An End-of-Year Reflection on Rest, Self-Love & Growth

When Rest Becomes the Practice

One thing I continue to have to work on is my ability not to punish myself mentally if I don't keep up with things. If workouts are missed, yoga practices are paused, or structure disappears for a while, reminding myself that it doesn’t mean I’ve failed. Recognising that sometimes it means our body and nervous system is asking for something quieter.

Rest is not a step backwards.

Rest is not giving up.

Rest is fuel.

So as we step into a new year with new routines, new goals, fresh challenges, and evolving perspectives, remember that it’s okay to take your time. There is no rush to have everything mapped out or perfected straight away. Growth doesn’t need to be immediate, loud, or visible to be meaningful.

Let yourself ease into what’s next. Allow your intentions to unfold gently, shaped by awareness rather than expectation. Trust that steady, conscious steps, taken at your own pace, will carry you forward in a way that feels grounded and sustainable.

This new beginning isn’t asking you to become someone else. It’s inviting you to deepen into who you already are.

A Reminder of Self-Love

As the year draws to an end, I want to offer a gentle reminder that you are deserving of love exactly as you are, exactly where you are.

Not when you’re consistent.

Not when you’re productive.

Not when you’ve done “enough.”

But as you are.

This time of year naturally invites reflection, and with it comes the opportunity to truly acknowledge how far we’ve come. Not only through visible achievements, but in the quiet unseen ways we’ve grown. The inner battles faced alone, the days we gathered just enough motivation to get through it, the moments we chose to keep going when no one was watching.

These, too, are achievements. These moments matter. And they are all things to be deeply proud of.

Looking Back with Gratitude

When I reflect on this year, I see effort. I see strength. I see courage.

I’ve worked hard to create memories with my daughter, travelling together, taking holidays, and my highlight of the year celebrating my 40th birthday with her in Paris. Those moments matter deeply to me. They’re not distractions from life, they are life.

I’ve learned the importance of letting go. Letting go of relationships that no longer serve me, and understanding that some of the greatest healing comes not from fighting to make things work, but from allowing them to dissolve. Holding on to what no longer aligns only creates pain. Letting go creates space. And in that space, healing happens naturally.

Healing Through Parenthood

One of the deepest lessons this year has been how much healing comes through being a parent. Becoming a mum has shown me parts of myself I didn’t fully understand before, old wounds, deep emotions, and patterns rooted in childhood. And instead of judging myself for that, I’m learning to meet it with compassion.

Each day, I’m working to meet those moments with awareness, patience, and love, not perfection. Being the best mum I can be isn’t about having it all figured out; it’s about being present, honest, and willing to grow alongside my child.

Reclaiming Energy & Returning to Myself

This year, I also learned how much we give back to ourselves when we stop chasing validation and connection from people who aren’t right for us.

The energy I once spent trying to be seen or understood has been redirected into my own life. Into studying, training, writing, learning, and returning to my practice in a deeper, more meaningful way.

There’s a quiet power in choosing yourself. In using your energy intentionally. In investing in your own growth. In allowing your focus to return home.