I have come to realise since I embarked on this journey of self-discovery and business launch, that throughout my life, various experiences have remained ingrained in my mind and have influenced the way I have lived my life and resulted in me avoiding certain things in life.

Yep. FIVE years old. That stayed with me until I was 30!

I had fears... of trying new things, going to new places I had never been before, of heights, of failing, of not being good enough!

We often grow up being told to strive for perfection. To be good at something is not a bad thing, but the fear of not being good at something can stop us wanting to try in the first place.

These fears and events can shape our life in a way I hadn’t realised, and stemming from these I developed some potentially damaging limiting beliefs that have stayed with me for decades.

I feel so humbled to have tried so many wonderful activities since starting up this new venture, this journey is now letting me challenge these thoughts.

To enjoy the activity for what it is. To not think of the outcome too much, and to just enjoy the moment, and enjoy learning a skill you are not familiar with or want to improve on.

When a group of friends all collectively do that and just relax, enjoy, learn to laugh with one another, let all those fears of judgement go it is unbelievably freeing, I cannot tell you enough.

The best piece of advice I was given was from our Art & Yoga tutor Lisa during one of her workshops, she told us to re-visit in your mind a time when you were young, a time where you were playful, a time where you were not rushed or following time restraints. Not caring what you are going to paint, what colours you would choose, and just learning to connect brush to paper. I learnt to explore, be imaginative, go with the flow and just embrace my inner child. It was so inspiring!

That experience really turned my whole view of these events around and it has made me realise there are so many benefits in trying these activities, it’s now my job to share this knowledge with you!

• Being barely able to sew a button on... I made a fascinator worthy of Ascot!
• Despite my insecurities, I learned burlesque and I have never laughed so much! Even managing to follow a fully choreographed routine.
• Having always had a fear of heights, I climbed a 20m high tree on my own.
• After being told I couldn’t dance at age 5, I decided at age 30 to prove that tutor wrong. I learnt Salsa and ended up dancing 3-4 times a week and free styling in front of dozens of people I didn’t know.

Having tried the crafts and more wellbeing focussed activities that we offer, it’s allowed me to relax, improve my self-care, give myself permission to look after my needs every once in a while.

These activities have given me new focus, clarity, and given me things to talk about with friends. It helped me overcome my depression and gives me so many tools to continually overcome my anxiety and give myself a more positive strong mindset.

You don’t have to be struggling with mental health to think self care is important. Everyone needs to give their brain and body a rest, an opportunity to reset, to learn new things, to connect with others, and enjoy the power of laughter.

You don’t need a reason to have an Unwind The Mind Wellness Retreat – I just want you to give yourself permission to be a little bit “Healthy Selfish”.