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Last night I was at the Kia Oval 🏏 watching Surrey v Kent in a T20 cricket match. The weather was incredible, the evening sun ☀️ beautiful. Watching the sun set over the Oval was quite a privilege.

The match was an exciting one, yes it really was!

So tight for most of the game. On the last ball Surrey needed to score 3 to win. It was on a knife edge. The cheering and applauding was wonderful to hear, see and feel. The exhilaration that sport can provide was palpable.

Chris Jordan is on strike. The pressure he must be feeling in front of his home crowd. The bowler likewise.

He hits the boundary for a four and Surrey win. Jubilation 👏 at the Oval on a wonderful night.

⚠️ When you are working the pressure of being on a knife edge can exist for longer periods of time than this was for the two teams last night. It can become too much. If allowed to continue can indeed lead to burnout.

As exciting as the sport was last night being on the edge, it is no way to lead your working life.

If you are indeed experiencing this, do reach out. Taking the first step is always the hardest.

Do not continue to live your life on the edge. Meet me for a coffee online and talk through what is happening.

❓ What will happen if you allow this to continue?

Having been in New Zealand for three weeks having had such an amazing experience (a trip I have been waiting to do for so many years) I was as you can imagine a wee bit weary and crestfallen on my return. The scenery I had seen was incredible – see picture below and the events and places visited were breath-taking.

Yet on my return the first thing I did was go to our garden🪴. I saw that the wildflower garden had started to grow and crucially the bluebells I had planted had literally sprung into life. Standing there tall and upright. Proud to be a bluebell. Wow! I was so impressed👏. I stood and took in the majestic sight of them. Making a point to put the picture in my memory🧠.

When working long hours or working under a tight deadline or indeed working under challenging circumstances of any kind whether that be personal or professional it is indeed difficult to see the “light”.

❓How can you see the shoots of growth?
❓How see the glimmers of joy or success?

Often, they do not come to you seamlessly. They do not simply jump right out at you. You do need to seek them out. It is you that must take charge of this. It is you that has to decide you will look for the “light”.

It is this active act that allows you to put harmony and balance into your life. Enjoy the small things. Lots of small things enjoyed collectively become very impactful.

❓What and how do you do this?

I encourage my clients to write about it (gratitude journaling or poetry writing or Dear me letters) or sing about it, draw about it, dance about it. It is the active actions that will stay with you.

Today, pause and consider where do/ did you see the “light”?

Let me know your thoughts or reach out if you need a steer towards achieving this.