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By Gill Pawley on March 21, 2024 in

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I love working with young people and those around

I love working with young people and those around them.

Self reflection is an important part of my approach:

✔️It’s a chance to press pause and get clarity instead or sitting in a spiral.
✔️No-one can keep on giving and not replenish ourselves - no matter what age.
✔️It’s helps give us perspective. There’s always a glimmer of hope.
✔️My approach is really practical. It can expand or contract to fit the time and energy available.
✔️Reflection can be combined with other planning tool.

My free short guide is available to download- copy and paste: http://eepurl.com/dApq2j

Or the link is in the bio. You can message me too and I’ll pop you a clickable link.

#selfconfidenceforteens #selfconfidenceforteenagers #youthmentor #mentoringmagic #teenagementalhealth #teenagesupport #teenmentalhealth #introvertlife #mentalhealthsupportforteens #teenwellbeing #compassionatementoring #mentoringforteens #calmandquiet #safeandsecure #inclusivegroups #calmcounsel #warmandwelcoming #timeandspace #safespace #bealighthouse #supportkit #wellbeingkit #peermentoring

Yesterday I got a @futureme_official letter I had

Yesterday I got a @futureme_official letter I had forgotten about! I wrote it almost three months ago when I was going through a brief but very intense period of turbulence. Everything turned out fine - in fact, better than fine.

But the letter reminded me of what a difficult few days that had been.

Too often, the fast pace of life means we don’t get a chance to properly digest what’s happening to us. It’s why I encourage everyone I work with to pause from time to time to reflect back.

Here’s a link to a free guide I’ve made to my Reflect Review Renew Framework which can help with this: http://eepurl.com/dApq2j

You can also DM me and I’ll pop you a clickable link.

#selfconfidenceforteens #selfconfidenceforteenagers #youthmentor #mentoringmagic #teenagementalhealth #teenagesupport #teenmentalhealth #introvertlife #mentalhealthsupportforteens #teenwellbeing #compassionatementoring #mentoringforteens #calmandquiet #safeandsecure #inclusivegroups #calmcounsel #warmandwelcoming #timeandspace #safespace #bealighthouse #supportkit #wellbeingkit #peermentoring

Day 2 of getting ready for my end of quarter revie

Day 2 of getting ready for my end of quarter review. This morning, I went through my phone and gathered together any notes for future plans, good tips I’ve kept, and - frankly - some quite outrageous ideas!

But they’ll all go into the mix when I do my reflection and planning on Friday this week.

I’ll be using my Reflect Renew Review process to help me bring the various thoughts together into a cohesive plan. This approach has its roots in working with teenagers who were finding it hard to stop overthinking - and I’ve since developed a framework which helps put things in perspective.

I’ve also created a short guide which is free to download if you ever find yourself in the same position. Here is the link to copy and paste: http://eepurl.com/dApq2j

It’s also in the link in my bio.

#selfconfidenceforteens #selfconfidenceforteenagers #youthmentor #mentoringmagic #teenagementalhealth #teenagesupport #teenmentalhealth #introvertlife #mentalhealthsupportforteens #teenwellbeing #compassionatementoring #mentoringforteens #calmandquiet #safeandsecure #inclusivegroups #calmcounsel #warmandwelcoming #timeandspace #safespace #bealighthouse #supportkit #wellbeingkit #peermentoring

As we are about to go into October, I am also prep

As we are about to go into October, I am also preparing to do an end of quarter review. As someone who trained as a project manager, I love planning and this is one of my favourite business tasks.

I make space to look at the finances, marketing and service delivery as well as doing some dreaming about projects I’d like to do, and people I’d like to work with.
It’s also a chance to check in with myself too to just double check the business is aligning with my values and energy levels.

It is a lot - and I take myself out for the morning to help create the headspace away from home.

To help me focus, I use my three part framework - Reflect Review Renew. This helps break down the whole reflection process into bite sized chunks - and makes life easier.

If you like the sound of this, I’ve made a short guide which can be downloaded by copying and pasting this link: http://eepurl.com/dApq2j

Or just comment REFLECT below and I’ll pop the link over to you.

#selfconfidenceforteens #selfconfidenceforteenagers #youthmentor #mentoringmagic #teenagementalhealth #teenagesupport #teenmentalhealth #introvertlife #mentalhealthsupportforteens #teenwellbeing #compassionatementoring #mentoringforteens #calmandquiet #safeandsecure #inclusivegroups #calmcounsel #warmandwelcoming #timeandspace #safespace #bealighthouse #supportkit #wellbeingkit #peermentoring

A snapshot of last week: 1. Monday morning walk -

A snapshot of last week:

1. Monday morning walk - does a sudden show of berries mean a harsh winter? Looks gorgeous though.
2. Tuesday walk into school on a perfect September morning.
3. Wednesdays are peer mentoring days which always means hot chocolate.
4. By Thursday the weather forecast was warning that weather would break at the weekend and they weren’t wrong. This was a beautiful evening though.
5. On Friday, it was over to Haywards Heath for a meeting which always means a look into @gobotanica at the station.

#selfconfidenceforteens #selfconfidenceforteenagers #youthmentor #mentoringmagic #teenagementalhealth #teenagesupport #teenmentalhealth #introvertlife #mentalhealthsupportforteens #teenwellbeing #compassionatementoring #mentoringforteens #calmandquiet #safeandsecure #inclusivegroups #calmcounsel #warmandwelcoming #timeandspace #safespace #bealighthouse #supportkit #wellbeingkit #peermentoring

I live in the south of England, two stops on the t

I live in the south of England, two stops on the train from Brighton with its long beaches, Royal Pavilion and hubs of creativity and hordes of visitors from London and beyond in the holidays.

Many of my students go into Brighton for sixth form college and the city also has two universities - Brighton and Sussex.

Like many coastal towns, Brighton has its rundown side - much more sadly though, so many homeless people living on the streets.

There’s talk that Brighton is in need of rejuvenation again but it still remains a marked contrast to the market town where I live (in desperate need of its own redevelopment too). And I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of the journey through the countryside, then the Clayton Tunnel to emerge in the glitz and (maybe faded) glamour of Brighton.

#selfconfidenceforteens #selfconfidenceforteenagers #youthmentor #mentoringmagic #teenagementalhealth #teenagesupport #teenmentalhealth #introvertlife #mentalhealthsupportforteens #teenwellbeing #compassionatementoring #mentoringforteens #calmandquiet #safeandsecure #inclusivegroups #calmcounsel #warmandwelcoming #timeandspace #safespace #bealighthouse #supportkit #wellbeingkit #peermentoring

Over on LinkedIn, there are people who post about

Over on LinkedIn, there are people who post about their morning routines which involve things like ice baths and 5k runs.

That’s not going to happen here!

But, I did just want to share the preparation that goes into my mornings on the days when I am mentoring students - one after the other, throughout the school day.

The term ‘mentoring’ is bandied around a lot - and many people now turn their hands to it. My approach to being a mentor has involved a lot of training, reading and updating of skills. After all these years, I know what it takes to deliver a consistently good service.

So for me, it’s a 5am start because I hate rushing. First on the list is to feel the cat. Obviously.

Then I read - and maybe just go over the notes for the day. Followed by 30 minutes’ exercise.

I shower, breakfast and then try to meditate. I wish I was better - some days are definitely better than others.

I get ready, check my bag and then leave in plenty of time to get things ready for the sessions of the day.

The whole reason for this is so that I am as prepared as possible - and that the last student of the day gets the same standard of support as the first.

#selfconfidenceforteens #selfconfidenceforteenagers #youthmentor #mentoringmagic #teenagementalhealth #teenagesupport #teenmentalhealth #introvertlife #mentalhealthsupportforteens #teenwellbeing #compassionatementoring #mentoringforteens #calmandquiet #safeandsecure #inclusivegroups #calmcounsel #warmandwelcoming #timeandspace #safespace #bealighthouse #supportkit #wellbeingkit #peermentoring

I’m back into school properly this weeks, runnin

I’m back into school properly this weeks, running mentoring and peer mentoring programmes.

I already know that many of the students are being referred to the programme because they feel anxious and struggle to get into and stay in school.

It’s a week of introductions and setting the tone.

One of the most important things is consistency- in fact, it’s one of our values.

This means always being in the same place, at the same time. For this half term, the sessions will follow a similar pattern each week. The rhythm of the mentoring should be clear for a student. Eventually, these sessions become anchors in a school week.

This helps us to start building a sense of safety and then later, trust.

It takes time. But this will be a good start.

#selfconfidenceforteens #selfconfidenceforteenagers #youthmentor #mentoringmagic #teenagementalhealth #teenagesupport #teenmentalhealth #introvertlife #mentalhealthsupportforteens #teenwellbeing #compassionatementoring #mentoringforteens #calmandquiet #safeandsecure #inclusivegroups #calmcounsel #warmandwelcoming #timeandspace #safespace #bealighthouse #supportkit #wellbeingkit #peermentoring

I’m re-launching my monthly e-letter in a few da

I’m re-launching my monthly e-letter in a few days. In my head, it’s all written and I’ve got a fabulous new zingy (that dates me 😂👵🏻) design from @coppermothdesign

I’ve been through many iterations with the e-letter and in the end, we needed a break. For both our sakes. But I’ve fallen back in love with the whole process.And that’s mainly because I’ve been thinking about the lovely people currently on the list. Plus those I’d love to have join us.

I have plans and hopes and ideas. Because so many of us who live and work with young people care passionately about their wellbeing. And there’s now so much information about but teenagers are still struggling.

I’d like to have a window into how we can genuinely help them and ourselves more. So that their futures are as bright as they absolutely should be.

15 September is the day. Please do join us if this sounds your kind of thing. Here’s the link: http://eepurl.com/dtGZ65 for you to copy and paste.

You can also DM me or pop the word Window in the comments and I’ll send the link to you.

#selfconfidenceforteens #selfconfidenceforteenagers #youthmentor #mentoringmagic #teenagementalhealth #teenagesupport #teenmentalhealth #introvertlife #mentalhealthsupportforteens #teenwellbeing #compassionatementoring #mentoringforteens #calmandquiet #safeandsecure #inclusivegroups #calmcounsel #warmandwelcoming #timeandspace #safespace #bealighthouse #supportkit #wellbeingkit #peermentoring

If I had to choose just one thing to pass on to th

If I had to choose just one thing to pass on to the people I work with, it would be to help them to appreciate the power of reflection.

The chance to pause and look back on what has just happened- not in a beat-yourself-up-and-never-stop kind of way. But calmly and quietly.

We’re so often riddled with self doubt, the dance of overthinking gets out of control and before we know it, anxiety pops up for a visit.

I have developed self reflection practices for young people and adults alike. Drop me a DM to find out more.

#selfconfidenceforteens #selfconfidenceforteenagers #youthmentor #mentoringmagic #teenagementalhealth #teenagesupport #teenmentalhealth #introvertlife #mentalhealthsupportforteens #teenwellbeing #compassionatementoring #mentoringforteens #calmandquiet #safeandsecure #inclusivegroups #calmcounsel #warmandwelcoming #timeandspace #safespace #bealighthouse #supportkit #wellbeingkit #peermentoring

I’ve just done my end of month reflection - a lo

I’ve just done my end of month reflection - a look-back on what was great, what didn’t happen and what I want to take forward into September.

The summer months aren’t always the easiest for me - I have been known to moan August away. But I made a conscious effort to change that this year. And it’s been a really happy time.

But it did take some planning and then organising. But the result was a good mix of interesting work, planning for the rest of the year and relaxing with my family and friends. And the consumption of so much pasta, ice cream and chocolate. 😄

Did your summer go to plan? Pop me a message and we can compare notes. 🗒️

#selfconfidenceforteens #selfconfidenceforteenagers #youthmentor #mentoringmagic #teenagementalhealth #teenagesupport #teenmentalhealth #introvertlife #mentalhealthsupportforteens #teenwellbeing #compassionatementoring #mentoringforteens #calmandquiet #safeandsecure #inclusivegroups #calmcounsel #warmandwelcoming #timeandspace #safespace #bealighthouse #supportkit #wellbeingkit #peermentoring

In September, I’m going back to sending out a re

In September, I’m going back to sending out a regular e-letter. But one which is brighter, more vibrant and much more relevant to the work I do with young people.

There’s also been a lot of change here, and I didn’t feel the newsletter reflected that.

But I’ve had a rethink and @coppermothdesign has refreshed the design beautifully - and we’re all set to publish again in mid-September.

My vision for The Inkwell Notes is to reach a group of subscribers who are parents, youth leaders, or maybe work in schools in one capacity or other. What you all have in common is that you care about the wellbeing of young people very much.

I plan to share resources, ideas and thoughts which I hope will help us all. And you will qualify for a cheeky discount on programmes and sessions just by subscribing. And that always helps.

You can sign up now if this sounds like your thing in preparation for September. You can copy and paste this link: http://eepurl.com/dtGZ65

Or DM me and I’ll pop you the link.

Thank you ❤️

#selfconfidenceforteens #selfconfidenceforteenagers #youthmentor #mentoringmagic #teenagementalhealth #teenagesupport #teenmentalhealth #introvertlife #mentalhealthsupportforteens #teenwellbeing #compassionatementoring #mentoringforteens #calmandquiet #safeandsecure #inclusivegroups #calmcounsel #warmandwelcoming #timeandspace #safespace #bealighthouse #supportkit #wellbeingkit #peermentoring

As we’re coming to the end of summer, I’ve bee

As we’re coming to the end of summer, I’ve been reflecting back on the past few weeks.

I make no secret of the fact that I am an autumn fan girl through and through. I’m loving these late summer mornings when I can smell autumn as I open the back door.

But I’ve also been known to have an inner sulk all the way through August. Especially when it’s humid. Particularly when it’s humid.

But this year, I wanted that to change.

I feel I waste the summer rather than celebrate it. In previous years, I’ve either worked too much or too little. Often arriving in September feeling frazzled.

So I aimed for a balanced summer. And that’s what I got.

I needed to get some rest in but also wanted to see my family and friends. Get some behind the scenes work done. Travel. Be inspired. Feel creative. Have fun.

Me being me, this took some planning and I deployed my lists and planning sheets.

But within that order there’s been loads of fun and lots of love and laughter. I spent time with my immediate family and extended one - including my niece, my great nieces and my great great niece, the brilliant Freya 🥰

There’s been pasta and ice cream, trips to Europe and London. Inspiring meetings in Brighton. Great work projects. Lots of reading time. Watching cricket. Pottering in the garden. Learning more about social media marketing with @hicommunications_

Obviously not all has gone swimmingly. Some work projects didn’t advance as planned - but maybe sideways instead. And I wasn’t a fan of a seven hour delayed flight.

But I am heading into September feeling excited to be going back into school and also to be driving some exciting new projects forward.

And I’m calling my summer project a success!

#selfconfidenceforteens #selfconfidenceforteenagers #youthmentor #mentoringmagic #teenagementalhealth #teenagesupport #teenmentalhealth #introvertlife #mentalhealthsupportforteens #teenwellbeing #compassionatementoring #mentoringforteens #calmandquiet #safeandsecure #inclusivegroups #calmcounsel #warmandwelcoming #timeandspace #safespace #bealighthouse #supportkit #wellbeingkit #peermentoring

It’s been a lovely summer here. And not over yet

It’s been a lovely summer here. And not over yet. (Although the current weather might suggest otherwise.)

I return to my school work in early September and I’m looking forward to getting everything ready for that. I’ve been working on ideas to help improve the programmes and it’ll be great to put these in place.

I’ve also been having gentle chats with some of the students I work with - and the return to school is starting to bubble up.

I’ll be answering some of their questions on stories next week; sleep patterns seem to have gone awry for one thing!

I’m also starting to think about my own rituals and routines for the change of season. Some habits have crept in which are not that great and also won’t serve me well as life gets more demanding.

In the meantime, in England we have a bank holiday. I hope you get to enjoy that if you have the extra day too.

#selfconfidenceforteens #selfconfidenceforteenagers #youthmentor #mentoringmagic #teenagementalhealth #teenagesupport #teenmentalhealth #introvertlife #mentalhealthsupportforteens #teenwellbeing #compassionatementoring #mentoringforteens #calmandquiet #safeandsecure #inclusivegroups #calmcounsel #warmandwelcoming #timeandspace #safespace #bealighthouse #supportkit #wellbeingkit #peermentoring

Mid August and the days are easy and light-filled.

Mid August and the days are easy and light-filled. The start of September and return to school will come soon enough. But for now, there’s space.

To think. Catch up. Plan. And dream.

The creativity has started to flow again too I’ve noticed. I was listening to a podcast last week and suddenly ideas were popping into my head like mini fireworks.

I want to catch these thoughts before they drift off downstream. Because this is where the magic lies. ✨

#selfconfidenceforteens #selfconfidenceforteenagers #youthmentor #mentoringmagic #teenagementalhealth #teenagesupport #teenmentalhealth #introvertlife #mentalhealthsupportforteens #teenwellbeing #compassionatementoring #mentoringforteens #calmandquiet #safeandsecure #inclusivegroups #calmcounsel #warmandwelcoming #timeandspace #safespace #bealighthouse #supportkit #wellbeingkit #peermentoring

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