December 2023
Rediscovering Nature: The Healing Power of the Outdoors
Find Solace and Strength in the Natural World.
Life is busy and time is precious. This monthly bulletin saves you time and effort by providing you with a range of resources relating to all things men and mindset.
Don’t just read the quotes. Instead, take a moment to consider them and hold them up against your life.
This month’s quote theme is: Nature.
Last week, I shared on LinkedIn that it was ‘National Get Outside Day. The day, founded by the Ordnance Survey, invited me to consider the role of nature and the outdoors in my life; I hope this passage and the quotes below encourage you to do the same.
For me, the outdoors isn’t just a key component of my well-being, they’re a fundamental part of who I am and how I show up, it's what brings me my greatest sources of connection and joy. I invite all my clients to prioritise more time for outdoor activities, be they solo or with family or friends; I’m yet to meet anyone who regrets spending time outdoors. Take a moment to consider the quotes below:
Sit down, take a minute, read, reflect or journal on the prompts presented.
This month’s prompt theme comes with a trigger warning; it’s: A lack of time. I don’t have time has to be the biggest and most common lie we tell ourselves. We’re all guilty of saying we don’t have time but when we face the discomfort of the facts, it’s not ‘times’ fault we don’t exercise, spend more quality time with our loved ones or read more books etc, is it?
Our time here is finite, and in a world where everything demands our attention, time is our most valuable commodity. Next time you hear yourself saying or claiming you don’t have time, pause, take a breath and question why you’re saying you don’t have time – in doing so, recognise in advance, the cost of the choices and decisions you are making. Consider the prompts below:
What regrets do I not want to live with…
Going forwards, if I only made choices I'm proud of, I would...
If I treated time as an asset, I’d stop doing the 3 following things…
It gives me real pride to share this month’s podcast recommendation; two personal friends, two men I value and respect. This month’s recommendation is
Crack On. It’s a two-part-er, featuring Ex Welsh Rugby International, Rhys Thomas. From growing up in South Africa, coming through the youth ranks in Wales and building a career, playing the sport he loved and how it all changed in an instant. A massive heart attack ended his playing career and put him on a journey of self-destruction, followed closely by a journey of self-discovery and significant personal growth. This is a candid, inspirational and impactful listen - all at the same time.
Crack On Podcast Part One.
Crack On Podcast Part Two.
As it’s a year since publication, this month’s book recommendation is my own, Rethinking Masculinity. Writing the book cemented my thoughts around the challenges we face as men and fuelled my vision to break through the flawed thinking that professional success equals personal happiness.
I firmly believe that we, the men of today, can, through example, lead the changes to rethink and redefine the standards of successful masculinity.
In short, Rethinking Masculinity is for any man who has experienced a setback and finds himself stagnant or in a constant state of work-life conflict. It’s a guide for any man who is questioning ‘Is this it?’ or fears his best years are behind him. You can get Rethinking Masculinity directly from me for just the postage, £3, or via Amazon at market rate:
This month’s TED Talk is: Great leadership starts with self-leadership.
For those familiar with my thinking, you’ll know I’m an advocate of self-leadership. In this month’s TED recommendation, Lars Sudmann, a leadership advisor and award-winning lecturer invites us to consider the tenets of leading oneself. After the ‘cheesy’ intro music, almost everything shared is valuable, think: Self Awareness, Self-Reflection and Self-Regulation.
For those that haven’t yet experienced it, and despite my obvious bias, I’m fairly sure, you’re missing out.
Each month, we meet, walk, talk, connect, support and overcome the challenges of the weather and route – together. We’re a community of good quality, like-minded but diverse, men. There’s no cost of commitment to join us; you need little more than average fitness and a set of boots to join us.
Register below, get your boots on and come along if you’re still unsure, check out the photos from our last walk:
Our Sep walk: Access here.
Follow the link to register:
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