I did a photo shoot this week for the new podcast with Joel. Fen's back at the vet with an infection. Kitchen renovation starts next week. And I've noticed I've got way too many open loops right now, which is why I'm feeling more anxious than usual. Open loops are unfinished business, things you're waiting on, uncertainties piling up. The more you have, the more overwhelmed you'll feel.

But this week, I'm introducing something I'm really excited about: Tough Love Tuesdays. Not the nicey-nice stuff people want to hear. The stuff we actually need to hear. The stuff we avoid.

So here are five bits of tough love that have helped me and my clients over the years:

• Most people don't actually want to change (they just want to moan about being stuck)
• Saying is not doing (show me your calendar and I'll show you your priorities)
• Stop rationalising your excuses (it's not "just one day" if it happens every week)
• You're making your own life harder with the stories you tell yourself (what you say about you, you become)
• Change is a choice (and what you're not changing, you're choosing)

This isn't about perfection. 80% on plan, 80% of the time will get you results above 99% of the population. But if you're not willing to look at these truths head on, no one can help you. Because until you're willing to change and go through the discomfort of that, you're just talking.

If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's usually a duck. These truths are more relevant in 2025 than ever.

Follow for weekly real talk that'll actually help you change, not just feel good for five minutes.

I just spent more money than I've ever spent in my life on renovating my kitchen. And honestly? I've been absolutely riddled with doubts about it. Can I afford this? Is it worth it? Am I making a massive mistake?

But here's what I've realized: doubt isn't a red flag telling you to stop. It's actually proof that you're doing something you've never done before. You're growing. You're changing. You're stepping into new territory.

In this episode, I'm getting real about the doubts I've been having lately. House renovations, GMC expanding with the Edinburgh multi-day event, new coaches joining the team, my MRI coming up, potentially doing the London Marathon. All of it comes with doubt. And I've learned that the times in my life when I felt the most certain were actually the times I wasn't growing at all.

We cover:

• Why doubt is actually a sign you're ready (not that you're not)
• The danger of staying comfortable just because it's familiar
• Why you can't solve your problems with your current level of thinking
• Kill the monsters when they're small (before they get bigger)
• How speed of decision-making beats perfect information
• The difference between leaning into discomfort vs running from it
• Why you don't need a reset, you just need to do

If you've been putting something off because you're not "ready" yet, this one's for you. Spoiler: the doubt you're feeling is exactly why you need to move forward, not backwards.

Follow for weekly real talk on personal development, coaching, and living the life you actually want.

Life's been chaos lately. Kitchen renovations, reupholstering sofas, kids' football, piano lessons restarting... everything happening at once. And here's what I've learned: this IS what change looks like in real time. It's messy, it's uncomfortable, and it's not the straight line we're sold.

In this episode, I'm sharing a conversation I had with one of my mentors, Phil, that completely shifted how I think about growth. We broke it down into two states: contraction (making space, pruning, letting go) and expansion (building, growing, taking up space). Both are necessary. Both are uncomfortable. And we cycle through them repeatedly in different areas of life.

I walk you through the four phases of growth: ignition, elevation, expansion, and integration. Think of it like a spring or coil going upward, not a circle bringing you back to square one. You're not regressing, you're renewing at a higher level.

We cover:

• Why change feels chaotic (and why that's completely normal)
• The difference between contraction and expansion seasons
• The four-phase cycle of real growth
• Why "waiting for a reset" is keeping you stuck
• How to recognize which phase you're in right now

If you've ever felt like you're starting over again, this one's for you. Spoiler: you're not back at square one. You've just leveled up to the next phase of the same game.

Follow for weekly real talk on personal development, life coaching, and building a life you're actually proud of.