Not because I’ve reached my destination, but because I’ve finally become clear on the direction I’m heading.
For a long time, I thought I was building a career. Today I realised I’m actually building a lifestyle.
Find the Joy is more than a name—it’s becoming my compass. Every qualification I complete, every skill I learn, every photograph I take, every opportunity I choose will be guided by one simple question:
Does this bring me closer to the life I want to create?
That life is one filled with wellbeing, creativity, purpose, freedom, travel, photography, and helping others flourish.
I’m still studying.
I’m still working full-time.
I’m still building.
But today I’ve created a vision board that reminds me why.
This isn’t the finish line.
It’s the beginning of a journey to create a life I don’t need to escape from—one where I can truly help others find the joy, while never forgetting to find my own.
There’s something beautifully empowering about choosing foods that truly nourish you.
Not because you “should.”
Not because of rules.
But because you deserve to feel energised, balanced, and well.
At the heart of the Good Food, Good Mood philosophy is a simple truth: what we eat affects how we feel — physically, emotionally, and mentally. When we begin to see food as support rather than restriction, everything changes.
This piece is inspired by wellness guidance from FitOn, whose approach reminds us that movement and mindful nourishment go hand in hand.
🌿 Food as Fuel — and as Care
Imagine your body as something precious (because it is). The food you choose becomes the building blocks for your energy, your hormones, your immune system, your mood.
When we nourish ourselves with real, whole foods — protein, fibre-rich carbohydrates, healthy fats — we create steadier energy, clearer thinking, and a more supported nervous system.
It’s not about perfection.
It’s about gentle, consistent care.
✨ Carbohydrates: Steady Energy, Not Spikes
Carbohydrates aren’t the enemy. In fact, they’re one of our body’s preferred sources of fuel.
The difference lies in the type.
Highly refined, sugary carbohydrates can send our blood sugar soaring — and crashing — leaving us tired, irritable, and craving more.
Complex carbohydrates, on the other hand, offer steady, sustained energy.
Try choosing:
Rolled oats
Quinoa
Brown rice
Beans and lentils
Colourful vegetables
High-fibre fruits like berries and pears
When paired with protein, these foods help you feel satisfied and supported throughout the day.
🌸 Protein: Repair, Restore, Rebalance
Protein does far more than build muscle. It supports tissue repair, immune health, hormone balance, and helps stabilise blood sugar — which plays a huge role in mood regulation.
Including a source of protein with each meal can help you feel grounded and fuller for longer.
Gentle, nourishing options include:
Eggs
Wild-caught fish
Chicken Lentils and beans
Quinoa
Full-fat, unsweetened Greek yogurt
For busy days, a high-quality protein shake (without added sugars or artificial ingredients) can be a practical way to care for your body.
🌿 Superfoods: Small Additions, Big Support
Some foods simply offer more nourishment per bite — rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and healthy fats that support both body and brain.
Think:
Kale
Turmeric
Chia, flax and hemp seeds
Berries
Coconut
These aren’t “magic” foods — but they are powerful allies. Even small, consistent additions can help reduce inflammation and support emotional wellbeing.
✨ Antioxidants and Mood
Our bodies naturally produce free radicals through stress, pollution, and even exercise. Antioxidants help neutralise their effects.
You’ll find them in:
Dark leafy greens
Colourful vegetables
Berries
Green tea
There’s even a plant compound called quercetin (found in apples, onions, and broccoli) that may support immune resilience and reduce inflammation.
A colourful plate often reflects a nourished body.
🍀 Supporting Your Metabolism Naturally
Movement plays a beautiful role in keeping our metabolism steady — but certain foods can gently support this too.
Green tea
Black coffee
Nuts and seeds
Fatty fish like salmon or sardines
Coconut oil
A sprinkle of cayenne or chilli
None of these are quick fixes. Instead, they’re small, sustainable choices that support long-term balance.
💕 Joy Over Restriction
Healthy living isn’t about cutting everything out. It’s about inviting more in — more colour, more nourishment, more intention.
It’s about asking:
Does this food energise me?
Does it support my mood?
Does it help me feel well?
When we shift from “dieting” to nourishing, we build habits rooted in kindness rather than control.
And that is where real change happens.
💛 A Gentle Reminder
You don’t need to overhaul everything at once.
Start small.
Add one extra vegetable.
Swap a refined carb for a whole one.
Include protein at breakfast.
Each small choice is a quiet act of self-care.
Because good food isn’t just fuel.
It’s support.
It’s balance.
It’s a way back to yourself.
And when your body feels supported, joy finds you more easily 💛
Over the past three months, Find the Joy has been much quieter than usual, and I wanted to share why.
I’ve been focusing on my studies, and that has meant making some difficult decisions about where to spend my time and energy. Rather than trying to juggle everything at once, I chose to step back from posting so I could give myself the space to concentrate.
For me, this wasn’t about giving up on Find the Joy. It was about protecting my wellbeing. I know that when I take on too much, I can quickly become overwhelmed, and I wanted to avoid reaching that point. By simplifying my commitments, I was able to quiet my mind, stay focused, and give my studies the attention they deserved.
Find the Joy in a quieter season
As I reflected on this season, I was reminded of something James Clear wrote:
“Life is a series of seasons, and what works in one season may not work in the next. What season are you in right now? What habits does that season require?”
Those words really resonated with me. This season has required focus, discipline, and the willingness to let go of things I enjoy so I could invest in something important. It hasn’t always been easy, but I’ve learned that sometimes finding joy isn’t about doing more—it’s about recognising what this season of life is asking of us and responding with intention.
Sometimes, finding joy means giving yourself permission to pause. It means embracing a quieter pace, trusting that rest and focus have their own purpose, and believing that the things we care about will still be there when the time is right.
I’m grateful for everyone who has continued to support Find the Joy during this quieter season. Your patience and encouragement mean so much to me.
✨ As my studies continue, I’ll be sharing posts when I can, with the same passion and purpose that inspired Find the Joy in the first place. Thank you for walking this journey with me and for reminding me that joy can often be found in the quiet moments too.
Click through to read more about Finding your Space again
There are moments in life where something quietly powerful happens — not loud or overwhelming, but deeply felt. The Self Well Festival was one of those moments.
Created with a simple but meaningful intention — to champion self-care for the selfless — the day brought together people who spend so much of their lives giving to others. And for once, it invited them to pause, reflect, and receive.
🌿 A Space to Breathe
From the very beginning, there was a different energy in the room. Not rushed. Not pressured. Just open.
The festival wasn’t about fixing people or adding more to already full plates. Instead, it offered space — space to explore, to learn, and most importantly, to reconnect with yourself.
Through workshops, speakers, and shared experiences, there was a gentle reminder woven throughout the day:
self-care is not a luxury — it is essential.
Whether it was through laughter yoga, learning about sleep and nutrition, experiencing sound baths, or simply taking a quiet moment, every part of the festival invited people to tune back into what they need.
🍃 The Feelings Tree: A Shared Story
At the heart of the day stood something beautifully simple — the Feelings Tree.
Throughout the festival, people were invited to pause and reflect on how they were feeling, adding their thoughts and emotions to the tree. What grew over the course of the day was more than just words — it was a collective story.
A story of:
Connection Honesty Release Hope
Some feelings spoke of overwhelm and exhaustion — a reminder of the reality many carry daily. But alongside them were words like calm, uplifted, grateful, and re-energised.
The tree became a powerful visual representation of what happens when people are given permission to slow down and feel. It showed that while everyone’s journey is different, there is a shared understanding — and comfort — in knowing we are not alone.
💛 Reframing Self-Care
One of the most important messages from the day was a shift in perspective.
For those who naturally put others first, self-care can sometimes feel indulgent, even selfish. But the festival gently challenged that belief.
Instead, it reframed self-care as:
A foundation, not an afterthought A responsibility, not a reward A way to sustain giving, not take away from it
Because when we take time to recharge, we don’t just benefit ourselves — we strengthen our ability to support others.
🌸 Finding the Joy
Joy didn’t come from one single moment. It was found in the small things:
A meaningful conversation A moment of stillness A shared laugh The courage to reflect honestly
It was in the connections made, the ideas sparked, and the quiet realisation that looking after yourself matters.
🍀 Carrying It Forward
The Self Well Festival may have been one day, but its impact goes far beyond that.
The real value lies in what happens next — the small changes, the new habits, the permission people give themselves to pause and prioritise their wellbeing.
Because every moment of self-care doesn’t just stay with you — it creates a ripple effect. It flows into your interactions, your energy, your relationships, and the way you show up for others. When one person chooses to recharge, reflect, and reconnect, that impact extends far beyond themselves.
Finding the joy isn’t just personal — it’s shared.
And through that ripple effect, the message of self-care continues to grow, reaching further than we may ever fully see.
Each week, I read 3-2-1 Newsletter by James Clear, and without fail, there’s a sentence that lingers.
Recently, one stood out deeply:
Joy is found in being the driver. It’s the act of looking at the raw material of your circumstances — your time, your energy, your relationships, your skills — and seeing what you can make from it.
And isn’t that what inspiration really is?
Not something that floats down and lands on us.
Not something we wait for.
But something we create.
🌿 The Raw Materials Are Already Here
We often believe we need more before we can feel fulfilled:
More time.
More clarity.
More confidence.
More perfect conditions.
But what if the invitation is simpler than that?
What if joy begins by noticing what you already hold?
Your Tuesday afternoon.
Your ability to listen deeply.
Your creativity, however quietly it whispers.
Your resilience.
Your relationships.
Your experience — even the messy parts.
This is your raw material.
And inspiration isn’t found outside of it.
It’s shaped from it.
✨ Find Your Inspiration by Taking the Wheel
At Find the Joy, when we talk about Find Your Inspiration, we’re not talking about grand reinventions. We’re talking about something gentler — and far more powerful.
Inspiration begins the moment you shift from passenger to driver.
When you ask:
✨What can I create with the energy I have today?
✨How can I shape this week instead of letting it shape me?
✨What small choice moves me closer to the life I want?
Being the driver doesn’t mean controlling everything. It means responding intentionally. It means recognising that even within limitations, you have authorship.
And that’s where joy lives.
💛 Small Shifts, Real Change
The beauty of this mindset is that it removes the pressure of “big change.”
You don’t need to overhaul your life.
You simply need to:
Redirect an hour. Reach out to someone meaningful. Start before you feel ready. Choose alignment over autopilot.
Inspiration isn’t lightning.
It’s a series of conscious turns of the wheel.
🌟 A Gentle Invitation
This week, instead of asking, “What’s missing?”
Try asking, “What can I make from what’s here?”
Look at your time.
Your energy.
Your skills.
Your relationships.
And choose to steer — even slightly — toward the life you want.
Because joy isn’t discovered in perfect conditions.
It’s created in participation.
💛 And you are already holding the materials.
Click through for more Find your Inspiration Posts
There are moments in life when change arrives quietly, and others when it arrives with force. In Another Door Opens, Eleanor Tweddell captures this reality with honesty and compassion, reminding us that while we may not always choose change, we can choose how we care for ourselves through it.
Chapter 4, “Look After Yourself,” deeply resonated with me because it brings together what I think of as the Find Time for You pillars — the foundations that allow joy, resilience, and balance to exist, even during uncertainty.
🏠 Space to Recharge: Mentally and Physically
In a world that glorifies busyness, taking time to recharge can feel indulgent. Yet Eleanor reframes this beautifully — rest is not a reward; it’s a requirement. Creating space away from work, pressure, and expectations allows our nervous system to settle and our creativity to return.
Whether it’s a walk in nature, time spent reading, or simply doing nothing at all, these pauses give us permission to breathe. Joy often returns not when we chase it, but when we finally slow down enough to notice it.
🎨 Time Away From Work and the Power of Hobbies
Change can easily blur boundaries, especially when identity and work are closely intertwined. Chapter 4 highlights the importance of stepping away — not just physically, but mentally — from work.
Hobbies play a powerful role here. They reconnect us to curiosity, playfulness, and purpose outside of productivity. Whether it’s movement, music, crafting, or learning something new, hobbies remind us that we are more than our roles. They help restore joy in its simplest form.
💤 Sleep: The Foundation of Wellbeing
Sleep is often the first thing sacrificed during times of stress or transition, yet it underpins everything else. Eleanor’s emphasis on sleep hygiene and healthy routines is a timely reminder that rest is one of the most radical acts of self-care.
Consistent routines, gentle evenings, reduced screen time, and creating a calming sleep environment all signal safety to the body. When we sleep well, we think more clearly, regulate emotions better, and gain the perspective needed to navigate change with compassion — for ourselves and others.
🌸 Perspective and Grounding: The 5-4-3-2-1 Method
When life feels overwhelming, grounding techniques can gently bring us back to the present moment. Eleanor references practices such as the 5-4-3-2-1 method, which anchors us through our senses — a powerful reminder that right now, we are safe.
Perspective doesn’t mean minimising our challenges; it means zooming out enough to see that difficult moments are chapters, not conclusions. Joy doesn’t require everything to be perfect — it simply asks us to stay present.
💕 Connection: A Human Need, Not a Luxury
One of the most important themes in this chapter is connection. During periods of change, it’s easy to withdraw — intentionally or unintentionally. Yet humans are wired for social connection; it is part of our evolutionary survival.
Teamwork, shared experiences, conversation, and community are not optional extras — they are essential to wellbeing. Connection reminds us that we are not alone and that joy is often amplified when shared.
🌿 Finding Joy Through Self-Care and Community
This is why the themes of Another Door Opens align so closely with the Self Well Festival — an exciting project I am currently working on. The festival is rooted in the belief that wellbeing is holistic, personal, and deeply human.
Self Well Festival
I am incredibly fortunate that Eleanor Tweddell has agreed to join the festival as an expert, bringing her insight, warmth, and lived experience to a space designed for reflection, reconnection, and growth.
At its heart, the Self Well Festival is about exactly what Chapter 4 invites us to do:
create space rest deeply reconnect with ourselves and others and, ultimately, find the joy, even when another door has opened.
💛 Joy is not something we wait for on the other side of change. It is something we cultivate — gently, intentionally, and together.
Valentine’s Day often arrives wrapped in glossy boxes, sugar highs and grand gestures. But what if this year, we softened the edges a little?
What if we chose sweetness that truly loves us back?
At Find a Healthier You, we believe health isn’t about restriction. It’s about joy. It’s about feeling well, energised, balanced — and celebrating life in ways that nourish both body and soul.
This Valentine’s weekend, let’s reimagine indulgence.
💕 Love Yourself First
Before the chocolates are opened or the roses are placed in water, pause for a moment.
Real love begins with how we treat ourselves daily — what we eat, how we rest, how we move, and how we speak to ourselves. Choosing healthier options isn’t about saying “no” to pleasure. It’s about saying “yes” to feeling good long after the moment has passed.
If you’re just starting your wellbeing journey, our Find a Healthier You programme is designed to help you build sustainable habits that feel realistic and uplifting.
Inspired by Dr Uma’s approach to wellbeing — where food is both nurturing and empowering — Valentine’s treats can be supportive rather than depleting. Delicious and nourishing. Comforting and energising.
Because feeling well is romantic too.
🌸 A Sweet Treat That Supports You
One of our favourite healthier Valentine’s ideas this year comes from Eating Bird Food’s 4-Ingredient Chocolate Avocado Truffles — a simple, wholesome recipe made with real ingredients.
Instead of heavy cream, ripe avocado creates a velvety texture while offering healthy fats and fibre. Dark chocolate adds depth and antioxidants. A dusting of cocoa powder or a sprinkle of sea salt elevates them into something that feels luxurious.
If you’re looking for more nourishing food inspiration, explore our Healthy Recipes & Nutrition Tips for simple swaps and balanced ideas you can use every day.
✨ Simple. Honest. Nourishing.
These truffles remind us that indulgence doesn’t need to be complicated — or loaded with refined sugars — to feel special.
Why Healthier Treats Feel Different
When we choose treats made from whole ingredients:
We avoid the sugar spike and crash. We feel satisfied, not sluggish. We honour our long-term wellbeing. We model balance for our families.
And perhaps most importantly — we enjoy them more mindfully.
If mindset plays a big role in your relationship with food, you might also enjoy reading about Finding Joy in Everyday Wellness, where we explore balance without guilt or extremes.
More Joyful Valentine’s Ideas
If truffles aren’t your thing, here are a few other ways to celebrate sweetness with intention:
• Dark chocolate dipped strawberries
• Greek yoghurt layered with berries and a drizzle of honey
• Date and nut energy bites
• Homemade cacao hot chocolate with oat milk
• A colourful fruit platter to share
You can find more balanced lifestyle inspiration in our Wellbeing Blog, where we share practical ways to feel your best without overwhelm.
Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to centre around excess. It can centre around connection — to food, to others, and to yourself.
❤️ The Sweetest Love of All
Health is not about perfection. It’s about small, consistent choices that help you feel your best.
This Valentine’s Day, give yourself permission to enjoy — but choose options that align with the life you’re building.
If you’re ready to take the next step, explore Find a Healthier You and discover how small changes can lead to lasting transformation.
Because true sweetness is waking up the next day feeling energised.
True romance is caring for your heart — physically and emotionally.
True joy is knowing you are looking after yourself.
✨ Take in a show. Be inspired. Relish in creativity.
There is a special kind of magic that lives in the uplifting feeling of a truly good show — whether that’s a trip to the cinema, a live concert, or the spellbinding atmosphere of a stage performance. For a moment, the outside world softens. We are swept up in fantasy, flair and enchantment, and the everyday fades into the background.
This is pure escapism — and it is powerful.
To sit beside family, to share laughter, awe, silence, and emotion in the same space, creates memories that linger long after the curtain falls or the credits roll. And the joy doesn’t end there. It continues in the conversations afterwards, the shared recommendations, the reminiscing with wider circles — the “remember when…” moments that reconnect us again and again.
🎭 Find You in Creativity
When we allow ourselves to be immersed in creativity, we give ourselves permission to feel — to be moved, inspired, and reminded of our own imagination. Creativity invites us back to ourselves. It nudges curiosity, awakens wonder, and often reflects something we didn’t realise we needed.
In these moments, we don’t just watch the story unfold — we become part of it.
Find You in Creativity
🎤 Find Inspiration in Shared Experience
Art and performance have a quiet way of stitching people together. They open conversations, spark ideas, and leave us carrying a little more light than when we arrived. Inspiration doesn’t always shout; sometimes it gently hums, staying with us as we go about our days.
💛 And that, in itself, is joy.
Click through for more Find You in Creativity posts
Inspiration doesn’t always arrive as a lightning bolt.
Sometimes, it shows up slowly — in a note scribbled down, a conversation that lingers, a feeling that keeps gently tapping on your shoulder.
Today, I’m sharing one of those moments.
This week, I finally launched the Self Well Festival to staff.
Not with a big announcement or grand reveal, but with care, intention, and a deep sense of alignment. And in many ways, this is exactly what finding inspiration looks like to me.
The festival began as a question rather than an answer:
What would it look like if we truly created space for wellbeing — not as an add-on, but as something we actively choose?
That question became the spark. And over time, that spark turned into planning, conversations, and a vision rooted in slowing down rather than speeding up.
Over the coming weeks, the festival will unfold gently:
Staff will be able to explore sessions and pre-book in their own time Experts will be introduced one by one, allowing space to really understand what they offer Posters, emails, and quiet prompts will act as invitations rather than demands
This is where inspiration shifts from an idea into something tangible.
For me, the Find Your Inspiration pillar isn’t about chasing motivation or waiting to feel “ready.” It’s about noticing what matters, listening to it, and allowing it to grow at its own pace.
Launching the festival to staff feels like a reminder of that.
That inspiration is often quiet.
That meaningful things take time.
And that joy can be found not just in the final day, but in the moment you realise something you cared about is finally being shared.
As the festival moves closer to March, I want to hold onto this stage — the calm before the buzz. The gentle satisfaction of letting something purposeful step into the light.
We often think of invention as something external.
👉 A new idea. A bold plan. A visible change.
But what if true invention is quieter than that?
What if it begins internally — in how we think, choose, and gently reshape the life we’re already living?
This week, I found inspiration in James Clear’s 3-2-1 Newsletter, where he reflects on the idea that real improvement happens when we compete internally rather than compare externally. And it landed deeply, because it echoes the heart of our Find Your Inspiration pillar.
✨ Inspiration Isn’t Found — It’s Remembered
In Find Your Inspiration, we talk about reconnecting with what lights you up, not chasing what looks impressive from the outside. Inspiration isn’t about becoming someone new; it’s about remembering who you are beneath the noise.
James Clear puts it simply:
When we compare ourselves to others, we measure success by outcomes we don’t control.
When we look inward, we measure progress by growth we do control.
That shift — from comparison to internal improvement — is where inspiration quietly returns.
Inventing Your Life Isn’t Reinvention
There’s a lot of pressure to reinvent yourself.
New year, new identity, new version.
But inspiration doesn’t demand a complete overhaul. Instead, it invites you to ask softer, braver questions:
What feels nourishing right now? What kind of life do I want to be living — day to day? Who am I becoming through my small, repeated choices?
This is the kind of invention that Find Your Inspiration encourages — not dramatic change, but intentional alignment.
Creating From the Inside First
One idea from James Clear that stood out was this:
The more you create, the more powerful you become. The more you consume, the more powerful others become.
Creation doesn’t have to mean producing something for the world to see. Sometimes creation looks like:
✨ creating space to think
✨ creating a boundary
✨ creating a habit that supports who you want to be
When inspiration comes from within, it’s sustainable. It doesn’t burn out or disappear when motivation dips. It grows as you grow.
💛 Defining Success on Your Terms
At the end of the newsletter, James asks:
What needs to happen for me to look back in December and consider the year a success?
This question feels especially aligned with Find Your Inspiration, because it asks you to define success internally, not by borrowed milestones.
Not:
What should I achieve? But: What kind of life do I want to be living?
Finding the Joy in Becoming
True invention isn’t loud.
It’s subtle.
It’s personal.
And it starts by looking inward.
When you stop comparing and start listening — to your values, your energy, your curiosity — you don’t just improve.
You find your inspiration again.
And that’s where joy begins.
Click through for more Find Your Inspiration Posts
Find the joy 