I first discovered mindfulness over seven years ago. It was recommended to me by a friend, and I have never looked back since. Having suffered from trauma as a child and then depression and anxiety as a teenager, I was put on medication, and alongside this, I received counselling and cognitive behaviour therapy. Although medication helped, it is not something I wanted to depend upon for the rest of my life. I came off the medication slowly, in my early twenties. The cognitive behaviour therapy helped and is something I can always go back to, but the depression didn't go away. The darkness would come now and again, and I was always suffering from chronic stress and felt like I was 'at my limit'.

I qualified to be a chartered accountant around the same time I found mindfulness. My stress was at its peak as I felt the pressure to be the best and to climb the corporate ladder, no matter the effects on my mental health. As I began to practice mindfulness, I was building resilience in myself, and I began to notice how I could deal with stressful situations much more easily. My thoughts became clearer, and I started to discover what I liked and what truly made me happy.  The creative spirit that I had buried away was coming back. I began to find happiness as I stopped living in my head and started living in the present moment instead.

I began by taking a college course (Introduction and Advanced Mindfulness) and completed two online diplomas (Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher), and I joined the wellbeing team in my workplace where I began to share mindfulness meditation with colleagues in regular group sessions in my local office and at our other office in Milton Keynes. I recently qualified as a mindfulness teacher with the UK College of Mindfulness Meditation, and I have taken an art therapy course.

I know what to share with people and the world because it is positively life-changing. It reduces pain and suffering. It's something we all have within us, and if more people can be at peace, the planet we live on will be filled with love and compassion. Although mindfulness is my biggest passion, I do enjoy other things too. I have two border terrier dogs who keep me active. I enjoy running and doing yoga (especially Yin). I also love going to music festivals and spending time with my friends and family.

I first discovered mindfulness over seven years ago. It was recommended to me by a friend, and I have never looked back since. Having suffered from trauma as a child and then depression and anxiety as a teenager, I was put on medication, and alongside this, I received counselling and cognitive behaviour therapy. Although medication helped, it is not something I wanted to depend upon for the rest of my life. I came off the medication slowly, in my early twenties. The cognitive behaviour therapy helped and is something I can always go back to, but the depression didn't go away. The darkness would come now and again, and I was always suffering from chronic stress and felt like I was 'at my limit'.

I qualified to be a chartered accountant around the same time I found mindfulness. My stress was at its peak as I felt the pressure to be the best and to climb the corporate ladder, no matter the effects on my mental health. As I began to practice mindfulness, I was building resilience in myself, and I began to notice how I could deal with stressful situations much more easily. My thoughts became clearer, and I started to discover what I liked and what truly made me happy.  The creative spirit that I had buried away was coming back. I began to find happiness as I stopped living in my head and started living in the present moment instead.

I began by taking a college course (Introduction and Advanced Mindfulness) and completed two online diplomas (Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher), and I joined the wellbeing team in my workplace where I began to share mindfulness meditation with colleagues in regular group sessions in my local office and at our other office in Milton Keynes.