Real tools for the “what the f*ck” moments.

When I was first diagnosed, I didn’t know what to do. The big picture was too overwhelming to look at. So I had to start small. I asked myself these three questions:

• What can I control?
• What calms my central nervous system?
• What makes me feel good?

I couldn’t control the medical timeline or the sudden uncertainty. But I could control where I spent my energy. I offer you this practice of asking these three questions today. Let’s make this human and doable.

I loved this book. It made me laugh, but it is also deeply serious. Broken Brains is a personal book about physical brain health and mental brain health, and how they coexist in two very different spaces. If you are in the messy middle of a health recovery, this one is for you.

When life gets loud, finding steady ground can feel impossible. I’m a certified yoga and meditation teacher, but I know that sitting for an hour is not always doable when you are in the messy middle of a transition.

That’s why I recommend the Insight Timer app, and specifically Tara Brach’s “Pause for Presence” meditation. It is a tiny next step you can take to gently ground your nervous system. You don’t need to clear your mind completely. You just need a few minutes to pause, breathe, and remember that we can do hard things.

I sat down with Brain Cancer Australia to share my story. In the piece, I talk about the messy middle of navigating recovery while becoming a mum, and realising my old ways just didn’t fit anymore. Here is the truth: post-treatment is a whole new job. You aren’t doing it wrong if you feel lost; you are just in transition.

If you’re in the messy middle of an identity shift or a health recovery, I shared some of my most honest moments in this piece to remind you of one thing: this isn’t the end of your story.