You don’t need to feel threatened by the achievements of others, be proud of your own
Tall Poppy Syndrome (TPS) is rife in New Zealand and Australia, where people are scared to put themselves out there more than their peers. I was born and raised in New Zealand, and looking back I can definitely see how TPS is so ingrained in the culture, which is super unhealthy.
Tall Poppy Syndrome gets its name from the idea that poppies should grow together, and so if one is to grow taller than the others it should be cut down to size.
Most people are too scared to stand out from the crowd. Whether consciously or subconsciously, people who…
And how it may manifest between the houses of your birth chart
The three Uranus-Saturn squares occurring in 2021 are thought by astrologers to be the most important transits we’ll see this year, bringing a shake-up to long-held societal structures and norms.
The energy of Uranus moving through Taurus, and that of Saturn moving through Aquarius are uncomfortable transits for both of these planets. Squares between these two planets often coincide with important social movements. Squares can be waxing (the first square after the conjunction of two planets) or waning (the second square possible between two planets, after the opposition between them has occurred). This particular Saturn-Uranus square is waning, meaning that…
Value what’s on your mind
I really have no idea what to write today.
Inspired by Sergey Faldin’s recent article about continuing to voice your thoughts whether or not you or anyone else thinks they’re good, I have decided to try experimenting with putting my actual thoughts into words, without the need for too much structuring, or a clearly defined purpose in mind.
I think that this practice would help get creativity flowing better, and also help you better understand how and why you think like you do.
Learning to “Go with the flow”
This morning, I woke up early, as the light of dawn was streaming through my bedroom window…
Paulo Coelho invites us to be brave and walk the path of our highest excitement
There’s a reason why Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist is one of the world’s best-selling novels. You know a book is speaking to your soul when you feel a lump of joy forming in your stomach, ready to burst out through a silent sob at any moment.
That’s what I was feeling when I was reading The Alchemist.
A Classic Example of ‘The Hero’s Journey’
There are a few sentences in the foreword of the 25th Anniversary edition which form a good summary of the story:
“A man sets out on a journey, dreaming of a beautiful or magical place, in pursuit of some unknown treasure. …
The Hedgehog Concept — from Brené Brown’s podcast series Dare to Lead
Brené Brown and Jim Collins talk about the Hedgehog Concept for identifying realistic and actionable goals.
The other day I decided to listen to the most recent pod from the Dare to Lead series by self-help guru and social work frontwoman, Brené Brown, with guest Jim Collins, a business researcher and figurehead, Brené with Jim Collins on Curiosity, Generosity, and the Hedgehog.
There are two types of people in the world. You are either a fox or a hedgehog.
Foxes are dynamic and good at getting their fingers in every pie. …
But I discovered the roots of its heart are at home
Observing the leaves on a wild outcrop of bush, which has curiously sprouted up from a thoroughly more well-kept hedge, I watch the gentle sway and remember that what I’m seeing is the reality of nature’s movements. The bus gurgles and sporadically bounces slightly from side-to-side. There is a light scent of cleaning product, one aimed to kill and destroy, make nought, anything living. No Covid shall survive the force.
Private wharves stick out from the sides of the lake. There’s no risk of the houses, planted mere metres and with no elevation above the water, becoming swept against the…
The relationship between feeling controlled and trust
I don’t like it when I feel that my emotions are being manipulated. I don’t like it when someone insists I smile for a photo. I would rather just not be in the photo.
When I feel my freedom is restricted to a set of socially-expected actions packaged neatly into a nice, square box, I free myself by rejecting it altogether.
But what happens when you are part of a team, and the team has a vibe, and the leaders want to portray the team in a particular way, and you just don’t fit with that vibe at that time…
HOW I BUILT ROUTINES — PART 2
But you have to mobilise those thoughts to make shit happen
In Part 1, I told my backstory of what first incensed me to go from a person who was quite unpractised in disciplined living to someone who decided it would be more in line with their ambition to have a more structured day-to-day schedule.
The stillness offered by being under lockdown which, as I write this, my city has recently been moved into again, allowed for deep reflection on the events of the past, an appreciation for where the world was, and an eye on the possibilities and positive changes in the future.
Auckland, New Zealand, where I live, was…
Me too, but I can change that
I’m taking a different tack with my writing today. This article is about something I struggle with talking about, though I think is important to talk about in order to learn how to feel comfortable with being vulnerable and strong in a quest to love yourself and the people in your life.
I’m trying not to cringe writing this because I think it’s necessary to talk about things that make some of us, like me, squirm in our seats. …
HOW I BUILT ROUTINES — PART 1
But now I can build routines that stick
The world turning upside down forced me to reflect.
Look for the golden opportunities when it feels like things are falling apart.
Just so you know, I have historically been atrocious with starting or keeping any kind of routine. That all changed when the world had a meltdown in 2020.
From the year I moved out of home for the first time, just before my last year of high school, life had been rather a blur, save for the consistency of school and ice skating training.
Rush, rush, rush. That was my life for the few years that followed.
It…
Sophie F.
Using writing to explore myself and society. I write about self improvement, society, astrology, books, and fitness.
