A few years ago, from the outside my life probably looked fine. More than fine, actually. I’d made a brave decision to leave my job and start my own business. I had ideas, experience and a genuine sense of purpose. I was finally building something that felt like mine. People probably would have described me…

For years, I thought being strong meant getting my head down and dealing with it. And to be fair, life gave me plenty of opportunities to practise. Twenty-two years ago, my son Zac was born four weeks early. Within hours of his birth, we were told that he had Down syndrome. Life changed overnight. I…

There’s a version of you that people know very well. She’s capable, reliable and responsible. She gets things done. She keeps going when things are difficult and often ends up being the person others turn to when life feels messy. You may even wear those qualities with pride. And why wouldn’t you? They’ve probably helped…

I’m Val, a transformational life coach, and I help people come home to themselves. It’s been a little while since I wrote anything here, so I thought a short reintroduction might be in order. If you’re new here, welcome…it’s lovely to have you here, and I hope that you find this site helpful. If we’re…

Last month I wrote about choosing Essence as my word of the year – a reminder to come back to who I really am beneath the noise, the busyness, and the expectations that quietly build over time. A month on, I’ve been reflecting on what that actually looks like in real life. Not in big, dramatic changes,…

Every January, I choose a word of the year to guide me through the coming 12 months.Not as a goal.Not as a productivity hack.But as a way of being 💛 My Word of the Year This year, my word is Essence. I chose it because I’ve noticed how easy it is to live from the edges of myself.…

I don’t always do a formal end-of-year review. But I do believe there’s something quietly powerful about looking back – not with judgement or criticism, but with curiosity and care. Because when you do that, a few things often become clear. You realise you got through more than you thought.You see how much you actually…

In August, Paseda360 Peer Hub chose me as their Coach of the Month. To receive recognition from a community of coaches dedicated to growth, learning, and support is a huge honour. I’m so grateful. As someone who is passionate about coaching for charity leaders and entrepreneurs, this recognition feels especially meaningful. Community Recognition The announcement came…

Limiting beliefs. We all have them, but what can we do about them? If you follow me on LinkedIn or Instagram, you’ll know that I’m currently reading You’re Better Than You Think You Are, by the brilliant Angela Cox. In it, she introduces the metaphor of stained glass windows to describe limiting beliefs. She explains that our…

Understanding the Change Curve Change, as they say, is here to stay. But have you ever found yourself reacting badly to change – even when you knew it was coming? Maybe you’ve made a big life decision, or someone’s made one for you, and you suddenly feel completely overwhelmed. You start questioning everything: your ability…