The Road to Well is Paved with Good Intentions (S2E1)

Tap to send me your reflections ♡

(Forgive the wind, sheep and horses who intermittently appear in this episode - it was recorded in an open field in the wilds of Shropshire!)

Today’s episode is largely inspired by a pair of rose tinted glasses I used to wear as a student.

Notwithstanding they gave me a 60’s hippy-chick kind of look (always pleasing!), I loved them as much for the glow they gave the world. And when I look back now I see them as a fitting metaphor for how I chose to view the world.

I wanted things to be ok - and that’s how I preferred to see them.

An important point here is that having a positive outlook is all well and good, as long as it doesn’t prevent us from seeing, or feeling, the truth of things. This idea of how we can balance optimism with truth, in order to stay present and grounded, is something I’m going to explore more in later episodes in this series.

In this episode I want to focus on the power of good intentions. And how they form a core tenet of Positive Psychology.

We all know the phrase that the road to hell is paved with good intentions - and I was possibly excessively pleased when I titled this episode! Because rather than being something to avoid or be wary of, there’s a power to having a positive intent.

There’s a power to seeing ourselves and others’ through a lens of positivity - that can influence our well-being on a deep level, physically and psychologically.

As with everything there’s a subtlety to it - very little in this life is binary. And we need to allow ourselves to feel into things in order to see what feels true.

Ultimately the question we can ask ourselves is ‘How do I want to feel?’.

I explore this through a couple of day-to-day experiences to highlight how we can give ourselves the choice of how we see things. Not in an artificially rose-tinted way but in a deeper, actively conscious way.

There are a couple of teachers I reference here, specifically their work in this area:

• Tara Brach and her powerful question: ‘Who are you if everything is ok?'
• Rick Hanson and his ‘Just one thing’ weekly emails (well worth receiving if you’re interested in Positive Psycholo

Support the show

***

A piece of quiet
Your weekly pause - a calming relaxation practice, every Wednesday. A few minutes to settle, a few minutes to write. First aid for the soul.
Join here - use the code PEACE for 20% off your first year

Let’s stay connected
Sign up to hear more - and only receive what speaks to you.
Join the list here

everyday ♡ compassion
Tiny reminders of self-love and presence, delivered three times a week.
Subscribe here

Free Events & Small Group Courses
Explore the power of Flow Journaling, self-compassion and gentle change in a supportive space.
See what’s on

Solo Retreats at Bach Brook
Rest, reflect and reconnect – fully supported in a place of deep natural beauty.
Retreat with me

Books, Journaling Resources & Self-paced Courses
Explore tools for inner connection and compassionate growth.
Visit the library

Free 20-minute Call
Explore whether coaching could support what’s calling for change.
...