Rest is not just something we do. It is a state of being and the lens through which we view the world.

Rest is the creative spirit from which our best decisions flow. But many factors leave us disconnected from that part of ourselves.

The fast-paced and multi-dimensional pressures of the modern world push rest way down the list of priorities. And many of our decisions, actions, and interactions have become underpinned by scarcity and urgency rather than connection and abundance.

We can't address problems at the same level of thinking as when those problems emerged. In other words, we can't force ourselves into a state of rest by doing more.

The Internal Soundtrack

With the constant flow of news and information, and the everyday pressure to keep up with life's demands, our nervous system might interpret the noise as a threat. We become activated in flight and fight and may feel anxious, angry, and desperate to do something to eliminate the perception of danger. The music on our internal radio is loud, fast, and spiky.

But if the sense of threat persists, we might enter a state of shutdown. Here the music loses its rhythm and structure, turning into a persistent background drone. This might, for example, look like functional numbness (going through the motions without feeling truly connected) and compassion fatigue (no capacity to empathise).

In the same way that a soundtrack influences what and how we view images in a movie, the soundtrack playing inside us affects how and what we see in the world and people around us.

Our environment looks and feels unsafe if we hear a soundtrack of alarm bells and warning sirens in our nervous system. That internal music primes us to see and respond to everything as a potential threat.

Our survival states are helpful and necessary aspects of the biological imperative towards safety. But in a world where stressors and pressures come from all angles and without pause, our bodies can struggle to anchor in safety. Which is why we need opportunities to connect inwardly, externally with the world around us, and in co-regulation with people we can be ourselves around.

We need new pathways.

The aim isn't to spend life in a constant state of regulation (that's impossible!), but to recognise where we are and how to come home within ourselves when required. There are all kinds of objects, places, routines, and even thoughts, we can use as anchors and cues to navigate back to creative connection. These give us access to a wider playlist songs, so we can be more aware of and intentional about the soundtrack playing on our internal radio station.

This Fireside Rest Program will help you begin to do this. Using a mixture of one-on-one conversation, reflective question prompts, and an invitation to creatively collaborate with me, you will deepen your awareness of what's happening beneath the surface to recognise what your mind and body need at any moment.

You will play with and create physical and inner anchors that you can use, adapt, and build on into the future. This will lay the foundation for you to become aware of and move towards what you want from life without getting wholly derailed by overwhelm and stress every time.

At The End of The Program, You Will Also Receive:

• Your Personal Sound Anchor (a bespoke soundscape based on our conversations and reflections - this is specifically designed to bring you back home to the place of rest within you, using sounds from places that help you feel grounded and calm)
• A Video Anchor (a collage of any images, drawings, and insights you've created and curated during our time - we create an anchoring video that you can use whenever needed in the future)

These creative collaborations are yours to hold onto and use however you need.