ELLA DOVE TRIES IT OUT

I admit it: I’m a creature of habit. I eat the same breakfast every day (a peanut butter bagel, in case you’re asking); I run at the weekends, even when I’m tired; and, like many of us, without fail I reply ‘fine’ whenever anyone asks how I am.

However, none of these things were immediately apparent to me until I put wellfulness into practice. Through intuitive eating, I realised that there were times when I didn’t actually want that bagel – for example, when my stomach felt bloated – so swapping it out once in a while for yogurt with fresh fruit left me feeling far more invigorated and focused for the day ahead.

And while I do enjoy running, a look at my wheel of wellfulness diagram soon showed me that, in the body section, it didn’t always serve me, often causing shin splints and lower back pain. As a result, I have begun to experiment with online classes I’ve never tried before, including Zumba (it made me laugh, but ultimately, it’s not for me), and body balance, which I’ve discovered I absolutely love, especially around 9pm as I wind down before bedtime. I have reached beyond my comfort zone and found joy in trying new experiences.

Roff Farrar’s morning ‘feel your feelings’ meditation has been a particular revelation. Instead of brushing off my moods, trying to ignore them and berating myself for feeling low or anxious, I’m leaning into my inner world, listening to what my mind is saying and treating myself with more compassion. I’m digging deeper into my moods and what they mean – am I premenstrual? Do I need more sleep? Have I taken on too much again? ‘Awareness is empowerment,’ says Roff Farrar. And now, finally, I understand exactly what she means.