Regular worry is a sign that we are listening to the wrong voice. The mind is loud, repetitive, and fear-based. But beneath it is another voice; your soul, your intuition, your heart. This inner voice is calm, wise, and always guiding you toward inner peace and alignment. When you learn to trust this voice more than the mind, worry begins to dissolve naturally.

Here are five powerful and gentle steps you can start today to live a worry-free life:

1. Quiet the Mind to Hear Your Inner Wisdom

The mind creates noise. The heart creates clarity.

Most worries come from an overactive mind trying to predict, control, or perfect the future. But your deepest wisdom doesn’t speak through mental chatter, it speaks through stillness. So the path to a worry-free life begins with quieting the mind enough to hear the guidance already within you.

You can do this by:

• Sitting in silence for a few minutes each day
• Placing your hands on your heart and breathing consciously
• Spending time in nature without your phone
• Meditating, grounding, or simply pausing

Quieting the mind isn’t about stopping thoughts. It’s about softening their grip so the whispers of your heart can rise to the surface. When the mind quiets, intuition becomes unmistakable.

2. Reduce External Noise and Reclaim Your Energy

We often feel overwhelmed not because life is chaotic, but because we allow too many external voices to interfere with our inner knowing. Society, family, friends, social media, everyone has an opinion about what you should do, who you should be, and what your life should look like.

But you cannot live peacefully if your nervous system is constantly reacting to external expectations.

A worry-free life requires learning to trust your soul before all else.

This may look like:

• Taking breaks from social media
• Choosing who you share your dreams with
• Limiting conversations or content that drain or confuse you
• Not asking for advice when you already know the answer

When you quiet the external world, you create space for your own truth to guide you. You stop absorbing other people’s fears and return to your own inner compass.

3. Trust Your Soul Above Your Fears

This is the heart of living without worry.

Your soul communicates with you constantly, through sensations, images, intuitive pulls, and feelings of expansion or contraction. When you follow this inner guidance, life flows. When you ignore it, everything feels heavier.

Worry dissolves when you choose to trust your soul more than you trust your fear or the expectations of others.

This means:

• Trusting the quiet “yes” or “no” inside you
• Trusting the dreams that keep returning
• Trusting the path that feels like home, even if you can’t explain it
• Trusting the feeling of alignment in your body

Self-trust is a practice, not a moment. Every decision made from intuition strengthens your connection to your soul. Over time, fear loses its influence because you’ve built a deeper, unshakeable trust within yourself.

4. Let Your Heart Guide Your Decisions

The mind calculates. The heart knows.

When faced with decisions, most of us turn to logic, opinions, and overthinking. But the mind can only analyse based on the past. It cannot feel what is truly meant for you, but your heart can.

Heart-led decisions are grounded, peaceful, and deeply aligned.

To make heart-centered choices, ask:

• Which option expands me?
• Which feels heavy or constricting?
• Which aligns with the woman I am becoming?
• Which choice brings me closer to love, not fear?

Your heart is your compass. The more you honor it, the more your life fills with clarity and ease and the less space worry has to grow.

5. When Fear Appears, Don’t Spiral, Heal

A worry-free life doesn’t mean you’ll never feel fear again. Fear is human. What changes is how quickly you return to your heart when it arises.

Instead of letting your mind spiral, you pause, breathe, and meet the fear with presence and compassion. You heal what the fear is showing you so it no longer controls your choices.

Try:

• Journaling or emotional release
• Inner-child connection
• Somatic movement
• Meditation
• Energy healing

These practices dissolve the emotional charge underneath the fear, allowing you to hear your intuition again. Living worry-free is not about avoiding fear, it’s about knowing how to return to alignment every time you drift away.

Fear is temporary. Your inner wisdom is constant.

You Can Live a Worry-Free Life; Because Peace Is Your Natural State

A worry-free life isn’t something you achieve. It’s something you remember. When you quiet the mind, limit external noise, trust your inner guidance, make heart-led decisions, and heal fear with compassion and love, you shift into a way of living where peace becomes your default, not the exception.

Words by Macarena Gonzalez, Energy Healer (www.bloomingrose.love)

The post How to Live a Worry-Free Life (Yes, It’s Possible): 5 Steps You Can Start Today appeared first on Hip & Healthy.

As a mental health nurse, I’ve spent over a decade supporting people through some of the hardest moments of their lives. I have great insight into what strength and resilience looked like – how to hold hope, how to cope when life doesn’t go to plan. But nothing could have prepared me for the moment, at 28 weeks pregnant with my second child, that my own world came crashing down. 

We’d gone for a routine scan to check if the placenta had moved from over my cervix, which had been of some concern. The scan confirmed placenta had moved, but the sonographer explained that he had other concerns about how small our baby was. The next day, we made our way up to the Fetal Medicine Unit at Guy’s Hospital, London, to be re-scanned. The words we heard that day would change everything: our baby had Achondroplasia, the most common form of Dwarfism – a random 1 in 30,000 genetic mutation. I sat in that hospital room with my partner, both of us numb, dizzy and in total disbelief. 

My mind started racing through everything I thought I knew. I began to grieve the journey I thought we were meant to have- the one I’d imagined ever since becoming a Mum during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. I went into my own world, frightened and in despair, trying to picture what life would now look like for our little boy, and for us as a family. 

When Care Fails the Carers 

As a clinician, I’ve always believed that empathy and communication were the backbone of good care. But being on the other side of the table opened my eyes in a way I could never have imagined. Aside from my amazing Midwife, our care from the point of diagnosis was so poor- fragmented, inconsistent, and painfully lacking in compassion. 

Being someone who needs to see things in writing, we waited for around 2 weeks for the formal results from the amniocentesis that was done in London. I then received a call to tell me that the amniocentesis results had come back negative. Relief flooded through us; however, this was to be short lived as we were called back the next day to be informed there had been a mistake and that the result was, in fact positive. 

That moment, being catapulted from total relief to complete devastation, is one I’ll never forget. I remember thinking: how could this happen? I was exhausted, terrified, and losing faith in a system I’d once been proud to work within. Comments like “Was it just bad luck then?” from a consultant still echo in my mind. Nobody seemed to know much about Achondroplasia locally, and I found myself repeating our story again and again to new faces, new departments, each time reopening this fresh wound. This carries on to this day. 

Despite all the staggering love and support around us from family and friends, I’ve never felt so alone and overwhelmed in my life. No one called to ask how we were and we continued our extra appointments day by day, putting all our energy into keeping things as normal as possible for Alba, our 2-year-old little girl. 

Losing My Role, and Finding Myself 

By the time my beautiful son, Arlo, was born, I was on maternity leave from a senior leadership position in the NHS. I’d been in leadership since 2015 and had always been career-driven alongside my passion for a high standard of patient care and experience, managing services, leading teams, and supporting others. Halfway through my maternity leave I was told that my role was being removed as a result of a consultation. This was a huge piece of news to digest at an already difficult time – I was quite numb by this point. 

After time to process, I opted to take voluntary redundancy. It was the most unsettling yet strangely freeing decision I’d ever made. It bought me time to try to relax and enjoy the rest of my maternity leave and rethink my next steps. This chapter was closing, but in the space that followed, something new began to grow. 

The Birth of Postnatal Minds 

In the quiet, messy, beautiful chaos of those early months with Arlo, I started reflecting on everything that had happened. The system I’d worked within for so long had failed us, not out of malice, but out of a lack of understanding and true connection. Parents deserve better than that. They deserve to be heard and seen. I knew I had the skills and experience to make a dent in this gap. 

That’s when Postnatal Minds was born. 

I trained as a Health & Wellbeing Coach and combined this with my experience as a mental health nurse, leader and mother. My mission was simple: to give parents the emotional support we never had.  

I started offering mental health coaching, support sessions, and wellbeing workshops. Creating safe spaces where parents could be honest about how they were really feeling, without judgement. 

As Postnatal Minds has grown, so have I. I began to rediscover the passion that had drawn me to nursing in the first place- helping people to heal, not just clinically, but emotionally and mentally. I launched affirmation cards for mums and children to encourage positive self-talk and even developed emotional wellbeing workshops for pre-schoolers which I deliver in Nursery settings. 

Turning Pain into Purpose 

In its first year, Postnatal Minds has become more than I could have ever imagined. We’ve delivered online and in-person support to many parents across the UK, rolled out workshops for pre-school children around emotion in nurseries and raised money for Little People UK and the Dwarf Sports Association– organisations that mean the world to our family. We were honoured as a family to work with ITV and Ellie Simmonds this year on her latest documentary which explored disability diagnoses and the experiences of families like ours. And through my podcast, I’ve been able to open conversations about postnatal mental health topics that so often go unspoken. 

There are still hard days, of course. Moments of worry about Arlo’s future, illness, the practical challenges and the never-ending appointments. But Arlo has taught me more about perspective, love, and resilience than any textbook or leadership course ever could. Things that I thought were important before no longer are, and I take so much from the everyday little things. 

Redefining Success 

If you’d told me five years ago that I’d be self-employed, running my own business from home, hosting a podcast, and finding joy in the everyday, I’d have laughed. My old idea of success was built around career progression, status, and the next leadership opportunity. Now, success looks like flexibility. It’s walking my children to school, having time to rest (sometimes!), and feeling deeply fulfilled in the work I do. 

I’ve never felt so aligned in my career and it all came from a moment that, at the time, felt like my world had ended. 

Finding Light in the Darkness 

When life throws you something huge – something that changes everything you thought you knew upside down – it’s easy to feel like you’ll never recover. But I want other mothers, parents, and women to know this: you will. What feels unfair and unbelievable, will make sense soon. 

You might not go back to who you were before, but maybe that’s the point? Because sometimes, the most painful moments carve out space for something more beautiful to take root. For me, that’s been perspective, awareness, community, and love. 

Strength and love really can get you through. 

Arlo’s diagnosis flipped our worlds as we knew it upside down, but in doing so, it also turned it the right way up. I may have partially lost the planned career I thought defined me, but I’ve gained a life that truly aligns with who I am: a nurse, a mother, and a woman who knows that even in the darkest chapters, there’s always light waiting to be found. 

The post When Life Shifts in an Instant: A Mother’s Story of Diagnosis, Resilience and New Purpose appeared first on Hip & Healthy.

The post The Best In Ski 2025: From Affordable To Ultra Luxe, We Have Your Skiwear Sorted appeared first on Hip & Healthy.

Creative Director and Perfect Moment founder Jane Gottschalk calls the partnership “a perfect après-ski capsule,” celebrating the brand’s signature North Star identity and the shared creative energy behind the collection. H&M’s Ann-Sofie Johansson adds that the line is “unexpected, dynamic, and sure to spark excitement,” blending laid-back alpine luxe with edgy materials like faux fur, leather and shimmering knits.

Hero pieces include a plush burgundy faux-fur puffer, the brand’s iconic star-print jacket complete with jacquard belt, bootcut leather ski-inspired trousers, and a cosy loop-knit cardigan. Faux-fur moon boots, wraparound sunglasses and sculptural pom-pom beanies round out the look.

The palette nods to Perfect Moment’s signature black, white and silver, refreshed with decadent burgundy and icy blue. Luxe blends including cashmere, merino, mohair, lurex and graphic North Star motifs elevate each piece with signature flair.

High style meets high altitude: Perfect Moment x H&M is your ticket to owning the slopes (and the après). This limited-edition drop is now live and selling out fast. 

Shop now 

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When it came to curating the ultimate Christmas wishlist for the dog lovers in our life, we knew we had to ask DogDate founders, Naheed and Alin, for the gifts they swear by.

Bone Pet Storage Basket: Oliver Bonas
A chic seagrass storage basket,  perfect for tidying toys while still looking gorgeous in the corner of your living room. A design-led upgrade from the usual pet storage.

Lucy and Lola Personalised Pet Embroidered Clothes
The sweetest custom sweatshirt or tee embroidered with your dog’s face. The perfect cosy, heartfelt gift for any pet-obsessed human.

Furbo 360 Dog Camera
The ultimate smart dog camera, with 360° views, real-time alerts, and treat-tossing magic. Perfect for anxious pet parents or anyone who just loves spying on their dog all day.

Doggy Daycare Boot Bag: Sophie Allport
A lifesaver for muddy walks and rainy-day adventures. This spacious, wipe-clean boot bag keeps a car spotless while celebrating your loved ones dog-mum (or dad) life in style.

Personalised Terracotta and White Large Pet Bowl 
A handcrafted, slab-built pet bowl from Henry Holland Studio, beautifully fashioned in terracotta and white earthenware clay with a high-gloss glaze.

The Dog in Photography 1839 – Today: TASCHEN
A stunning coffee-table book tracing the love affair between humans and dogs through iconic photography. A beautiful art piece for dog lovers and design lovers alike.

Personalised Two-Tone Ceramic Dog Mug: Holly.co
Choose your loved ones dog’s breed and favourite colourway to create the ultimate personalised mug for morning coffee.

Red & Blue Diamond Pupcorn Treat Bag Gift Set: Oliver Bonas
A fun, festive treat bag gift set, ideal as a stocking filler or Secret Santa for dog parents.

Tractive GPS Dog Tracker
A lightweight GPS tracker that lets you follow your dog’s every move in real time. Ideal for adventurers, escape artists, or pups with too much curiosity.

Knightsbridge Houndstooth ’25 Collar, Lead & Bow Tie Bundle: Stocky & Dee
A beautifully crafted, classic houndstooth set: collar, lead, and bow tie. Smart, timeless, and festive without being kitschy.

The post Presents For Pet Lovers appeared first on Hip & Healthy.

The ceremony, the ritual, the anticipation, the “sod it” mentality, the connection with others, the you-only-live-once shenanigans. I come from a big Irish family where not drinking is viewed as slightly weird. “Go on, you’ll have one, won’t you? For medicinal purposes?”.

Why I Stopped Drinking

As much as I loved it, I hated it in equal measure. The relentless cycle of empty promises I made to myself: I won’t drink midweek. I’ll stop after this. Tomorrow I’ll be better. Then a row with my boyfriend, a tax bill, checking my bank balance – cue the glass of red.

I wasn’t an alcoholic. I just drank more than I should, and I exercised to counteract the anxiety that came with it. I wanted to stop, but the thought of a holiday without champagne at the airport, or a glass on the balcony, or a birthday toast? It paralysed me.

How can you have Christmas without alcohol? Surely you’d be alcohol-free and miserable?

What I Learned

Here’s what I discovered: I couldn’t have been more wrong. Ditching booze has given me – and my sister – so much happiness. Going to bed sober with a book and a cup of tea, and waking up with peace in my heart instead of sweaty palms and flashbacks, that’s joy I didn’t know was possible. Every day, I’m grateful I cracked it. I feel like I’ve discovered a secret most people don’t know exists. Being sober is bloody brilliant. You wake up with energy, you sleep well, your skin glows, and you’re no longer trapped doing something you don’t actually want to do. The health benefits are enormous. Research shows even one glass of wine is harmful, it’s a known carcinogen, and I honestly think that in 50 years we’ll view alcohol the same way we view smoking now.

How It Started

I never said I was giving up forever. I told myself I’d do 30 days and see how I felt. My sister and I were doing a comedy show in Edinburgh. We had two tiny kids at the time, and Sharon was still dealing with an autoimmune disease. We knew we couldn’t perform and drink as well. So we got through the whole Edinburgh Festival without a single drop.

And guess what? For the first time ever, after a booze-free festival, I came home feeling okay. Normally, after a month of boozy Edinburgh nights, I’d return low, dishevelled, and completely flat. But that year, I felt fine.

The longer we didn’t drink, the better I felt. My sleep improved. I could finally tell whether I was actually depressed or just exhausted and chemically scrambled from countless late nights.

Everything got better. The longer I stayed off it, the better I felt. I became a better mum, sister, friend. I felt more optimistic, more positive. I loved waking up early with my first cup of coffee, scrolling Instagram with peace in my heart. I felt good – why would I go back?

A Little Word of Warning

If you do knock it on the head for a while, don’t bang on about it like I am now – people will hate you! Share your joy with people who actually want to hear it. Pick your audience, because drinkers hate nothing more than a self-righteous non-drinker. Tell friends who will support you, rather than feel threatened by your non-drinking.

My Top Tips for a Booze-Free Christmas

1. Google famous teetotallers. For some reason, it helps. Catherine Tate, Lee Mack, Tom Holland; reading their stories made me feel less abnormal for wanting to stop.
2. Order drinks you actually like – in nice glasses. Sparkling water in a good glass hits differently. Mocktails help too. I drove to events so there was no temptation.
3. Face the research. Don’t avoid it. It’s compelling – whichever way you look at it, alcohol isn’t good for your health.
4. Learn to “surf the urge.” Nir Eyal talks about noticing the urge instead of fighting it. Tell yourself: If I still want this in ten minutes, I can have it. 99.9% of the time, the urge disappears.
5. Drive. There’s nothing better than getting into your own car after a party.
6. Reward yourself. Doing something hard deserves recognition. My go-to treat was a massage.
7. Fill your time. Do the things hangovers used to steal from you; reading, exercising, writing, early mornings with a clear head.

The Best Decision I Ever Made

Giving up alcohol was one of the greatest things I’ve ever done. It’s not always popular, but it’s been the biggest needle-mover in every part of my health.

My only regret? That I didn’t do it sooner.

words by Lauretta Gavin, https://gavinsisters.co.uk/

The post Have Yourself a Sober Little Christmas… Here’s How This Woman Went Sober And Has Never Looked Back appeared first on Hip & Healthy.

The Appeal of Accessible Shower Design

Bathrooms are often the most used yet overlooked spaces when planning for future needs. Creating an accessible shower area ensures that comfort and functionality go hand in hand. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is through walk-in showers, which provide level access and eliminate trip hazards. These designs make movement easier while keeping the room open and inviting.

Homeowners often find that walk-in showers for the elderly offer both safety and sophistication. The design suits multi-generational households and allows everyone to bathe comfortably without barriers. Open layouts, easy entry points, and flexible configurations mean the space can adapt as needs evolve. A walk-in shower also creates a sense of openness, transforming compact bathrooms into calm, usable areas that feel modern and welcoming.

Principles for a Future-Proof Bathroom

Future-proofing a home begins with considering how each room might serve its occupants in years to come. The bathroom, in particular, benefits from planning that anticipates changing mobility. Installing a walk-in shower early on can prevent the need for costly renovations later.

Universal design principles encourage layouts that work for all users, regardless of age or ability. Level access, non-slip flooring, and clear pathways help reduce risks without making the space feel clinical. Simple design adjustments, such as wider entryways and adjustable showerheads, ensure flexibility as household needs change.

Achieving the Right Layout and Dimensions

The size and shape of the shower area have a major impact on comfort and usability. Creating a clear space large enough for easy movement helps make the area safe for those using mobility aids. It is also worth allowing room for future accessories such as seating or support rails.

Testing the layout before installation helps visualise the space and prevent later adjustments. Every element should create a smooth flow between the shower, sink, and toilet areas. Even small bathrooms can be transformed into practical, attractive spaces with careful planning and compact fixtures.

Features That Combine Safety and Style

A walk-in shower design can look both luxurious and practical. Level access eliminates barriers, making entry simple for people of all ages. Non-slip surfaces, subtle gradients for drainage, and seamless glass panels contribute to a clean, contemporary look that complements modern homes.

Built-in benches or fold-down seats can provide extra comfort for those who need to sit while showering. These features can be finished to match surrounding materials, maintaining a cohesive appearance. Practical additions like wall-mounted fixtures and recessed shelving make the space easier to clean and use.

Selecting Durable and Attractive Materials

Long-term performance depends on choosing the right materials. Porcelain tiles are popular for walk-in showers because they are durable, low-maintenance, and available in various styles. Smaller tiles can increase grip, while larger ones reduce grout lines for easier cleaning.

Waterproofing is another essential step. Reliable sealing systems prevent moisture from seeping into surrounding structures, preserving appearance and integrity over time. High-quality glass panels with water-repellent coatings also help maintain clarity and reduce cleaning effort, ensuring the bathroom stays fresh and bright for years.

Installation Considerations

Before installation, it is important to assess existing plumbing and floor structures. Keeping drainage points close to their original locations can reduce costs and minimise disruption. When the floor requires reinforcement or structural adjustments, professional guidance is essential.

Some homeowners choose to manage parts of the project themselves, such as tiling or choosing fittings. However, waterproofing, plumbing, and electrical tasks should be handled by qualified specialists to guarantee safety and compliance with regulations. Skilled installation helps ensure the longevity and effectiveness of the new shower system.

Planning and Budgeting

Costs vary depending on size, materials, and additional features. Homeowners often prioritise essential improvements first, such as accessibility and waterproofing, before upgrading fixtures or finishes later. This phased approach allows flexibility while maintaining progress toward a more functional bathroom.

Grants or local authority funding may be available for those making changes to improve accessibility. Programmes that support home adaptations for older adults or individuals with disabilities can reduce expenses, helping to make accessible living achievable for more households.

Long-Term Benefits of Accessible Showers

A well-designed walk-in shower offers far more than immediate convenience. It supports independence, enhances safety, and adds value to the home. For older adults, it can help extend the ability to live comfortably in familiar surroundings. Families also appreciate such installations’ flexibility, particularly when caring for multiple generations.

Accessible design is increasingly seen as a desirable home feature rather than a specialist adaptation. Homebuyers value the practicality and modern aesthetic that walk-in showers provide. Installing them early can, therefore, future-proof a property, offering both lifestyle and financial advantages.

Choosing a Walk-In Shower for Every Need

When selecting a shower style, consider both comfort and appearance. Frameless glass screens create a sense of openness, while textured flooring enhances safety. Combining these features allows you to design a balanced and inviting space.

Walk-in showers for the elderly often include seating, temperature controls, and handrails that blend seamlessly with modern interiors. These subtle details enhance confidence without making the space feel medical. A thoughtful balance between beauty and practicality ensures everyone can enjoy the bathroom safely and comfortably.

Maintaining Function and Style Over Time

Keeping a walk-in shower in top condition requires only simple upkeep. Regular cleaning with non-abrasive products preserves finishes and prevents build-up. Inspecting seals and drainage occasionally helps ensure continued waterproofing. Choosing timeless colours and finishes also means the design stays relevant as trends evolve.

Creating a Lasting Impression

Bathrooms that combine elegance with accessibility show how good design can enhance everyday life. Investing in a walk-in shower creates a space that adapts as you do, supporting comfort, safety, and independence through every stage of life. Whether updating an existing room or designing a new one, thoughtful choices today can ensure lasting enjoyment tomorrow.

The post Creating a Shower Area That Ages Gracefully with the Home appeared first on Hip & Healthy.

This month marks twenty years since I founded Wishfish, and it feels like the right moment to reflect on what two decades of coaching has taught me about business, resilience and human potential. In 2005, I took what felt like a terrifying leap. I’d just been made redundant and was completely burnt out from corporate life. There was no business plan, no funding, no safety net. Just an overwhelming desire to do something meaningful – to help people build the confidence and self-belief I’d struggled to find during my own difficult years in corporate environments.

The name itself came from an unexpected place. A few years before starting the business, I’d been hospitalised for three months with a gallbladder infection that had gone undetected. My mother cared for my six-year-old son Karl during my recovery, and one day he brought me a drawing. “Mummy, this is your Wishfish,” he said. “If you wish on this, you’ll come home. Because wishing is just the beginning.”

I kept that picture on my bathroom wall for years. When I was searching for a name for my new venture, it kept catching my eye. Wishfish. Where wishing is just the beginning. It perfectly captured what I wanted to create – a space where people could move from hoping for change to actually making it happen.

Those early days required considerable faith. I decided to trust in people and connections rather than traditional marketing. Within six months, work started flowing through referrals. By year one, I was working full-time. Twenty years later, we’ve worked with everyone from small startups to major organisations including Heathrow Airport, ITV, Universal Music and Marks & Spencer, spanning sectors from aviation to retail, music to healthcare.

The four principles that sustained me…

If I had to distil twenty years into key learnings, they would be these; Trust the process. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Don’t compare yourself with others. Trust your gut.

These aren’t just platitudes. They’ve been my compass through every challenge. Trusting the process means accepting that growth isn’t linear and that quiet, consistent work often yields better results than dramatic gestures. Not sweating the small stuff has protected my energy for what truly matters.  Avoiding comparison has allowed me to build something authentic rather than chasing someone else’s definition of success. And trusting my gut has guided every major decision, from which clients to work with to how we’ve structured our approach.

The reverberations of coaching

What continues to surprise and delight me is the long-term impact of this work. Coaching happens quietly, behind the scenes. I rarely publicise individual transformations. Instead, I receive private messages that remind me why my work matters.

One client stands out. Ex-military, he struggled to show emotion and connect with his team. We worked together on purpose and values, and over several sessions, something shifted. 

Years later, he still reaches out whenever he hits a career milestone. In one message, he wrote: “I wasn’t a happy person. I felt undervalued, diminished, boxed in. My confidence was shot. I don’t think one single person made me realise I still had potential, but those that did can be counted on one hand, and you are definitely one.”

These messages arrive years after our work together ends. That’s when I see the true value – not only in the immediate transformation, but in how people carry forward what they’ve learnt and pass it on to others.

Over two decades, I’ve witnessed people walk away from toxic relationships, completely transform their careers, launch charities and businesses and rediscover their sense of purpose. 

Our three-year partnership with Heathrow Airport, delivering purpose and values workshops, was described as life-changing by participants. During the pandemic, we provided free wellness coaching through the Aviation Action initiative. It’s always awe-inspiring to see how coaching supports and elevates people, especially during tough times. 

What remains unchanged

Despite growth and time passing, our core purpose hasn’t wavered. Everything we do comes back to helping people help themselves and others. We focus on mental, emotional, physical and spiritual wellness, supporting individuals and teams to find better balance and life-work harmony.

The business has grown entirely through networks and referrals – a testament to trusting the process rather than following conventional business wisdom. This organic approach has allowed us to maintain authenticity while working across diverse industries and geographies.

So, if you’re thinking of setting up your own business or working with a coach – I wholeheartedly encourage you to take that leap of faith. It has been an exhilarating and rewarding experience, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.   Twenty years in, I’m grateful for every connection, every challenge and every transformation I’ve been privileged to witness. Here’s to the next chapter of helping people remember that wishing really is just the beginning.

Debbie Green is founder and wellness coach at Wishfish Coaching & Development and co-host of Secrets from A Coach podcast. For more information visit: wishfish.org.uk and secretsfromacoach.com

The post From Redundancy To Resilience: Why Setting Up My Own Business Was The Best Thing I Did… appeared first on Hip & Healthy.

As a sound healing practitioner and founder of a True North Sound Studio in Soho, I’m drawn to gifts that blend calm, quality, and quiet luxury, things that soothe the senses and celebrate mindful living.

My Christmas wish list begins with the Pañpuri Advent Calendar, new to the EU and brings fragrant touch of Thai indulgence, and the Moleskine Snoopy Journal for journaling by the sea. In my studio, I’d love more crystals from Venusrox that would be perfect for my meditation and sound work.

For some luxurious self-care, I’m dreaming of the Asaya Spa at the new Rosewood Mayfair or an annual membership at Six Senses London
a brand new wellness sanctuary in the heart of the city. For some special Christmas scent and body treats, the Cire Trudon Holiday Candle in the rereleased Nazareth, The Newt in Somerset Commune Body Cream  and Joonbyrd “Moon Swim” Body Wash – an indulgent and a dreamy treat on Christmas Day!

Some stocking stuffers for myself include a bit of glam: with Sisley’s Ginkgo Gua Sha, the Hermès Lip Care Balm, and Trait d’Hermès Red Mascara soft, festive, and easy to remove.

Evenings and airport travel call for organic Japanese Genmaicha from Harrods, the Kujten Baby Cashmere Blanket in pink, and Cosmic Dealer Botanical Chocolates  For inspiration, The Wellness Bucket List and for my practice, Heola Chimes and the Woojer MAT

I would love a gift certificate to Covent Garden’s own AIRE Ancient Baths London: candlelight, stillness, and sound to unwind for an afternoon to myself! 

This year, I’m also mostly wishing for serenity and the quiet joy with my gorgeous family and friends! 

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