Kate James

I’m still exploring the theme of finding direction, and this week, I started mapping out the steps that have been the most helpful over the years with clients. I thought it might be helpful to share some of these with you too.

While hunting through the bookcase, I stumbled upon psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s 1990 book, Flow, and I was reminded of just how relevant his work still is. I’d forgotten how much it has influenced the way I think about what energises us, what engages us, and how these things can be so helpful when we’re finding our way forward.

What I uncovered as I started writing is a little too long to share here, but I’ll be sending an article out this week. If you’re interested in reading it, you might like to jump on the mailing list (I'm including the link below).

I’d love you to join me as I explore this theme further. It’s my hope that there’ll be something in it that feels relevant to all of us. ✨

Join the mailing list: https://buff.ly/vjkruZw

Lately, the idea of direction keeps coming up with clients and friends, and it has been a theme for me too.

I'm thinking about how to navigate this with intention, not rushing the process but slowing down, listening to myself, getting curious about what matters at this point in my life, and taking my time to find the next step.

I'm enjoying this feeling of following an idea and seeing where it might lead.

If you're feeling exhausted or depleted right now, you might like to join the 10-Day Burnout & Exhaustion Challenge on , which begins on 22 July.

Over ten days, you'll receive a series of short, restorative practices to help you slow down, recharge and take good care of yourself. I'm honoured to be contributing the Day 5 session on self-compassion.

It's completely free to join in the Insight Timer app, and I've included the link below. ✨️

https://insig.ht/brW39k4Jz4b

A lovely client told me yesterday that on a recent retreat, she let go of what felt like years of exhaustion.

She came home feeling much more like herself. Lighter, with clarity, energy, and the space to hear herself think.

If you could do with a little time to yourself, our Byron Bay retreat offers the chance to slow down and reconnect with yourself. Be nourished by beautiful meals you don’t need to cook yourself, spend time in nature and enjoy gentle yoga.

It’s an opportunity for a complete reset.

There are still a couple of lovely rooms available for this year’s retreat in November. If it feels like something you need, I’d love you to join us. ✨️

Yesterday, I found a twenty-year-old notebook while tidying a cupboard and, within it, was a small section I’d called 'Miracles.'

I had written down serendipitous moments, both mine and some from my clients. The woman who wrote letters to her future partner and met exactly that man a few years later. My own note that I would love to travel for work one day, and the unexpected phone call from Tourism NT that took me to the most beautiful places. Another from a client who wrote a list describing her ideal role, one that was dramatically different from her current one, and received an unexpected phone call the very next day from someone in need of that kind of help.

There have been so many others over the ensuing years, noted in newer journals.

Maybe these things are just happy accidents, but it was a joy to read through them and to remember that sometimes, small miracles do happen.

Just over a week ago, I had another one of my own. My favourite radio show is ABC National’s Life Matters, and I had only dared to hope that one day I might have the privilege of being a guest.

Then, out of the blue, that happened.

So here’s a thought for this week. Write down something you care about. A genuine wish for whatever feels meaningful. And then, hold onto it lightly. It could be years in the making, but there’s always a chance it might happen.

And I'd love to know. Have you had one of these magical moments? ✨️

Lately, I've been re-reading one of my favourite books about mindfulness, and it's been so lovely to be reminded of the basics.

It’s had me reflecting on all the ways mindfulness has changed my life, and I think maybe the most significant is how I try to show up in my relationships.

These tips aren't from the book itself, but if you're keen to explore the foundations from two of the best teachers, I recommend Mindfulness by Mark Williams and Danny Penman. It's an excellent read. ✨️

“I believe the world is incomprehensibly beautiful – an endless prospect of magic and wonder.” Ansel Adams

I know it doesn't always seem this way, particularly lately, but moments like these are a lovely reminder that there is joy to be found in the smallest of things.

I hope you find a moment of magic or wonder in your week. ✨️

(And for those of you with a keen eye, the photo I shared in March included this little darling's big sister at the same age, with an earlier batch of chickens).

We had lunch with old friends who were visiting the Peninsula on the weekend, and before heading home, we decided to take a look at the back beach just as the sun was setting.

You wouldn’t know it from this photo, but the swell was huge, and the sea was wild, and there was a heavy sea mist in the air. As soon as we stepped out of the car, we were enveloped in that beautiful briny smell of the ocean. The wind whipped around my hair, and I had an immediate feeling of elation.

Later, I started thinking about how we don’t do enough of these impromptu things. We get so caught up in our everyday routines. And while I really do love a peaceful and predictable way of living, there’s definitely an aliveness that comes from doing something out of the ordinary.

So here’s an invitation for the week ahead.

Try mixing things up a little.

Doing something different doesn’t need to be significant, but it might feel slightly inconvenient. See if you can push past any initial resistance and just be curious about what might happen.

Take a different route to the shops. Visit a place you've never been. Call someone you've been meaning to catch up with for a while. Order something different from the menu. Walk along a beach at sunset when you hadn't planned to.

Small changes have a way of waking us up and making us feel alive again. ✨️

Every Monday morning for the past five years, I have hosted a live meditation on , focused on finding inner peace.

It felt daunting at first, but now it’s become one of the most meaningful parts of my week.

We often have around 200 people join from all over the world, and we’ve created our own little community. There is so much kindness in the group, which is a beautiful thing to see.

And perhaps most importantly, we’re not just practising inner peace – we’re committed to creating a more peaceful world around us. It feels like something we need now more than ever.

If you’d like to join us, you’ll find the link below. Download the Insight Timer app and join the live session for free. 🙏

https://insighttimer.com/katejames/events

Almost every woman I’ve worked with over the past couple of decades is high-functioning. All have done well in their chosen careers or life paths, yet still they put themselves under a lot of pressure.

And so often they feel not good enough.

A while ago, I wrote about how this shows up in many different ways, and how I believe these patterns are often linked to our stress responses (I’ve included a link to the article at the top of my bio).

We fight by pushing ourselves to burnout, comparing to others or putting ourselves under extreme pressure.

We flee by walking away from opportunities to shine, by not pushing ourselves to apply for a promotion or market our businesses with confidence.

We freeze when we procrastinate, and we fawn when we fall into people-pleasing – not setting boundaries and putting everyone else’s needs ahead of our own.

If this sounds like you, you might notice that you have a preference for one or more of these patterns, but it could be that you oscillate between a couple of them.

The first step in moving beyond these limiting behaviours is to raise your awareness.

This week, start to notice when your ‘not good enough’ story is running the show. Catch yourself before taking on another commitment. Acknowledge one of your achievements. Do something imperfectly and let that be okay.

But most importantly, pause that self-critical voice and replace it with words of kindness. Remind yourself that you don't need to be perfect to be loveable and you don't need to burn yourself out to be worthy. ✨️