Hello Subscriber First Name

I want to begin with a moment of appreciation for you being here and for choosing to read this. It genuinely means a lot.

I love writing these newsletters and connecting with you, so thank you for being part of this space where we can think, feel, and navigate things together.

It’s always lovely to hear your reflections, thoughts or feedback so please do feel free to drop me a message any time.

Right then, let’s dive in.

As I began writing this edition, I noticed a recurring theme in my recent work around power and fear. It was neatly captured in the reflection I left you with last time:

“What fear might I need to face or gently release to step more fully into my power?”

It’s a big question. How did it land with you?

If we think of power as the ability to choose for ourselves and being ‘empowered’ as acting on those choices in alignment with our values then it’s clear that stepping into our power often involves facing into change.

So I’ll start my reflection with something simple but powerful.
We have around 60,000 thoughts a day and about 95% of them are the same as yesterday’s and many of them are fear based.

Our brains are wired to keep us safe. That means they carry a negativity bias, looking out for what could go wrong, rather than what might go right. It’s part of being human. But it also means change can feel hard and fear can hold all the cards when it comes to our decisions.

While it’s helpful that our minds want to protect us, it can also leave us feeling stuck. So we need to hustle a bit of hope. And that’s not always easy when life brings headwinds.

So, where do we find hope?

For me, it's in the things I love - the planet, friendships, community, family.

When life feels heavy or uncertain, our ability to get up again and to build the resilience to hope that tomorrow might be better is part of the magic of being human.

And the Dream is that we create an abundance of joy along the way. And to do that, we need to Design the change into our life.

So you know where we’re heading next….

One of the most powerful shifts we can make is moving from a mindset of scarcity to one of abundance.

Scarcity tells us there’s not enough. Not enough time, not enough energy, not enough money, not enough us. It feeds fear, control and shame.

But abundance shows us that the more we give or notice something (like care, trust, or joy) the more it grows.

And perhaps the clearest example of this is love. The more love we offer to others, to causes, to the planet, to ourselves, the more it expands.

So how do we design more love into our lives and move from fear to love and scarcity to abundance?

Start by turning inward, the shift begins with ourselves.

• Pause and check in – Notice how you're speaking to yourself today. Is it kind? Is it honest? Would you speak this way to a close friend?

• Practise self-compassion – Remind yourself: I am already enough. I am already worthy of love. Not when I’ve achieved more. Not when I’ve fixed myself. Right now.

• Soften the inner critic – When fear or self-doubt shows up, try gently asking: What part of me is feeling scared? What does it need to feel safe and supported?

• Create moments of stillness – Even just a few minutes outside, eyes closed, feet on the ground. Let the Earth do what it’s so good at, holding you.

• Tune in to what you love – What brings you back to life? Time in nature, music, laughter, a certain place or person? These are your roots. Tend to them.

• Listen for abundance – The birdsong. A deep breath. A warm cuppa. A kind word. The Earth is offering richness all the time, we just need to slow down enough to receive it.

I’ve built and use a number of tools in my coaching to help expand this thinking and I’d love to share more of this with you.

I offer discounts to my newsletter subscribers so please drop me a message to arrange a chat to learn more.

And talking of love, it’s nearly time for one of my favourite days of the month! People, Planet, Pastry is back on Thursday so keep reading to book your tickets and look as happy as me and my wonderful friend Vineeta Greenwood!

• 29th May - People Planet Pastry

  Open to all! This free gathering removes any ‘sustainability shame’ and judgment, creating an open space for like-minded people from all walks of life to meet, talk, and enjoy delicious plant-based pastries. What’s not to love? Book your ticket here.

• 12th June - ‘B Curious’ trip to the Isle of Wight

  Also open to all! In my role as Co-Chair, I’m supporting our B Local trip cross the Solent and we’d love you to join us. Set in the stunning re-wilding landscape of Little Duxmore, our next ‘Wild Companions’ collaboration with the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is a one-of-a-kind afternoon exploring how business can be a force for good, especially for nature. Book your tickets here

I always leave us with a reflection.

This time, we’ve explored how moving from fear to love and from scarcity to abundance starts with turning inward. So here’s a gentle question to carry with you:

“What would change if I truly believed I was already enough?”

We’ll explore it together next time.

With care and kindness,

Nick