Hey Subscriber First Name

Following our theme of ‘rest’ last week, I’ve been reflecting on the power of place and how where we spend our time can shape who we become.

This time of year always takes me back to my corporate life. It was the season of budget forecasts, awards ceremonies and Christmas parties - all on top of an already relentless pace.

By the time I reached the Christmas break, my body would finally catch up with me. I’d crash, usually with a winter bug, and spend the first few days in bed. It became a running joke in my family, but in hindsight, it was my nervous system trying to get my attention.

The final breaking point came one winter when, already burnt out, I flew to Romania to shoot a TV advert the week before Christmas. I told myself it was a great opportunity, but deep down I knew, I shouldn’t have been there. That world had become the wrong place for me.

A few months later, I cycled to work as usual, reached the office doors, and couldn’t go in. My body simply stopped. It had been keeping score for years, and that day, it won. Within months, I walked away from that version of my life.

Looking back, I see now that much of my stress came from being in the wrong places. Physically, (in sterile offices and early train rides) but also philosophically. I was operating from beliefs about safety, status and approval:

If I have money, I’ll be safe.
If I achieve enough, I’ll be respected.
If I keep going, I’ll get there.

Those beliefs were well-intentioned and were trying to keep me secure but over time they became limiting. They kept me pushing, performing and pretending.

Now, place has become one of the key filters in how I live and work. I choose carefully where I spend time, where I hold client sessions and who I work with. That shift has led me to some extraordinary environments like regenerative farms, wild coasts, community gardens which are all places that feel alive and remind me what genuine energy exchange looks like.

When I look at photos from then and now, I see the difference instantly…

On the left, I had everything we’re taught to strive for: a big salary, responsibility, recognition and a clear path to retirement. My bank manager was happy with me but I was miserable. I was disconnected from myself, from nature and from any real sense of meaning. My life had become a series of commitments that looked impressive on paper but hollow in reality.

On the right, I’m grounded, energised and doing work that aligns with my values in places I love. They remind me that our environment isn’t just a backdrop, it’s a mirror. The space we choose to inhabit reflects the state we’re in and the energy we bring.

That doesn’t mean it’s all plain sailing. The old beliefs still pop up and can actually be useful when I need to access my commercial knowledge. But I choose when to listen.

If I feel a need to be more ‘business-like’, more ‘sales-driven’, more like I used to be, I can channel that energy but not let it control me. These are all parts of the patch work of my life. But now I can see them for what they are - echoes from a time when my self-worth was tied to performance and busyness was a badge of honour.

The difference now is awareness. Awareness gives us choice. Once we can name the beliefs driving our decisions, we can work with them not from a place of judgement, but from curiosity. And that’s where the real transformation happens.

One of the tools I use for that process is something I shared at our recent Natural Network event relating to our beliefs on rest - a simple worksheet based on the CBT technique known as downward arrowing. It starts with a surface-level thought (“I should be doing more”, “I’m not where I should be”) and guides you to explore what sits beneath it. What does that thought really mean? What might it be protecting you from?

When we follow that thread, we often reach a root belief, one that shapes our behaviour, even when we think we’ve outgrown it. Sometimes, simply seeing it clearly is enough to loosen its grip.

Here it is if you’d like to explore it yourself. It’s simple but powerful and if it stirs something for you, I’d love to hear what you discover.

November Events

And one of the best ways of challenging and building new beliefs is to connect with others. So here are some highlights from the events calendar.

💪 The Power of You: Align Within, Amplify Outward.

19th November at Patch

The Power of You is a half-day workshop designed to help professional people reconnect, reflect and take practical action. This values-led initiative created by me and the wonderful Mark Masters, combines personal reflection with tangible strategies so you can apply clarity to your business, a project or your personal brand. Free to businesses in the BCP council area. Tickets here

🦡 Sustainability in Action: A Dorset Business & Nature Collaboration

13th November in Poole and Brownsea Island

I’m speaking at this event which has been created by Dorset Wildlife Trust, in partnership with Dorset Chamber. Together, we will explore how collaboration between charities and businesses can help secure a thriving future for Dorset’s economy, community and environment. Tickets here.

🧘 “COMING HOME" – A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT BREATHWORK AND REBIRTHING, FOLLOWED BY A LIVE GROUP BREATHWORK SESSION

27th November it Patch

I’m facilitating a special evening exploring the power of breathwork. The event begins with the premiere screening of a new documentary by my friend Patrick Frost on the transformative practice of rebirthing breathwork, followed by a panel discussion with leading voices in the field. The evening concludes with a one-hour guided breathwork session led by two of the UK’s most respected breathworkers, Jacqui Storm and Kerry Veitch from the Air School of Breathwork. Tickets here.

Thank you for being part of this digital place. I love navigating and exploring the inner and outer worlds together.

I believe I’m in the right place and I hope you do too.

Until next week.

Nick

Well that’s it for another week. But we don’t have to stop there.

Here’s how we can continue the conversation:

• If you like this newsletter, please share it with someone who might like it too.

• If someone forwarded this to you, please Click here to subscribe.

• If we’re not already connected on LinkedIn then come and find me here.

• Instagram more your thing? Please come and follow me at Daring Works.

• Looking for a deeper connection and would like to work with me? Just reply to this email or click here to start a conversation.