Are you ready to spring into spring?
It’s been a while! I’ve missed you and it’s great to be back.
As I write this, the beautiful Spring sunshine is shining and you can feel the shift in energy. How are you settling into Spring? We are a quarter of the way through the year, and throughout the year, it’s important to check in on our energy, in a kind, supportive way. To consider what we may need to do to possibly boost it, balance it or calm it. Whether you’re navigating this yourself, or supporting a child through big feelings, the questions are the same - How do you feel now? How would you like to feel or what would you like to do?
I know your time is precious, so while you’re reading this, why not do a quick check in on how you or someone you care for, are feeling now, or are currently seeing life? Maybe, life feels good, enjoying the moment and looking forward to the future.
Often though, we may feel like a rabbit in the headlights, a hamster looping in its wheel, or an ostrich with its head in the sand. Or sometimes a combination of all three. I’ve experienced all three in a big way and I see these in clients of every age. From my personal and client experiences, all three animals can experience fear, anxiety, worry or overwhelm which prevent us from enjoying life and enjoying optimal wellness.
Do any of these animals resonate with you or a child in your life?
To move from feeling afraid (Rabbit), stressed or anxious (Hamster) to feeling calm and safe, from overwhelm to clarity and from denial (Ostrich) to acceptance, we need to do something to create a change, an energy shift. Otherwise, no change, is no change.
Here are three tips to help you or a child you care for to move towards feeling the way you want to feel and being a happier bunny. You could do them once, or ideally, you could set an intention to do these every day, to help you or a child you care for to move from Stresses to Smiles®.
Stresses to Smiles® is the name of my programmes that help families, schools and early years providers to shift from anxiety, fear and overwhelm into calm, confidence, and emotional ease. Here’s some techniques from the programme to help you and those you care about or care for.
For the rabbits feeling stressed and stuck
Place two fingers of each hand either side of the knobbly, peaky bits of your collarbone. Move them down a couple of centimetres, then sideways, about an inch away from the knobbly, peaky points and gently tap. This sends a message of safety to your brain, calms your nervous system and will help you to feel more present and more able to take the next step.
For the hamsters feeling overwhelmed and anxious
Sit with both of your feet firmly on the floor, close your eyes and if you would like to, put your hand on your heart. Imagine pulling a lever that slowly, reduces the speed of the wheel, turning a fast, anxious, overwhelming blur into a, gentle, calm controlled, spin, eventually, bringing it to a peaceful stop. Once it has stopped, do a deep breath with a gentle, longer, slower exhale or a big sigh. For extra calming, you can do the rabbit tip above.
For the ostriches in denial or in fear
Ask yourself these questions. If you wish, put your hands on your heart as you ask them.
Will it go away if I ignore it?
What will happen if I keep on ignoring it?
What small, comfortable step could I do, either by myself or with help from someone (e.g. a friend or professional) or something (e.g. going for walk every day) to improve the situation? If you can accept the situation, there will always be things that you can do to help improve it and many people to help you to move through it. Use the other tips to work on the other feelings behind the denial or fear. The goal is never about perfection, but about learning simple, quick ways to come back to calm and balance, one small step at a time.
If you’d like gentle, expert emotional wellness support for yourself, your child or for children you care for, I’d love to help. You can find additional calming and balancing tools in a free support video on the Stresses to Smiles® for Families page and the Stresses to Smiles for Early Years Providers® page.
Children have always been at the heart of my business, and I’ve got lots of exciting “Lou’s news” to share with you this over the coming weeks and months. Please do follow me on my socials for more tips and details of the emotional wellness support services that I am offering parents, families, early year providers and schools.
I know I haven’t been in your inbox for a long time, but I’m really happy to be back and would love to hear from you and continue to share my wellness tips and news with you.
Lou x
(All Images and photo Copyright Lou Tassell 2026)