Join me on Tuesday 30 June, 4pm (UK) for The Purposeful Pause - a FREE mid-year reflection and refocus session. We’ll gently look back at the first half of the year, reconnect with what matters, and explore what you want the next six months to feel like. If you’re craving clarity, change, or a little more breathing space, I’d love you to be there. Book your free place on Eventbrite.

In this episode of The Purposeful Shift, Emma reflects on the importance of recognising our own progress and the evidence we've built through life's experiences. Inspired by a quote from manifestation coach Vanessa Jaden, she explores the connection between belief, growth, and possibility, considering how acknowledging our achievements can help us feel more confident about what's still to come.

Drawing on psychology, Emma discusses concepts including hedonic adaptation - our tendency to quickly normalise achievements and move the goal posts - and Albert Bandura's theory of self-efficacy, which suggests that our belief in our own abilities grows through evidence of overcoming challenges and succeeding in the past.

Emma also reflects on her own journey, sharing the story of building a successful wedding photography business from scratch, and how easily we can forget the courage, determination, and resilience that helped us achieve things we once believed were beyond our reach.

Ultimately, this episode is a reminder that growth isn't only about becoming more. It's also about recognising who you've already become, celebrating the progress you've made, and using that evidence to believe in the possibilities that still lie ahead.

Take a sheet of paper and divide it into three columns.

In the first column write:

Five years ago I was...

In the second column write:

Today I am...

In the third column write:

What growth happened in between?

Rather than focusing solely on achievements, think about what you've learned, overcome and discovered about yourself during that time.

Write down every achievement you can think of, from the smallest everyday wins to the milestones you're most proud of.

Don't filter your list or compare it to anyone else's.

This isn't about impressing other people. It's about creating your own evidence bank - a reminder of everything you've already achieved and the resilience, courage and determination that helped you get there.

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Thank you for listening to The Purposeful Shift.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow or subscribe so you don't miss future conversations. If someone came to mind whilst listening, why not share this episode with them too?

You can also connect with Emma on Instagram at @thepurposefulshift.

If you would like to take part in similar exercises in a live online session, you can book for The Purposeful Pause on Eventbrite, it’s free to join and takes place on Tuesday 30 June at 4pm (UK). Book on Eventbrite.

In this episode of The Purposeful Shift, Emma is joined by artist, Toubie Jack, for a conversation about creativity, purpose, confidence, and using art as a force for positive change.

Toubie shares her journey from mural artist and children's art facilitator to becoming a self-described "plastic artist", transforming unrecyclable plastic waste into striking artworks and large-scale community sculptures.

What began as a lockdown experiment using discarded food packaging has evolved into a creative practice with a powerful environmental message at its heart.

Together, Emma and Toubie explore the role creativity can play in helping us connect with our values, the importance of following what genuinely excites us, and how purpose often emerges through experimentation rather than careful planning. Toubie reflects on the joy she finds in creating, her passion for community engagement, and her mission to help people see the potential hidden within materials that would otherwise end up in landfill.

Toubie shares the story behind her current Masters project - a giant inflatable fish made from fused plastic waste and created with contributions from hundreds of local school children. Through workshops, festivals, and community participation, she hopes to inspire people of all ages to think differently about waste, creativity and the power of collective action.

About Toubie Jack

Toubie Jack is a contemporary artist and creative practitioner whose work transforms unrecyclable plastic waste into artwork and community-led creative projects. Combining environmental awareness with creativity and education, Toubie's work encourages people to rethink waste and explore new possibilities through art.

She is currently completing a Masters degree and developing a large-scale inflatable fish sculpture created in collaboration with local schools and community groups.

Instagram: @plastic_art_studio

Website: Www.plasticartstudio.co.uk

Didsbury Arts Festival Parade
5 July 2026

Didsbury Arts Festival

• Cornwall Scrapstore - https://cornwallscrapstore.co.uk/
• Pencils of Promise - https://pencilsofpromise.org/
• Pens for Kids - https://www.pensforkids.co.uk/
• Halfords Bike Re-Cycle - https://www.halfords.com/bikes/services-advice/re-cycle.html

Thank you for listening to The Purposeful Shift.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow or subscribe so you don't miss future conversations. Reviews, ratings, and shares help more people discover the podcast and are always greatly appreciated.

You can also connect with Emma on Instagram at @thepurposefulshift.

And find out about our upcoming events including a FREE online mid-year reset for women on 30 June 2026 at 4pm, Book on Eventbrite.

We hear a lot about gratitude.

We're encouraged to keep gratitude journals, write daily lists and focus on the positives. But when life feels difficult, overwhelming or uncertain, gratitude can sometimes feel like an unrealistic expectation rather than something that genuinely helps.

In this episode of The Purposeful Shift, Emma explores gratitude from a different perspective.

Rather than seeing gratitude as pretending everything is perfect, she reflects on how it can help us notice that not everything is bad. Drawing on psychology, neuroscience and positive psychology research, Emma explores why our brains naturally focus on what's missing, and how intentionally shifting our attention can improve our wellbeing, strengthen relationships and help us see our lives through a different lens.

Emma also reflects on the influence of manifestation teachers such as Roxie Nafousi, Noor Hibbert and Vanessa Jaden, alongside the work of researchers including Robert Emmons, Martin Seligman and Barbara Fredrickson, highlighting the growing evidence behind gratitude practices and their impact on optimism, resilience and emotional wellbeing.

Sharing personal reflections, including the story of her rescue dog Griff, (be warned for wobbly voice), Emma explores how gratitude isn't simply about making lists, but about learning to reframe our experiences, appreciate what has shaped us, and recognise the everyday moments that often go unnoticed.

Ultimately, this episode is an invitation to slow down, pay closer attention and discover that gratitude isn't about having a perfect life - it's about recognising the goodness that's already present alongside life's challenges.

Take a sheet of paper and divide it into three columns.

In the first column write:

What am I grateful for?

In the second column write:

Why does this matter to me?

And in the third column write:

What does this tell me about what I value?

Rather than simply creating a list, this exercise encourages you to explore what your gratitude reveals about the things, people and experiences that matter most, helping you make more intentional choices about how you spend your time, energy and attention.

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Thank you for listening to The Purposeful Shift.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow or subscribe so you don't miss future conversations. If someone came to mind whilst listening, why not share this episode with them too?

You can also connect with Emma on Instagram at @thepurposefulshift.

Or sign up to the newsletter for weekly inspiration direct to your inbox at: www.thepurposefulshift.co.uk

See you soon!