Life is a rollercoaster baby…
Firstly, let’s just acknowledge that I’ve quoted Ronan Keating in 2026—so clearly I’m the absolute definition of rock and roll. Right, now we’ve got that out of the way…
Last weekend, I found myself seriously questioning whether I’d made a huge mistake.
Walking away from a steady (or as steady as it gets in the charity world) job, with a decent salary, to build something of my own. To have more autonomy, more flexibility… and ultimately, more time with my family. What was a I thinking?!
Because here’s the thing: on paper, everything is going well.
I have clients.
People are telling me I’m doing great.
My children have even started saying how nice it is to have “more time with mummy.”
So why did I spend the weekend feeling anxious and doubting myself?
Now that I’ve come out the other side, I can see it for what it was: giving far too much airtime to that negative voice in the background. Letting it take centre stage. Letting it rewrite a reality that, quite frankly, didn’t exist.
Resetting the narrative
On Sunday afternoon, we got outside. Into the woods.
And almost instantly, I felt calmer. More grounded. More like myself.
It reminded me of something simple but important: I function better when I move, when I get outdoors, when I give myself space to breathe.
This week, I’ve been much kinder to myself.
Switching off when I need to.
Changing my routine when things feel off.
Case in point: I somehow made it to a 6am kettlebell class this morning. I won’t pretend it was graceful, but I did it. I feel great. Slightly sore, but great.
Nothing changed… and everything changed
What’s interesting is that my external reality hasn’t changed much at all this week.
But my internal monologue has, and that’s made all the difference.
So, while I’m riding this more positive wave, I thought I’d share a few highlights from the week, partly to celebrate, and partly as a reminder (to myself as much as anyone else) of what’s actually happening.
A few wins from this week
I’ve landed two new clients, both doing incredible work that I can’t wait to be part of.
I had two discovery calls where I essentially talked people out of working with me—because it genuinely wasn’t the right fit for them right now and was able to direct them to other great people who can support (And that felt just as important.)
I delivered an online session with a brilliant client whose passion and energy is infectious. Supporting organisations like this to grow their reach and impact is exactly why I do what I do.
I organised a family and friends basketball match—and had the best time. Slight chaos, lots of laughs but I’ll stick to the day job.
I received this feedback, which genuinely made my day:
“Thank you. I mean a HUGE thank you. You are exactly what I needed. I have been muddling along and it's like you are giving me glasses.”
How lovely is this!!I went to a business networking event (firmly outside my comfort zone)… and survived. Even better, I bumped into people I’ve worked with over the years, which was lovely.
I made the most of some fleeting sunshine in Saltburn—always a win.
I’ve started volunteering locally to help set up a peer support group for perimenopause and beyond in Whitby. Our first planning meeting was full of energy and excitement; it’s clearly something that’s really needed.
And finally… I sent my first invoice and was paid within 10 minutes. Let’s absolutely set that as the standard going forward.
A gentle reminder (to all of us)
Wherever you are in your journey, whether you’re freelancing, leading a charity, or somewhere in between, being kind to yourself really matters.
We spend so much time supporting others, championing causes, and working to make a difference in our communities. But that should never come at the expense of our own wellbeing.
And sometimes, when the rollercoaster dips, the most important thing we can do is pause, take a breath… and remind ourselves of what’s actually real.
Always happy to chat
If anything in this resonates, whether you’re feeling stretched, stuck, or just ready to do things a bit differently, I’d love to hear from you.
I work with charities and purpose-led organisations to bring clarity, build confidence, and create practical approaches that actually work in the real world.
If you’re curious about how I might be able to support you, feel free to get in touch for a no-pressure chat.