Lá Fhéile Pádraig! ☘️ Look for GREEN Flags – CREATE A LIFE YOU DON'T NEED TO RETREAT FROM

This St Patrick’s Day / Paddy’s Day seemed like a good time to celebrate all that’s GOOD in life. We’re wired to THRIVE. Yes, it’s important to be aware of (and pay attention to 🥶) red flags but by focusing on what’s wrong, we can miss a lot of fun.

Whether in relationships, a new hobby, a workplace situation, family dynamics or anything else.

So in honour of St Patrick and the Emerald Isle I’m lucky enough to call home (first time in my life I’ve ever felt so at home), am sharing some GREEN flags to look out for…

Do what feels GOOD

Our nervous systems are assessing every moment, every interaction and every THOUGHT.

A fearful thought can elicit the same stress response as the sight of a sabre tooth tiger or wooly mammoth would have for our ancient ancestors. It’s no WONDER so many people (not just trauma survivors) struggle with stress, anxiety and sleep issues

When we use our bodies to our advantage- tuning into the times we feel safe, loved and welcome, we thrive. We feel more confident, more resilient. We have a sense of purpose, meaning and joy even in tough times.

You might want to to journal around the following questions noting any difference in your answer when you consider the question mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually:

Who do you feel safest with?

Who do you feel most welcome with?

Who do you feel most loved by?

What do you love to DO?

Where do you love to BE?

What kind if natural landscapes soothe your soul?

What kind of music and art lifts you up and grounds you?

All of this can sound idyllic and self-indulgent and there will of course be times where we have to endure situations that feel pretty bleak but even knowing that it DOESN’T feel good and keeping an eye out for better (be that a conversation to improve the relationship or keeping an eye out and applying for other jobs etc) means that we stop hating any anxious symptoms etc etc and instead recognise them as the gift they are in helping us redirect our energy and change our lives.