Mindful Poetic Stories Podcast

Consumerism Part 1

In this powerful episode, Consumerism to Mindful Activism (Part 1), Patricia explores the deep connection between our inner world and the outer choices we make.
Patricia shares her personal journey from external pursuit of happiness to inner reconnection, explaining how shifting mindset, healing the gut, and making conscious, sustainable lifestyle changes transformed her health, energy, and sense of purpose.
This episode dives into consumerism, self-awareness, gut health, emotional wellbeing, and practical tools to help you begin your own journey toward intentional, mindful living, one small step at a time.
Key Themes
Moving from external validation to inner fulfilment
Understanding how consumerism and overconsumption affect mental and physical health
Reconnecting with the “Wise Sage” self through mindfulness and self-compassion
The link between gut health, energy, and emotional wellbeing
Making sustainable, toxin-free lifestyle choices without overwhelm
Building mental fitness through awareness, curiosity, and self-love
Powerful Quotes
“Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.” – Wayne Dyer
“We are all wounded healers.” – Gabor Maté
“People are fed by the Food Industry, which pays no attention to health, and treated by a Health Industry that pays no attention to food.” – Wendell Berry
“It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they are being fooled.” – Mark Twain
“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.” – George Bernard Shaw
“Every view is the wrong view if it is held as the only view.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
“The very reason I write is so that I might not sleepwalk through my entire life.” – Zadie Smith
“I can’t see a way through,” said the boy. “Can you see your next step?” asked the horse. “Yes.” “Then just take that.” – Charles Mackesy The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse
 
Recommendations & Resources
Apps:
YUKA App – Scan food and cosmetic barcodes to check for health impact and hidden additives.
Documentaries:
The Gut: Our Second Brain (2013/2014); How our gut microbiome influences mood, energy, and immunity.
Fed Up (2014) – The truth about sugar, processed foods, and how the food industry shapes our health.
Books:
Activate Your Vagus Nerve by Navaz Habib; Learn how to restore calm, resilience, and optimal health through vagal tone.
Other Mentions:
Dirty Dozen List; Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) guide to fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide residues. https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php
Eco-conscious brands like SEEP, Who Gives a Crap, and homemade natural cleaning solutions. https://theseepcompany.com/collections/all https://uk.whogivesacrap.org/pages/about-us
Complimentary Therapist https://maresawalsh.ie/
 
Key Takeaways
Awareness is the first step to move from unconscious living to mindful action.
Small, consistent changes in what we eat, buy, and consume create long-term wellbeing.
Happier people make healthy choices, and healthier choices make happier people
Gut health is central to both physical energy and emotional balance.
Mindful activism starts with understanding, self-love, curiosity, and compassion.
You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight, simply “take one step at a time.”
Call to Action
If today’s episode resonated with you, take one small conscious action, whether it’s scanning your food labels, switching to natural products, or simply pausing before your next purchase.
Subscribe for Part 2 of “From Consumerism to Mindful Activism”, where Patricia explores the hidden costs of overconsumption and shares more inspiring resources for sustainable, conscious living.
Want to go deeper? Book a free discovery coaching call to explore how mindful awareness and mental fitness can help you reconnect with your true self.
 
www.pacoaching.co.uk or email hello@pacoaching.co.uk
 

Through Your Paintings: The Power of Art, Empathy, and Healing

In this week’s episode, Patricia explores the beauty and power of art as healing, human connection, and compassion in action. Following last week’s tribute to inspirational changemakers of the past, today’s story celebrates the people creating positive change right now, those dedicating their time to supporting others and making the world a kinder, more hopeful place.
This episode is inspired by Tara Dominick, Artist and co-founder of the Kakuma Art Project, this episode shares my poetic story Through Your Paintings, born from a creative connection that has turned into a continuing inspirational movement of creativity, love, and empathy. The Kakuma Art Project began with one painting, The Boat, which sparked an initiative bringing therapeutic art workshops to refugees in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya.
 
Through the lens of creativity, the film (The Good Lie), and the wisdom of thought leaders like Gabor Maté, Elif Shafak, and Jane Goodall, Patricia reflects on how trauma, art, healing and compassion intertwine, and how every small act of kindness can ripple out to change lives.
 
Key Points Discussed:
The Kakuma Art Project’s Origin: How one painting, The Boat, inspired a movement that provides art workshops for refugees in Kenya, and much more.
The Power of Connection: The friendship between Tara and Hubert, co-founders of the Kakuma Art Project, and how creativity builds bridges across borders.
The Good Lie: Reflections on the 2014 film inspired by true events in Sudan and the Kakuma Refugee Camp, and its deep emotional impact and its continued resonance today.
Understanding Trauma: Insights from Gabor Maté on how trauma lives in the body. Creativity can provide a pathway to healing, an inner connection but also human connection.
Post-Traumatic Growth: The idea that from deep pain can come love, connection, resilience, creativity, and empathy.
Numbness vs. Evil: Elif Shafak’s perspective on how apathy, not evil, may be the true opposite of goodness.
The Role of Art in Healing: How painting, writing, and creative expression can help release pain and the power of creating safe emotional spaces.
Rising Above Fear: Using awareness, kindness, and self-compassion to move from trauma to empowerment.
A Call to Action: Supporting humanitarian initiatives like the Kakuma Art Project — and recognising that every act of kindness matters.
 
Quotes:
“War is what happens when language fails.” – Margaret Atwood
“War is itself the enemy of the human race.” – Howard Zinn
“I’m fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in.” – George McGovern
“Trauma is not what happens to us, it is what happens inside of us as a result of what happened to us.” – Gabor Maté
“Perhaps the opposite of goodness is numbness.” Elif Shafak
“Holding anger and hatred in you is a poison… it eats you up from inside.”
“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you wish to make.” – Jane Goodall
 
Key Takeaway:
Art can be a bridge between pain and peace. Through compassion, creativity, and awareness, we can all play a part, however small, in bringing light to those living in darkness.
 
Together, we can help amplify the voices of those whose stories deserve to be heard.
 
Call to Action:
If the Kakuma Art Project resonates with you and you’d like to contribute or learn more, there are lots of options as outlined below, please reach out via the following links;
 
Donate to Kakama Art Project; https://linktr.ee/Kakumaartproject?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=1ea5d87f-a981-44f0-8967-c27cdc44de5c
Buy the book Power of One Painting available on amazon £12.99 https://amzn.eu/d/bI0dsyK
If you are interested in any of the art/paintings reach out to Tara Dominick email info@taradominick.com Website https://www.taradominickartist.com/
Submit your own piece of creativity to the fundraising online gallery on Kakuma Artline Grids https://kakumaartproject.com/ - your paintings, music, photography, favourite tree, your pet etc. £27 per submission
Buy the book; Creative Souls; Poetry. Music Art Compilation - which is supporting the Kakuma Art Project fundraising https://amzn.eu/d/3LdaRxh £16.99
 
“Kindness is contagious.”
Yours is much appreciated. Thank You
 
Connect with Patrica via email hello@pacoaching.co.uk
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/pacoaching.co.uk
 
 

Ode To The Greats

How Inspirational Quotes Shaped My Life
In this powerful and poetic episode, Patricia reflects on the transformative power of inspirational quotes and the legacy of the great minds who spoke them. "Ode to the Greats" is a heartfelt tribute to legendary change-makers like Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Maya Angelou, Benjamin Zephaniah, and others whose words still spark action, self-love, resilience, and post-traumatic growth.
From teenage diary entries filled with motivational clippings to a “Words of Wisdom” box shared with her mother during lockdown, the journey of self-discovery is steeped in wisdom, emotional intelligence, mental fitness, and the power of the pause.
This episode is more than gratitude, it’s a call to awaken, to step into your legacy with courage, to feed light instead of the dark, to move with love instead of fear, and to let inspiring words guide your healing, justice-seeking, and soulful action.
Discussed in this episode:
Resilience Building with Mental Fitness
Emotional awareness
Women's rights and justice
Legacy building
Emotional intelligence
Post-traumatic growth
Words of wisdom
Power of pause
Critical thinking
Self Love Journey to inner empowerment
Notable Quotes from the Episode:
"Let your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears." – Nelson Mandela
"Between the stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response." – Viktor Frankl
"We are all one. Only egos, beliefs and fears separate us." – Nikola Tesla
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." – Margaret Mead
"Do what you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." – Maya Angelou
" All men dream; but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds Awake to find that it was vanity; But the dreamers of day are dangerous men. That they may act their dreams with open eyes to make it possible. ." – T.E. Lawrence
"A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because its trust is not in the branch but in its wings."
"Just don’t give up. Don’t let them grind you down. Rise up all ye sisters and brothers who know better, stand firm in the downturn." – Benjamin Zephaniah
POETRY BOOK; Creative Souls – published “Ode To The Greats”, available to buy on Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/f7ZgaQI
 
Call to Action:
Share your favourite inspirational quote with us!
Which words have shifted your thinking or shaped your life’s path? Leave a comment below.
Subscribe, Rate, and Review
If this episode moved you, inspired you, or gave you pause, please subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share it with someone who needs a dose of wisdom and courage today.
Join the Conversation
Let’s co-create a community that thrives on wisdom, compassion, courage, and legacy. Use the hashtag #OdeToTheGreats
If you wish to know more about Mental Fitness and how it can help you email me hello@pacoaching.co.uk
 

Loosen The Tech Knot

Reclaim Your Mind in the Age of Digital Distraction
Episode Summary
In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, we dive into the hidden costs of social media and technology on your mental health, relationships, emotional wellbeing, and even identity. Inspired by the eye-opening docudramas The Social Dilemma and TikTok Boom, Patricia shares a deeply personal reflection on how digital overload is disconnecting us from our humanity.
Discover how mindfulness, mental fitness, and positive intelligence can help you reclaim your time, attention, and peace, and why now is the time to take back control before we lose ourselves in the algorithm.
 
Discussed in this Episode
The true psychological and emotional cost of constant digital engagement
Why social media addiction is more than just screen time, it’s about manipulation
Insights from The Social Dilemma and TikTok Boom
How coaching, mindfulness, and emotional intelligence can reconnect us with our wise inner self
Practical steps: creating tech-free zones, journaling, and digital detoxing
Why building mental fitness is more urgent than ever in the AI age
A call to action: How to protect yourself, and future generations, from digital disconnection
 
Quotable Moments
"If you're not paying for the product, you are the product."
"Mindfulness doesn’t happen while scrolling, it starts when we step away from the noise."
"AI may be smarter, but it will never be wiser than a connected human being."
 
Key Takeaway
Awareness is the first step to transformation and transformation is process of reconnection. When we consciously reduce our digital distractions and prioritise mental fitness, we reclaim our power, our presence, and our peace.
 
Mentioned in This Episode
The Social Dilemma (Netflix)
TikTok Boom (Docuseries)
10 Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media – book by Jaron Lanier
Super Brain, book by Deepak Chopra & Rudolph E Tanzi
Amusing Ourselves to Death – Book by Neil Postman
Robert Kiyosaki quote: “Your future is created by what you do today, not tomorrow”
Mark Twain “A lie can travel around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.”
The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, book by Shoshana Zuboff , “the MARKET now trades exclusively in HUMAN FUTURES at scale”
 
Listen Now & Start Reconnecting
Feeling overwhelmed by your devices? Tune in for deeper awareness of potential damage and learn how to cut through the digital noise and reconnect with your true self, before it’s too late, for you and your loved ones.
 
Connect with Patricia if you want to know more about how Mental Fitness can help you.
 
Hit the subscribe button for more weekly episodes.
 
www.pacoaching.co.uk email hello@pacoaching.co.uk
 

Compliments

This episode is powerful and heartfelt, and is all about moving from self-sabotage to self-welcoming with self-care, reclaiming body love and inner wisdom.
Today Patricia dives into the inner critic that lives in all of us, the voice that tells us we’re not good enough. But what if it’s not only the world that’s to blame? What if it’s the stories we tell ourselves? Patricia shares a deeply personal journey of body shame, low self-worth, and the lifelong impact of unrealistic beauty standards. From the harsh truths about the media's influence to the importance of self-welcoming over self-improvement, this episode calls on women, and all listeners, to reconnect with their true essence, their "sage" within.
Through reflections on culture, parenting, and healing, you'll discover how embracing your natural, authentic self isn’t just liberating, it’s revolutionary.
 
Concepts Discussed:
body positivity
overcoming low self-esteem
unrealistic beauty standards
self-worth and parenting
emotional healing
women empowerment
body image issues
makeup-free movement
self-acceptance for women
sage mindset vs saboteurs
generational healing
confidence in your own skin
 
Notable Quotes:
“It’s not always the world telling us we’re not good enough. Sometimes, it’s just the stories we tell ourselves from our own perceptions.”
“My Mindful Poetic Stories podcast isn’t about self-improvement, it’s about self-welcoming.”
“If all women woke up and decided to love their bodies, half the beauty industry would collapse.”
“You are loved for your unique miracle self. Now repeat that to yourself.”
“Flawless doesn’t exist in nature, so why are we trying to chase it?”
“When we come home to ourselves, our world changes for the better”.
We live in a society which is very much dependent on roles and roles depend on how other people see you, so we all want to be seen in the best possible light and society punishes us for being authentic Gabor Mate
"I don't have ugly ducklings turning into beautiful swans in my stories. I have ugly ducklings turning into confident ducks. Maeve Binchy
"We get courage from other people's stories. We get consolation from the way they tell about failures, disappointments and crises. It means that we are not alone." Maeve Binchy
 
Call to Action
- If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs a reminder of their worth.
- Follow the podcast and leave a review on your favourite platform—it helps more people join this self-love revolution.
- Tag me on Instagram with your favourite takeaway using #MindfulPoeticStoriesPodcast.
- Subscribe for weekly reminders to reconnect with your beautifully imperfect self.
 
www.pacoaching.co.uk or email on hello@pacoaching.co.uk
 

Everyone

In today’s deeply personal episode, Patricia explores the emotional toll of the “pleaser saboteur”, a self-sabotaging behaviour rooted in the fear of rejection, unmet childhood needs, and a relentless desire to be accepted by others.
Drawing from both her own transformation journey and a poetic story inspired by the heartbreaking story of a friend’s experience with coercive control, Patricia shares insights into how empathy, when left unchecked, can lead to burnout, emotional manipulation, and the loss of self-identity.
In this episode Patricia uncovers:
How unconscious saboteur patterns like the pleaser and controller can trap us in unhealthy dynamics.
Why self-love is not selfish, but essential, to our wellbeing and happiness.
The danger of attachment disguised as love, and how to spot it.
Why mental fitness and frameworks like Positive Intelligence help build resilience.
How to set boundaries that protect your well-being and still honour your capacity to love.
The words of wisdom that run through all of Patricia’s podcast episodes, “You wouldn’t sabotage someone you truly loved. And you wouldn’t self-sabotage if you truly loved yourself.”
Join Patricia on a journey from self-abandonment to self-mastery, from self sabotage to self care, with reflections from thought leaders like Gabor Maté, Brené Brown, Carl Jung, and more.
Powerful Quotes from the Episode:
“You wouldn’t sabotage someone you truly loved. And you wouldn’t self-sabotage if you truly loved yourself.” Patricia Ahern
“The power is not in whether we say yes or no; the power is in our conscious capacity to choose.” Patricia Ahern
“My love is unconditional. But my presence is not.”
“It is not others’ responsibility to think of me; it is my own.” Patricia Ahern
“Being in the wrong relationship can be detrimental to your health.” — Gabor Maté
“Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.” — Lao Tzu
“The near enemy of love is attachment.” — Brené Brown
“Before you heal someone, ask him if he's willing to give up the things that make him sick.” — Hippocrates
“I think the saddest people always try their hardest to make others happy because they know what it feels like to feel absolutely worthless.” — Robin Williams
“Empaths fall in love with those destroying them—not out of weakness, but because they are unconsciously seduced by the other’s wounds.” — Carl Jung
 
References and Mentions:
Gabor Maté – Expert in trauma, addiction, and mind-body health
Brené Brown – Researcher on vulnerability, shame, and wholehearted living
Lao Tzu – Ancient Chinese philosopher
Carl Jung – Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst
Robin Williams – Quoted on the pain behind people-pleasing
Paul Brunson – Relationship coach (conversation with Gabor Maté)
Hippocrates – On true healing and personal responsibility
Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine – Framework of saboteurs and Sage mindset
Serious Crime Act 2015 (UK) – Legal recognition of coercive control as abuse
 
RECOMMENDED BOOKS - if you are dealing with highly controlling or narcissistic behaviour
 
Why Does He Do That - by Lundy Bancrofts - inside the minds of angry and controlling men
The Empath’s Survival Guide - Life strategies for sensitive people - by Judith Orloff
Toxic Magnetism - How and Why Empaths attract Narcissists by Kara Lawrence
Will I Ever Be Good Enough? - Healing the Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers by Karyl McBride
Maybe You Should Talk To Someone - by Lori Gottlieb
Adult Children Of Emotionally Immature Parents - How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting Or Self-Involved Parents by Lindsay Gibson.
Daring greatly - How The Courage To Be Vulnerable Transfers The Way We Live, Love Parent and Lead by Brene brown
 
Takeaway Message:
This episode is a heart-centered call to action for empaths, caregivers, and people-pleasers to turn their nurturing inward. Self-love is the foundation from which all healthy relationships are built. The journey may be challenging, but it’s the only one that leads to freedom, wholeness, and authentic connection, with yourself and others.
Highlights:
Pleaser saboteur
Self-sabotage behaviours
Coercive control in relationships
Empaths and narcissists
Mental fitness coaching
Positive Intelligence saboteurs
Healing childhood wounds
Setting emotional boundaries
Unmet emotional needs
Emotional burnout recovery
Self-love and empowerment
Narcissistic abuse awareness
Emotional manipulation signs
Inner child healing
Women’s emotional health
 
www.pacoaching.co.uk connect with me via social media or via my email hello@pacoaching.co.uk
 

My Fridge, The Bigger Picture

Podcast Show Notes: Episode 36
Episode Title: My Fridge, The Bigger Picture
 
Episode Summary
In this soul-nourishing episode, we explore the emotional root of cravings, the difference between hunger and emotional eating, and how societal conditioning traps us in cycles of self-sabotage. Patricia shares deeply personal reflections, insights from her coaching practice, and powerful tools to start healing your relationship with food, all through the lens of self-love, compassion, and conscious choice.
"We must learn to love ourselves so we self-care, not self-sabotage."
Key Takeaways & Themes
Cravings vs Hunger:
Hunger is a biological need; cravings often stem from emotional longing or unmet needs.
Emotional Eating Patterns:
Food becomes a "pacifier" to numb discomfort, pain, or stress, leading to cycles of guilt and shame.
The Power of the Pause:
Creating space between the craving and the action allows us to tune into our "true essence" and choose differently.
The Judge Saboteur:
Harsh inner criticism perpetuates shame and can drive emotional overeating.
Quick Fix Culture:
From slimming pills to injections, many chase short-term solutions that ignore root causes, and the potential long term consequences.
Hormonal & Biological Factors:
Ghrelin, GLP-1, and other hormones play a significant role in hunger regulation, it's not just willpower.
Reclaiming Power Through Self-Love:
Healing starts by nurturing compassion, joy, and patience within yourself.
 
Quotes to Remember
“Am I hungry? Or am I craving something else right now?”
“What felt like comfort was a cycle, an emotional rollercoaster masquerading as relief.”
“You are not weak when you binge eat, you're weary.”
“Learn to love yourself so you self-care, not self-sabotage.”
“Gaunt is not good. Tricking the body into not eating is not healing.”
“Eat like you love yourself. Move like you love yourself.” — Jim Kwik
“Nothing is more desirable than to be released from an affliction... but nothing is more frightening than to be divested of a crutch.” — James Baldwin
“People are fed by the food industry which pays no attention to health, and treated by the health industry which pays no attention to food.” — Wendell Berry
“At some point we need to stop just pulling people out of the river, we need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.” — Desmond Tutu
 
Referenced in This Episode
GLP-1 Drugs / Slimming Jabs (e.g. Ozempic, Wegovy)
Vanessa Feltz Show: Commentary on slimming injections and societal attitudes toward weight
Lizzie Cundy: On anorexia recovery and caution about slimming drugs
Documentaries on food education (not named but mentioned)
Psychologies Magazine – daily affirmations:
o “Eat to nourish, not punish”
o “Move to the rhythm of your body”
 
Tools & Practices Shared
The Power of the Pause — slowing down before reacting to cravings
Daily affirmations to rewire your beliefs around food
Self-inquiry prompts like “Am I really hungry?”
Listening to your body’s signals over societal conditioning
Understanding hormones and how they influence cravings and hunger
 
❤️ Final Message
You are not alone in your struggle with food, cravings, or emotional eating. The path to healing starts with self-awareness, continues with self-compassion, and is empowered by self-love. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress, presence, and patience.
“You are not your body, but your body responds to how you treat it. Choose to drive it with love, not fear.”
 
👉 Join the Self Love Movement — a community focused on healing from the inside out.
📩 To find out more about my work check out my website www.pacoaching.co.uk
🎧 Subscribe & share this episode if it resonated with you!
 
Hear more about my weight loss and self love journey on my conversation with Martha Rice on her Casting the Net Podcast 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=w04jsaohKQE&feature=youtu.be
 
www.pacoaching.co.uk, contact me to find out more or to book a free discovery call
 
 
 

My Fridge My Friend Part 1

Podcast Series: Self Love to Self Sabotage
 
Episode Overview
In Part 1 of this 2-part deep dive, Patricia shares a deeply personal journey of overcoming emotional eating, food addiction, and a once-toxic relationship with her fridge, which was not just an appliance, but an emotional crutch.
From binging to self-awareness, from comfort food to self-love, this episode unpacks the psychological, societal, and biological reasons why we eat when we’re not hungry, and what finally helped Patricia break free.
If you’ve ever turned to food for comfort, felt shame after eating, or battled diet culture, this one’s for you.
________________________________________
Key Quotes
“You are not weak when you binge eat. You’re weary.”
“My fridge wasn’t just an appliance — it was my emotional comfort blanket.”
“Happier people make healthier choices.”
“Self-love is a revolutionary act.” Abiola Abrahms
“I don’t work on my body anymore, I work with my body.” Patricia Ahern
There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river.
We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.” Desmond Tutu
“And I said to my body, softly, ‘I want to be your friend.’ It took a long breath and replied, ‘I have been waiting my whole life for this.’” Nayyirah Waheed
________________________________________
Key Topics
Emotional eating recovery
Comfort eating triggers
Treats & sugar dependency
Slimming pills vs self-love
Diet culture myths
The obesity crisis and societal influence
Self-love and body image
Healing through emotional awareness
What You'll Learn
Why emotional eating isn’t just about willpower, it’s also about emotional suppression
How childhood experiences may create lifelong associations between food and comfort
The truth about diet culture, slimming drugs, and marketing manipulation
How I shifted from food dependency to nutritional empowerment
How I went from numbing to nourishment
Why self-love is the foundation of sustainable health and helps us make healthier choices
Actionable tips to begin your own healing journey with food and body image
Listener Tips
Write your WHY – Why do you want to feel better in your body? Connect with your why.
Start small – One mini healthy shift a day is enough.
Talk to your reflection – Build a positive, kind connection with your body.
Use your fridge as motivation, not a crutch – Put reminders or photos that empower you.
Remember: willpower is depleted by dependency and addiction. Healing refuels it.
Final Thoughts
This episode is more than a story about food, it’s about breaking cycles, reclaiming power, and learning how to love yourself from the inside out.
If this resonated with you, share it with a friend who needs to hear they’re not alone. Let’s spread the message that healing is possible, and self-love is the real miracle cure.
Mentioned in this Episode
Mariana Cardore F* The Diet book and podcast - recommended Listen - https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/how-is-your-mental-fitness-interview-patricia-ahern/id1623052831?i=1000579711827 –
Next Week
To be continued….. Part 2 – My Fridge: The Bigger Picture – will zoom out and explore the wider landscape of slimming jabs, public health, convenience culture, and how we all got here. Plus: how to build resilience in a world that profits off your self-doubt.
Don’t miss it.
Call to Action
🎧 Enjoying the podcast? Here’s how you can support:
✨ Subscribe to the podcast for more soulful conversations on emotional well-being and personal transformation.
🌟 Leave a 5-star rating and a written review on Apple or Spotify
✨ Share this episode with someone who needs hope or healing today.
💌 Join the conversation: DM me on Instagram @pacoaching_foryou or email hello@pacoaching.co.uk
💻 Explore Coaching/Mental Fitness: www.pacoaching.co.uk
 
 
 

Rise Like A Phoenix Part 2

Host: Patricia Ahern
Theme: Grief, Resilience, Mental Fitness, Self-Healing, Rebirth
________________________________________
🔥 Episode Summary
In this powerful and poetic Part 2 podcast episode, Patricia explores what it means to rise from the ashes of loss, trauma, and emotional pain — just like the mythical phoenix. This is an honest and compassionate reflection on grief, emotional healing, self-reconnection, and building resilience.
Through personal stories, the transformative RAIN framework by Tara Brach, and the pain of losing a dear friend to suicide, Patricia takes us on a journey of radical acceptance, inner trust, and mental fitness. If you’ve ever felt the weight of grief, regret, or emotional disconnection — this episode is a heartfelt guide to rising stronger, wiser, and more compassionate.
________________________________________
 
💬 Memorable Quotes
"Time alone doesn’t heal wounds — healing comes from being open to learning and feeling." Patricia Ahern
"To heal, we must feel. To rise, we must trust that we can." Patrica Ahern
"You can’t get enough of something that almost works." – Dr. Vincent Felitti
"The biggest tears at a graveside aren’t for loss — they’re for regret."
"Mental fitness is not self-improvement — it’s self-welcoming." Patricia Ahern
________________________________________
RAIN: A Path to Healing and Acceptance
Tara Brach’s RAIN framework is a mindfulness tool for processing difficult emotions.
Learn more: RAIN Practice by Tara Brach
R – Recognize what’s happening
A – Allow it to be there
I – Investigate with kindness
N – Nurture with self-compassion
________________________________________
Resources & Mentions
🔗 Tara Brach’s RAIN Practice
📘 Radical Acceptance & Radical Compassion – by Tara Brach
o https://www.tarabrach.com/
🎓 Amusing Ourselves to Death – by Neil Postman
🧘‍♀️ Brahma Kumaris Meditation & Teachings
o https://www.brahmakumaris.com/
🧠 Positive Intelligence & The Sage Perspective
o https://www.positiveintelligence.com/
BACP Therapist Directory https://www.bacp.co.uk/about-us/home/
UKCP Register https://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/about-ukcp/our-register/
Counselling Directory UK https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/
Mental Health Ireland https://www.mentalhealthireland.ie/
MIND https://www.mind.org.uk/
________________________________________
📢 Call to Action
✨ Explore therapy or mental health support — your healing matters.
🎧 Enjoying the podcast? Here’s how you can support:
✨ Subscribe to the podcast for more soulful conversations on emotional well-being and personal transformation.
🌟 Leave a 5-star rating and a written review on Apple or Spotify
✨ Share this episode with someone who needs hope or healing today.
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If you’re grieving, struggling with inner pain, or feeling stuck — know that you are not alone. Healing begins with self-awareness, compassion, and connection.
 
email hello@pacoaching.co.uk
website www.pacoaching.co.uk
 
 

Rise Like A Phoenix PART 1

In this deeply personal and reflective episode, Patricia shares the first part of a two-part series on rising after loss, with an emphasis on grief, suicide, and emotional healing. Through a vulnerable recounting of her own experience losing a close friend to suicide, Patricia explores how emotional pain, when faced and processed, can lead to profound personal transformation.
This episode is a gentle yet powerful reminder that from our darkest moments, we can rise—stronger, wiser, and more compassionate.
💬 "Our darkest times can be our greatest teachers and motivators."
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Trigger Warning
This episode discusses grief, trauma, and suicide. Please listen only if you feel emotionally safe to do so. Resources for support are included below.
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Key Takeaways
We Can Rise From Pain
Healing is a conscious process, not a passive one.
Pain avoided becomes pain prolonged; pain processed becomes transformation.
"We may fall or fail, but these experiences define a life—they do not define us."
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Grief and Loss Are Unique Journeys
Based on the Kübler-Ross 5 Stages of Grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance.
These are not linear, nor the same for everyone. They are an emotional guide, not a rule.
“The brain tries to protect us, but sometimes it traps us in past pain.”
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The Power of Meditation and Reconnection
Healing began through meditation at the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University.
Introduced the concept of a “diamond within”—our inner light muddied by life’s burdens.
Brahma Kumaris UK https://www.brahmakumaris.com/
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Positive Intelligence & Mental Fitness
Positive Intelligence (PQ) teaches us to recognize Saboteur voices vs. the inner Sage (the diamond).
The Saboteurs see everything as bad and it will never be good.
The Sage sees challenges and even our darkest moments with a gift or opportunity within.
“The question: Which is true? The answer: Whatever you believe is true—for you.”
Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine https://www.positiveintelligence.com/
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Suicide Prevention & Awareness
Honouring Patricia’s friend’s memory, she shares some charities she supports for suicide prevention:
Charities Mentioned:
🇮🇪 HUGG Ireland – Support after suicide loss
🔗 https://hugg.ie/about-us/
🇮🇪 Pieta House – Suicide and self-harm prevention
🔗 https://www.pieta.ie/about/
🇬🇧 Silence of Suicide (SOS) – Breaking stigma around suicide
🔗 https://sossilenceofsuicide.org/about-us/
🌻 The OLLIE Foundation – Youth suicide prevention
🔗 https://theolliefoundation.org/
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Mental Health Insight: Post-Traumatic Growth
2023 Collective Trauma Conference Patricia first heard the phrase Post Traumatic Growth
The concept that growth can follow trauma—emotionally, spiritually, even socially.
"Not just healing—but rising. That’s what post-traumatic growth means."
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Quote Spotlight
“Trauma is not what happens to us, but what happens inside us as a result of what happens to us.” – Dr. Gabor Maté
“Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.” – Robin Williams
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Support Resources
BACP Therapist Directory https://www.bacp.co.uk/about-us/home/
UKCP Register https://www.psychotherapy.org.uk/about-ukcp/our-register/
Counselling Directory UK https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/
Mental Health Ireland https://www.mentalhealthireland.ie/
MIND https://www.mind.org.uk/
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Closing Reflection
This episode is a tribute to those lost too soon, we remember you and we rise in your name, and also a reminder to anyone struggling: you are not alone. You can heal. You can rise.
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Next Episode Teaser: Part 2
In the next episode, we’ll dive into:
Recognising self-sabotage patterns from pain
The power of engaging and reconnecting with your Sage within
Tara Brach’s RAIN Method for emotional healing
 
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