Jann’s Jottings - June 2026

Newsletters

Jun 12

“The most practical pages for perusal on the web”

Jotting (defn): short details of significant events, behaviours and conversations about wellbeing, growth and education/career.

Wellbeing Jot: Exercise, Socialise and Metabolise

This is the simple, daily formula for wellbeing. Exercise, socialise and metabolise (healthy food and rest) is like a three-legged stool that supports our mental and physical health. Our relationships can only be as healthy as we are, and we need to start with ourselves so we can be energetic and present.

The law of consistency is required here, that is, that motivation gets us going, and discipline/consistency keeps us growing (John Maxwell). Consistency emphasises sustainable, long-term habits rather than sporadic, intense bursts of effort. This takes essential and intentional choice, and making our health a priority. It will not happen overnight, but with consistency, we will be paying forward to a healthy, happier future self.

Ponder this:

How are you maintaining your energy, presence and health in these three areas every day?
What will you start and stick with?

Coaching can help with that.

Growth Jot: Defined or Refined?

Life events, both positive and negative, come to us daily. We can let these circumstances define or refine us.

Defined implies distinct limits or boundaries, or a set state of mind about the impact the event had on you. Hence, we say “This event defined or made me who I am today”. Whether good or bad.

Refined implies a shaping, polishing, change or growth from an event, like a beautiful diamond that emerges from rock. When difficult circumstances arise, being refined suggests that something is stripped away, and a purer, stronger version of ourselves emerges. For example, a serious health scare lends itself to looking after our bodies better, or a serious work-related issue enables us to sharpen our practice, change our attitudes and seek to learn how to be a better person/leader.

The good news is that due to the neuroplasticity of our brains, negative events that we previously let define us can be intentionally revisited and reshaped by reframing to shift the narrative. In doing so, we can improve our recovery from setbacks, reduce distress and grow from the experience.

Ponder this: How can I grow from this circumstance and use it to be better in the future?

Coaching can help with that.

Career Jot: The Clock and the Compass

What drives your decision-making? Is it the clock paradigm – being reactive, trying to get more things done in less time, wishing you always had more time? The clock represents our commitments, appointments, schedules, and activities. Many time management approaches promise ways to do more things faster, yet we often find that increasing our speed makes us feel more stressed and less thorough. We may conclude that the complex challenges we face cannot be solved by increasing our ability to get more things done in less time.

An alternative is to consider leading using a compass paradigm. The compass represents our vision, values, principles, mission and direction or what we know to be true and important in how we lead ourselves and others. It guides the choices we make on how we use our finite time.

There is stress in the gap between the clock and compass that feels like guilt, fear, confusion and discomfort.

Schedules, to-do lists and work-related activities remain. Our challenge is to use our compass to decide what, where and when to reduce the stress gap so that we can more closely align efficiency and direction.