Blog — Reb Perkins

…………..and Breathe.

June 19, 2012 by Rebecca P 2 Comments

So how do you ease stress in your life? We all suffer from stress of one sort or another and stress is good for us in the right quantity. Some of us deal with it better than others and some of us have more than our fair share to deal with at any one time. We're not looking to get rid of stress, we're just looking for ways to ease and deal with it without it consuming every waking (and sleeping) hour. Unless you're Jack Johnson who gives the impression of being utterly laid back and without a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Coaching, Conscious Living, Inspiration Tagged With: exercise, R&R, stress, yoga breath

My Rules to Live By

June 11, 2012 by Rebecca P 7 Comments

The other day I read an inspiring post on Positively Positive by Jennifer Pastiloff and it got me thinking about my own 'rules' for living. What are the keys to living my life fully and happily? What can I not do without? What do I do without question everyday? Here are my rules to live by, leave yours in the comments box below for us to read and share - how inspiring will that be! Love, be kind and be gentle to myself....especially when I'm most in need. Then love, be kind and be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Conscious Living, Inspiration

If Your Dream Gets Stuck Before It’s Started…

June 2, 2012 by Rebecca P 4 Comments

Here's a guest post from my friend and mountain guide extraordinaire Sarah Maliphant. There's a link at the end to an extraordinary offer....well worth a look if you want some time for yourself. The moment that made the difference to my career direction and vocation was a question. This question found the way through my mountain-sized uncertainties, a good smatter of insecurities, a dream that felt too big to dare, and a host of, “Yes but...” practical details. Suddenly all that stuff … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Coaching, Conscious Living, Personal Development and Self Esteem

The Four Agreements – a practical guide to personal freedom

May 18, 2012 by Rebecca P 10 Comments

I'm often asked what books I read, what inspires me, what helps and supports me. So thought I'd share a book I was handed over 9 years ago and told to read! Today I'm re-posting a blog (with a few changes and additions) that I wrote over a year ago as it is still the book that has the most profound effect on my life. I don’t think any other book has stuck with me in quite the same way. The Four Agreements fulfils a spiritual need in me in just the same way that Pride and Prejudice does … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Conscious Living, Inspiration, Personal Development and Self Esteem Tagged With: Don Miguel Ruiz, inspiration, The Four Agreements, Toltec

New Beginnings

May 15, 2012 by Rebecca P 12 Comments

This morning I received Decree Absolute. The dissolution of my marriage is final and absolute. How do I feel? Full of emotion. I feel overwhelming relief and at the same time I feel overwhelming sadness. I feel the need to grieve. Grief is vital to growth and healing. I need to feel the full force of the emotion in order to heal fully. To ignore and put aside is what poisons. I feel the need to read the poems of Mary Oliver who wrote so eloquently in Wild Geese You do not have to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Conscious Living, Family and Relationships, Personal Development and Self Esteem, Women's Issues Tagged With: decree absolute, divorce, grief, healing, Mary Oliver, new beginnings

Finding Your Own North Star

April 19, 2012 by Rebecca P 6 Comments

"There's no need to wait for the bad things to be over. Change now. Love now. Live now. Don't wait for people to give you permission to live, because they won't." --Kris Carr I'm doing a lot of reading at the moment, I have almost a dozen books by my bedside - from spiritual and new age to novels, from classics to magazines, and of course my journal in which I write every morning before I start my day - it's my form of meditation. The one I can't put down right now … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Conscious Living, Inspiration, Personal Development and Self Esteem, Women's Issues Tagged With: Julia Cameron, Martha Beck, North Star, positive feedback, self esteem

Simple Kick-Ass Advice.

April 13, 2012 by Rebecca P Leave a Comment

When I posted a few weeks ago that I was stepping back awhile to nurture myself during a particularly turbulent time in my life I found myself overwhelmed with love, support and goodwill that came my way in phone calls, texts, messges of all sorts. What you are about to read also came from a very dear friend and I'm thrilled to introduce Jacq as the first guest writer on Best Knickers Always. Woo hoo!! Thank you Jacq for being an incredible support and soul sister. I'm know those that follow … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Conscious Living, Family and Relationships, Inspiration, Midlife, Women's Issues Tagged With: friendship, kick ass, list making, music, sound advice, time out

Entering a Patch of Turbulence

March 26, 2012 by Rebecca P 5 Comments

On a recent flight across the Atlantic and in the middle of the night, the captain's voice came over the loudspeaker to inform us that we were entering a patch of turbulence, the seat belt sign was to be illuminated, all in-flight services were being suspended and cabin crew were to take their seats. There was however, no reason to be alarmed, this turbulence would pass and normal service would be resumed soon. Many of you know of my love of metaphor for telling stories of life and this seemed … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Conscious Living, Inspiration, Midlife Tagged With: metaphor, time out, turbulence

Choosing a New Path

March 19, 2012 by Rebecca P 1 Comment

"Let others lead small lives but not you. Let others argue over small things but not you. Let others cry over small hurts but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands but not you." -- Jim Rohn What do we do when circumstances that are not of our creation and seem beyond our control run the risk of derailing us completely? What happens when external forces conspire to alter our life and the plans we were making for it? It might be illness, it might be unemployment, it … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Conscious Living, Family and Relationships, Inspiration, Personal Development and Self Esteem Tagged With: choices, depression, moving on, victim

Let’s set the record straight………..What is courage?

March 9, 2012 by Rebecca P Leave a Comment

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the silent voice at the end of the day that says 'I will try again tomorrow'. -- Mary Anne Radmacher I've been called courageous, resilient and brave many times in my life. (I've also been called naive, foolish and crazy!) I want to put the record straight. We are all courageous, I am no different to you. Courage is not about being a battle ready and battle dressed warrior....... Courage is saying sorry Courage is knowing when to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Conscious Living, Inspiration, Personal Development and Self Esteem Tagged With: brave, courage, Mary Anne Radmacher, resilience

Creating a Life in Balance

February 29, 2012 by Rebecca P 4 Comments

"Right now I need peace in my head and in my life. I don’t want this see-saw that I’m living, I want more balance. The extremes of pain vs pleasure, thirst vs drowning, tears vs laughter, sickness vs health are causing me to feel so out of kilter, lacking in energy and utterly, mind numbingly exhausted." Struggling to find a safely filed document at the weekend I came across the above quote which I wrote almost 2 years ago whilst writing up notes following a session with my coach. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Coaching, Conscious Living, Personal Development and Self Esteem, Women's Issues Tagged With: balance, coaching, living life, love life, peace, rollercoaster

Black Dog and the Light at the End of the Tunnel.

February 21, 2012 by Rebecca P 21 Comments

"When going through hell, keep going." -- Winston Churchill I've been shying away from this post for some time now. You know I don't avoid tough subjects. Depression is one of those subjects. I am well and have been for many years now, that however, wasn't always the case. My intention in writing about depression is to share my experiences frankly and openly in the hope that something inspires or supports another going through their own private hell. Depression is a serious illness. It is a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Conscious Living, Inspiration, Personal Development and Self Esteem Tagged With: angels, black dog, depression, divorce, panic attacks, post natal depression, post natal illness, recovery

Courage, Taking Risks and Living Life.

February 17, 2012 by Rebecca P 4 Comments

A ship in harbour is safe -- but that is not what ships are built for. -- John A. Shedd I was talking over lunch with a friend the other day about our children and how we raise them - I guess what life skills we have taught and continue to teach them. Are we teaching them to be passive onlookers of life or to be courageous and take risks in order than they can lead fulfilled lives? Were we the sort of parents who stood at the bottom of the tree and shouted up instructions - 'Be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Conscious Living, Family and Relationships, Inspiration Tagged With: courage, Jim Rohn, life skills, parenting, risk taking

Dr Seuss

February 7, 2012 by Rebecca P 2 Comments

There's something about the philosophy of Dr Seuss that I love, I suppose it's a little like A.A. Milne's take on life through the eyes of Winnie the Pooh. It's simple and on the surface nothing more than a children's story. It is however as always the meaning we attach to it that has the impact. Earlier I posted on my Facebook page the Dr Seuss rhyme "Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you!" It struck a chord. I've been practising being ME for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Coaching, Midlife, Women's Issues Tagged With: Dr Seuss, Facebook, living life, Oscar Wilde, perspective

One Small Step

January 31, 2012 by Rebecca P Leave a Comment

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it." -- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. I do a lot of writing. Some appears in these blog posts, some in my journal, some in word documents on my laptop, some in the notes on my iPhone and some still untapped in my head! I'd come to the end of one journal on Friday, it's a deeply satisfying feeling having every single page filled with writing. What was also exciting was the anticipation of starting a new … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Coaching, Personal Development and Self Esteem, Women's Issues Tagged With: eleanor roosevelt, fear, first step, journal, love, procrastination, writing

Pandora’s Box

January 24, 2012 by Rebecca P 6 Comments

You're unhappy with your current situation but the fear of making any changes nothing short of petrifies you - the fear is visceral, you can actually feel your stomach turning at the mere thought of making any changes. So, you work harder and harder at keeping everything under control because you just know the chaos that would ensue if you stopped for one moment and asked yourself that very important question, the one that in my work as I coach I often see people collapse internally as I ask … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Coaching, Conscious Living, Midlife, Personal Development and Self Esteem, Women's Issues Tagged With: anti depressants, change, divorce, Pandora's box, post natal depression

New Year’s Resolutions………Bah Humbug.

January 15, 2012 by Rebecca P 8 Comments

New Year's Day: Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual. ~Mark Twain Ok, so here we are, 2 weeks into the New Year and I don't want to be the party pooper (much) but do tell me.............How are you doing? Make any resolutions? Still going with them are you? Be honest, how long did you last? What was it this year? Gym membership? Dieting? One coffee a day? Alcohol limited to the weekend? Not to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Coaching, Conscious Living, Health and Wellbeing, Midlife, Women's Issues Tagged With: alcohol, coaching, dieting, fitness, fun, gym membership, laughter, losing weight, new year, resolutions, self esteem

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

December 24, 2011 by Rebecca P Leave a Comment

Wishing you all happy, joyful and peaceful festivities with those you love. Thank you all for your support, comments and kind words this past year, I have at times been overwhelmed with the love and encouragement that has come my way from you all, some my dear friends, others friends from times gone by and others still who have gone from strangers to friends over the course of the year. May 2012 bring you all you wish for, may you choose from today to fully embrace your life and make the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Family and Relationships, Women's Issues Tagged With: celebration, Christmas, dear friends, new year, Robert Browning

Bold, Optimistic, Sexy, Confident, Intuitive………and Bodacious!

December 21, 2011 by Rebecca P 2 Comments

"Each of us has the right, that possibility, to invent ourselves daily. If a person does not invent herself, she will be invented. So, to be bodacious enough to invent ourselves is wise." -- Maya Angelou As we head towards the end of the year I always like to find time to reflect on what has gone by and look forwards to what the year ahead might bring. It's been a year for me of much upheaval and change both on a practical level and also on a much deeper personal and emotional level. This … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Conscious Living, Inspiration, Midlife, Women's Issues Tagged With: 2012, friendship, inspiration, Maya Angelou, new year, relection

Best Knickers Always ……….now more than ever

December 14, 2011 by Rebecca P Leave a Comment

I've been reading an article my sister sent me from the Sunday Times Luxx magazine. The article's headline is Frontline Couture and it's written by Janine di Giovanni, award-winning author and journalist. She has been covering global conflict and war since the 1980s and is considered one of Europe's most respected journalists. She writes about her visit to the salon of Alice Cadolle, on the rue St Honore, in Paris. Alice, known as Poupie, is the great-granddaughter of feminist Herminie … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Conscious Living, Family and Relationships, Midlife, Personal Development and Self Esteem, Women's Issues Tagged With: alice cadolle, confidence, dysfunctional relationships, global conflict, herminie cadolle, inspiration, janine di giovanni, knickers