Pause Purpose Play

This podcast is the concluding part of my Spacious Adventure series. I discuss the concept of courage, reflecting on my experiences of solo travels, and the idea of courage as more important than confidence when stepping out of your comfort zone. I share my approach to planning, balancing structure with the freedom of spontaneity, and the importance of understanding one's limits and comfort levels in creating new experiences. I also underscore the significance of having a support system and planning one's journey in a nuanced manner and invite you the listeners to join a free four-day challenge titled 'Your Spacious Year' starting on 19th March 2024, and also the option of joining a retreat in Vietnam planned for March 2025. Join the free challenge here: https://thethomasconnection.co.uk/spaciousyear/

In this third part of the Spacious Adventure series on the Pause Purpose Play podcast,I discuss my return from Vietnam, and the need to retain insights and habits cultivated during travel. I highlight understanding one's emotions upon return, resisting guilt or negativity, and practising compassion for oneself. I share the importance of avoiding immediate immersion back into the grind but gradually easing back and giving time to process the adventure, thereby adding more richness to one's daily life. I also provide tips for soothing systems and practices to retain emotions and experiences from travel. I reveal my nomination for the Inspirational Modern Woman of the Year award, highlighting the representation of neurodiversity and mental health it brings, regardless of my winning the award. I also announce a four-day free online challenge to help listeners create their spacious year with more mindful moments, beginning on 19th March.   Vote for Michaela in The Modern Woman of the year award: https://modernwoman.co/award-vote/ Join the FREE 4-day challenge to create your spacious year: www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/spaciousyear

In this episode, I dive deeper into my 'spacious adventure' concept with a focus on energy management. I revisit my experience in Vietnam and describe the balance of achieving upregulation (fun, excitement, and exploration) with downregulation (comforting familiarity, relaxation) to avoid burnout. In this context, I touch upon the impact of Novelty on the ADHD brain and the need for conscious downregulation practices like meditation and yoga. I also emphasise the need for spaciousness, a balance between novelty and comfort, for true restoration. I end the episode with an exciting announcement for a future 'spacious adventure' in Vietnam and invite you the listeners to sign up.

In this episode, I discuss my liberating solo trip to Vietnam and the associated lessons learned about self-compassion, balance, worthiness, partnership, and the importance of letting oneself experience fulfilling adventures. I emphasise that my husband's support and understanding played a critical role in enabling this journey. I also suggest that listeners consider what their own 'spacious adventure' might look like and encourage them to give themselves permission to pursue these adventures. I also tease you about an upcoming retreat in Vietnam and invite you to join the next session of my group coaching program, Burn Bright.

In this episode of the Pause Purpose Play podcast, I examine the concept of resilience, drawing attention to its misuse and negative implications in toxic work environments. I explore how resilience may sometimes lead to burnout, arguing that the idea of 'bouncing back' isn't always helpful. Instead, I also suggest interpreting resilience as self-compassion, which allows individuals to learn from their difficulties. They should be aware of their environments and assertively seek conditions that enable their wellness, rather than accepting detrimental situations due to misinterpreted resilience.

In this episode of the 'Pause Purpose Play Podcast', I discuss the challenges faced by women with ADHD, specifically those women dubbed as 'lost girls' who have been misdiagnosed or unrecognised in their childhood. These challenges include dealing with the sense of overwhelming chaos of ADHD amidst other life responsibilities and the coping mechanisms often developed, such as perfectionism and people-pleasing. I also talk about my personal experience with ADHD, the importance of self-compassion, and how to manage ADHD-related overwhelm.

In this episode, Dr Nilesh Satguru, a GP and self-mastery expert, discusses the importance of compassion and self-mastery in the professional and personal journey. He shares his personal experience and struggles as a GP and how a patient's complaint led him to discover compassion and its transformative power. He emphasised how cultivating self-awareness and self-compassion, controlling time and environment, and nurturing inward reflection can drive fulfilment, resilience, and peace. The podcast also touched on forgiveness, emotional resilience, and how self-compassion can help people thrive despite adversities.

In this episode I discuss the themes of perfectionism and compassion, focusing on ADHD and neurodivergence. I illustrate how hyperfocus, a trait often associated with ADHD, can lead to potential burnout and mental health issues, alongside the societal pressures faced by modern women. I call for understanding and compassion for neurodivergent individuals due to the additional challenges they face. I then present a key tip concerning creating spaciousness around challenging tasks and situations to mitigate post-task depletion, assisting in sustainable success. I also give listeners a personal insight into my strategies for managing my hyperfocus and energy during a recent event. Lastly, I extend an invitation to you dear listeners to join my newly-formed ADHD Club, a compassionate community for women.

In this in-depth conversation with Selina Barker, author of 'Burnt Out'! We discuss the significant issues of burnout and perfectionism. Selina details her journey with burnout, the lessons she learned from her workaholic father, and her experiences as a life and career change coach. The conversation explores how societal and individual pressures often contribute to burnout, with a specific focus on women, particularly mothers. Selina emphasizes the importance of managing one's energy and taking regular breaks. The conversation also delves into dealing with the 'shitty committee', a term used by Selina to represent the inner critic and self-critical thoughts, and how understanding this can assist in preventing burnout.

In this episode, we discuss the pattern of burnout seen in individuals diagnosed with ADHD, and how it could be relevant to anyone feeling overwhelmed or overworked. I emphasise the importance of compassion, stepping out of an 'all or nothing' mentality, and learning to correctly interpret the body's cues. Various stages of burnout are described including the 'meerkat' (over productive, driven) and 'sloth' (paralysed, slow) phases. I ask you to understand that ADHD intensifies the burnout cycle. I share my upcoming plans for providing ADHD assessments, coaching, and opening the ADHD club - a supportive, compassionate space for individuals diagnosed with ADHD. And finally, I have suggestions for reducing burnout, such as flexible working and accepting oneself.   The ADHD Club is now open! To learn more about the membership and ADHD assessments, go to: www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/adhd   https://thethomasconnection.co.uk/adhdclub/