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Nature's Secrets for Your Daily Calm
Published about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Dear Reader
Tuesday 5 August 2025
Dear Unique Flame,
I am passionate about bringing hope and healing to people’s lives through nature’s wisdom. Having watched loved one’s struggle with their physical wellness and mental health, I’ve dedicated my life to finding holistic solutions. Now, through health coaching and equine facilitated therapy, I guide women in their 40’s and 50’s toward deeper awareness, vibrant energy, and a purposeful life with nature-inspired programmes.
I’ve heard it said that our purpose lies in our pain. In over 2 decades as a mental health professional and now health coach, I have experienced this very profoundly and I believe our basic desire is to be happy and healthy and see our loved ones the same. In this world with the particularly harsh onslaught of addictive substances (think sugars and flour, screens then alcohol, tobacco, cocaine and beyond) and toxic ingredients (think additives, preservatives and fake food then negative programming and chemicals in our environment) it can be challenging to navigate the truth and find our calm amidst the demands for our attention and energy that seem to rage constantly.
Simplicity makes sense to me. Daily joy and calm bring expansion and capacity to stand strong in the complexity of life. Nature brings comfort when I walk outside and witness the daily sunrise and sunset. Support helps me remain enthusiastic. Accountability keeps me honest. The horses in my life and therapy practice have taught me the importance of moving forward.
The Opposite of Stress is Joy!
Our relationship with ourselves spills into the relationship with others. When we invest in our own well-being by eating nourishing whole food, moving our bodies in ways that extend and challenge us and feeding our minds positive inputs, we grow and feel energized. Then we automatically have added energy to invest in and give to others.
Our bodies are like gardens, for anything to grow strong and healthy; we have to prepare the beds by weeding out the junk, before composting the soil. It is like our gut, where we have to feed the good bacteria. That can’t happen if we simply keep feeding the unhelpful bacteria. It is time to admit that junk food is not benign. When we focus on doing the things that help and expand our capacity, and as far as possible be super mindful to cut out/simply avoid the things that poison and diminish our potential, we increase our ability to be powerful forces for beauty and upliftment.
A foundational principle in neuroscience is that “neurons that fire together, wire together” (Donald Hebb, 1949). So, give your neurons an opportunity to fire positively together. Try the following in the next little while and let me know what has been most helpful to you!
Breathe in Calm
Breathing in Calm: Take a moment to stop right now. Take 3 slow deep breaths in and out through your nose. Notice the sound of it, the temperature of it, and the movement of it. Now, on the next deep in-breath, breathe in calm, and on the out-breath, breathe out worry. And again, breathe in calm, and breathe out fear and one last one, breathe in calm, and breathe out calm. Use this to calm racing thoughts and bring renewed clarity and focus to what you are doing. Try this before choosing what to eat. It is amazing what wisdom emerges when we truly tune in.
Biological Wisdom
Sleep habits that Surprise: Avoid eating after dark. Our biological rhythms follow the light. Daylight is when we’re hardwired for activity: movement, digestion and making things happen. Darkness is when we’re hardwired to rest and repair. Stop eating before dark and at least 2-3 hours before bed. This helps your gut and improves sleep.
Dance for Joy
Pick a Song: Ever notice how a rousing song, can lift your mood almost instantly? Perhaps it is a particular artist or a specific song, but you know that it doesn’t matter where you are if you listen to that, it will pick you up. Mine is I need you, by Jon Batiste. Try that for an instant pick-me-up tune.
Hit reply and share with me: What health need deserves attention? Here’s wishing you a fortnight of calm connection and joy!
Mearas Whisper Health & Wellness
Liesl van Zyl - Health Coach | Equine Facilitated Therapist
I'm very excited to share that I am collaborating with a colleague on an online Women's Group Coaching programme which we will be launching in Spring! I look forward to sharing more on this with you SOON.
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