’m watching a big human drama unfold, which hasn’t quite fully hit me yet. When I allow darkness into my mind without first having some sense of grounding, I can lose myself in it.

Alternatively, if I make space to choose to consciously process challenges and lean into them intentionally, I don’t get swamped by it. But I don’t always have a choice in the matter! I sense the unfolding confusion, fear and anxiety around me.

That said, something I am noticing is the beautiful outpouring of support all across the world. For example, this Airbnb style platform that’s been built to host Ukrainian refugees: ICanHelp.Host. And so many other examples of donations and money being sent to causes support the Ukraine. For me, this reveals the beauty of the human spirit 💖

Another perspective that’s helped is the work of Zach Bush. A point he made about war has really resonated with me. I share more below, as I feel like this has given me a deep grounding and anchor. I feel I can zoom out to try and see and understand some deeper undercurrents that are here. And with that, I feel strength and an authentic hope. Maybe this will help you find grounding too!

One of the most radical things you can do in times like this is to take care of yourself. Show up for others where you can, and also find time to sit with and process any gnarly emotions that may be coming up. I’m a big fan of emotional regulation techniques for this very reason.

And know that I’m here to support you too! x

Let’s explore more shall we? Here’s this week’s Friday Feels list! Snippets from my world of coaching, meditation and breathwork – with the intention to share information that brings joy, wonder and self-reflection.

1. Song of the week

Amen by Ladysmith Black Mambazo (Listen on Spotify or YouTube)

I played this song at my Create Your Own Reality retreat in February, and at my breathwork session last night! The harmonies of this South African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo are so warming and uplifting. I am so grateful for platforms like Spotify; it really is magic to have access to all that music.

2. Quote of the week

“We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”

― Joseph Campbell

I co-hosted my Create Your Own Reality retreat last weekend! It was SUCH a powerful and joyful weekend! And this topic came up again: Can we be prepared to let old parts of your life and identity die off as you grow? And uncover more of your true self in the process?

​The next Create Your Own Reality retreat dates are 24th – 27th June 2022. We’d LOVE to have you join us! It’s so special going to Wales in summer! We will embrace that summery energy and explore being outside more, under the stars and up in the hills! Drop me a line if you’d like to find out more about joining my weekend retreat.

3. Practice of the week

21-day cleanse! I’m one week into a super tasty cleanse. Following these recipes by chef Cynthia Louise shared by a dear friend. I’m so grateful to have access to healthy food.

For the last 3 years or so, I’ve been exploring more around nutrition and health. So true is the age-old wisdom from Hippocrates, a famous Greek physician: “Let food be thy medicine and let thy medicine be food.”

4. Article of the week

Dr. Zach Bush’s interview on warfare. Humans often seek to dissolve the self and experience collective identity through unity. And there’s huge unity offered in war. I listened to this incredible talk by Zach Bush not long ago and he gave this observation about why humans go to war. It’s a foreshadowing of what we see happening now.

​Listen to Zach Bush’s interview with Rich Roll here – this whole talk, although long is really powerful and worth bookmarking to come back to. It’s examples like this that drum home again and again just how essential it is that we understand human behaviour. Unless we understand WHY we repeat patterns, history will keep repeating itself.

As a trauma-informed breathwork facilitator and coach, this is exactly what I do: to help people understand WHY they are doing what they are doing. And what do they actually WANT from life. I support people in exploring their wounds from the past that are continuing to influence your outlook in the present moment. And then to explore your desires and create goals that also are in line with your NEEDS.

This personal work we do for ourselves then becomes essential for humanity, and how we navigate this human experience. Never underestimate the power of one person.

5. Client win of the week

“I have faith that the heaviness of the day can finish on a high! Small practices do make all the difference.”

Have you ever started your day with the best intentions, but then one thing happens and very quickly your whole day seems to be going wrong?

A client shared her “nightmare day” with me. She reeled off the chaos unfolding at home and in work, with one thing after another! She and I had been working on emotional regulation techniques, exploring how she can manage stress, as well as taking greater responsibility for herself and how she showed up as a business owner, as well as a mum and wife.

Despite her shit-show of a day, she knew that a little pocket of meditation would help take the edge off. And she also kept noticing her breathing, and taking deep breaths as well as short breaks to move her body, allowing tension to be continually released. She also knew that being kind to herself and maintaining her boundaries with her work – although hella uncomfortable to uphold! – would serve her overall. Despite the pressure to abandon them!

She battled through the day and although it didn’t really stop being hard, by the end of it, she felt so tired but so proud of herself! Because she knew she’d done her best. Sure, it wasn’t neat and tidy, but an earlier version of her would have been totally overwhelmed. She would have lashed out at her family with the stress.

Knowing that she had done her best to respond rather than react, she suddenly felt elated! She’d been through a tough day and tomorrow was a fresh start. She beamed a big smile at me on our coaching call: “I have faith that the heaviness of the day can finish on a high! Small practices do make all the difference.”

You’re damn right they do!

That’s it for this week! Sending you so much love – and know that we’re all in this together x

Big love,

Briony x

​​P.S. What is this Friday Feels post about? In case you’re reading this for the first time (hello!), I post a weekly blog with snippets from my world of coaching, meditation and breathwork. My intention is to share useful, joyful or interesting tidbits, which may serve you in some way 🙏