Virtue Counselling

08/03/2022

You are enough!

Today is International Women’s Day, a day where we celebrate women, their equality and achievements. As a collective group this sounds great but do you believe it includes you individually?

There’s no denying we live in a world of comparison, comparing our lives and achievements to both celebrities and those around us, something which the world of social media has amplified for us.

Life has got so busy, us women are under more and more pressure to keep up and hold so much together. The demands of family life, work life, social life keep increasing but we still just have 24 hours in our day!

Equality among women however doesn’t mean our days all have to look the same or we have to do the same amount of stuff to be successful. A stay at home mum is just as successful as a working mum, a woman with 2 or 3 friends is as loveable as someone with 100 friends, a single woman is as worthy of love as a married woman.

Our titles or roles do not make us anymore valuable and until we realise that we are ‘enough’ right how we are, celebrating women will always feel like something for other people.

No matter your life circumstance today, your job title, your relationship status, I want you all to know you are enough! We are all unique in who we are and what we contribute to those around us.

The world needs you! Those around you need you! Who you are makes a difference wherever you are positioned in life! Everything else, job, husband etc is just an add on.

You are a unique worthy woman positioned where you are for a purpose, not everyone’s purpose looks the same so stop comparing!

A beautiful woman is someone who knows her worth and carries that with her wherever she goes.

Believe this is you 👸🏼💖

26/02/2022

When the world has you overwhelmed,
Set everything aside.
Keep the big things there,
Bring the little things in, one by one.
Slowly.
Get dressed,
Brush your teeth,
Eat.
Congratulate yourself on each and every tiny achievement and refuse the to-do list any air-time.
Then,
Take a seat,
Relax,
Read,
Listen to your music.
That’s enough.
You have done well my friend,
For now.
Reach inside and shake hands with your soul who is, for the most part, ignored and abused, squashed and squeezed into a world gone mad.
Remember you are driving yourself through a fast-paced life that was not really your creation.
Remember who you are; child of the universe, full of wonder and joy.
Too much work will break a back.
Take a rest my friend.
The big things were not your doing, not really.
You will get them done,
When you're ready.
And you will be ready, because,
that’s just who you are.

Donna Ashworth

Books:
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08LRGWY74/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabt1_OYLVFbX4YR91V
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LRGWY74/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_t1_

Image credit:

14/02/2022

The greatest love 💖

It’s hard to escape the roses and chocolates on display everywhere today as everyone demonstrates their love for each other.

What about love for ourselves? So often we look for love from others but the greatest love we can have is the love of ourselves!

From the moment we are born we are at the mercy of what others say and think about us. We grow up being conditioned and shaped into what fits for other people and we are too young to pull back and decide who WE say we are.

This then carries on into adulthood and our opinion of ourselves has already been formed.
I’m too quiet, too fat, too badly behaved to be loved, I don’t deserve it! Only people who are not like me deserve love!

Would you believe me if I told you these are all lies? Because they are! Everyone deserves and is worthy enough to be loved! It’s not something reserved for ‘special people’

You are fearfully and wonderfully made, there is no one else on Earth like you, you are unique and the only one who can make an impact on this world doing what you do!

Think about that for a minute, absolutely no one else among the billions of people on the Earth is the same as you! You are the only one who can offer your talents, personality and beauty to those around you.

The moment you begin to love yourself, your perspective changes. You set healthy boundaries and standards for yourself, knowing that you deserve nothing less than the best.

Why should other people deserve better than you? Why do they deserve love and not you? The answer is they don’t.

No matter how we look, our social status, our bank balance, none of these make us any more or less worthy of love.

Fall In love with yourself again today. Believe there is no one else like you and the world would be a different place without you in it!

You have so much to offer by being you, so tune into your heart and hear what it has to say, not what you hear from others.

Find yourself, be yourself and love yourself again 💖

08/02/2022

Showing children how to be resilient is important for their mental health, a charity says.

30/12/2021

04/12/2021

They’re watching you know
when you take them to the beach
and you linger self-conscious
the sea just out of reach

They’re listening each time
you deny yourself treats
in order to punish
for the fails of last week

They’re watching you know
when you stare at the glass
your face full of hate
no sign of your sass

They’re listening to you
when you say no I cant
when you put yourself down
when you rage and you rant

They’re watching you know
so give them a show
a guide for a lifetime
of letting things go

A manual for love
a map for the stars
a self regulation
to heal any scar

Show them perfection
is not on your list
that life is chaotic
but beauty persists

Let them see you
make a friend of yourself
and show them acceptance
above all else

They’re watching you know
those sweet little eyes
so show them a life
not lived in disguise

Donna Ashworth

Books ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08LRGWY74/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_QXYBP1XQNKBHB07D6QHC )

Image by Play On Light Photography PlayOnLight Photography

20/11/2021

BE THAT WOMAN

Be the kind of woman you want to call when things go wrong.
Be the motivator, the encourager of dreams.
Be the kind of fierce friend you want to have yourself.
Love your girlfriends deeply, they are your sister warriors in this world and only they know just what a crazy, hormonal ride womanhood really is.
Be loyal, love hard.
Be a soulmate, be a sister.
Be strong, be kind.
Listen hard and laugh lots.
Tell the truth but keep the secrets.
Big up everyone you meet.
Kind words travel endlessly.
If you can’t say anything nice don’t say anything at all.
Spread the sparkle of a smile and a compliment whenever you can.
There is room for us all to be happy and successful.
Lend a hand if you’re there already.
Pull your girls up.
Push them if you need to.
Straighten each other’s crowns, spot the lipstick on the teeth and the loo paper on the shoes.
Avoid the drama, smile at the haters, they’re actually admiring you from afar.

Donna Ashworth
From ‘to the women’
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LRGWY74/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_t1_e1LVFb7RZ2XGN

Art by Kelly Simpson Hagen

26/10/2021

As Hope Filled Befriending scheme continues to grow, we are looking to recruit a team of dedicated volunteers. If you can give 1-2 hours a week to make a positive difference in the lives of those who are socially isolated and alone in our community, then we'd love to hear from you. Please call 07591 636874 or email ruthc@hopemagherafelt.com