Wellbeing Insights

Each year, thousands of young people across Australia open up in Mission Australia’s Youth Survey — a powerful annual pulse check on what’s really going on in their lives. From this data, a clear picture emerges: ten consistent worries, appearing year after year, in the minds and hearts of young people. But here’s something worth… Read More

To maintain confidence in my speaking skills post-retirement, I have joined the Toastmasters’ Club. A recent speech that I gave was to fulfill the task of Delivering a Social Speech. I chose to write a speech in praise of – not a person or an organisation – but to the abstract concept of ‘hope.’ I… Read More

We live in a world that often demands positivity. Social media, self-help books, and well-meaning advice urge us to think happy thoughts, count our blessings, and push through discomfort with a smile. But what if, instead of resisting melancholy, we acknowledged its quiet wisdom? What if we allowed it to sit with us, not as… Read More

I guess the day had to arrive when I was due to write a Wellbeing Insight blog, and I am not well! The obvious solution, for one whose personal manifesto contains the sentence: I replenish myself and navigate all that life presents with love, including self-love, is perhaps not to write this one, to allow… Read More

Recently, our family embarked on the significant challenge of moving house. As a family of six who have lived in the same home for the past 15 years, the transition to downsizing has been both purposeful and demanding. While the process has brought moments of nostalgia as we sorted through treasured keepsakes, it has also… Read More

Over the past three years, Sue, my co-author and friend, and I have been on a deeply meaningful journey. I deliberately use the word meaningful because these years have been significant in many ways: the time and effort we’ve invested in our project, our shared belief in the power of having a personal manifesto, and… Read More

Susan David, author of Emotional Agility, suggests that curiosity, along with compassion and courage is useful – vital – for emotional agility. ‘Emotional Agility’ she defines as “showing up: facing your thoughts and emotions and behaviours willingly with curiosity and kindness.” David elaborates: “When difficult or uncomfortable feelings arise, greet them with curiosity: what are… Read More

If you’re like me, with everything happening in life and the world right now, you wouldn’t mind if the ‘hill’ were a little less steep! I’m not sure what your personal ‘hill’ looks like at the moment, but I suspect it might involve family, friends, work pressures, world issues, work-life balance, health, or perhaps all… Read More

“The connections between people’s strengths represented through real stories of lived experience and their aspirations for something better is the key to every successful action for change.” These words from Wayne McCashen, The Strengths Approach, resonate powerfully with us at my manifesto. In all facets of our work, including our recently published book, My Manifesto:… Read More