The Positive Pants

17/04/2026

"Powerhoop and Gratitude "

I’ve just written a chapter about one of the lowest points in my journey.

It wasn't the dramatic kind of low.
It was the quiet kind.
The kind where nothing is happening, but everything feels heavy.


I had been in the psychiatric ward for weeks.
Most days looked the same.
I would wake up, have my medication, eat a little breakfast, and then go back to bed. And I would lie there for hours. Staring into the abyss.

Day after day.
it was just me, my bed, and my thoughts.

And I remember thinking one day that really no one is coming to save me.

That was a hard moment.
Because I didn’t feel strong. I didn’t feel ready. I didn’t even feel capable.
But I knew one thing.
I couldn’t stay there.

So I made a small decision.
Not a big one.
Not a life-changing, dramatic shift.
Just this.

Five minutes. That’s all I had to do.

I got my Powerhoop brought into the ward and I took myself outside into the sunshine.

I didn’t want to do it.

There wasn’t a single part of me that wanted to move.

But I did it anyway.

And while I was moving,
I started thinking of small things I was grateful for.”

The sunshine. A coffee. The nurses. My family.

Nothing big.
Just something.

And I did that again the next day.
And the next.

And slowly something started to shift.

Not overnight.
Not in a big, obvious way.

But quietly
I was building something.

A habit. A foundation. A way back to myself.

And that’s what I’ve learned from that time.
You don’t need to change your whole life in one go.

You just need to start.
Even when you don’t feel like it. Even when it feels pointless.

Because sometimes the smallest things are the ones that save you. 🩷

15/04/2026

I have a very dear friend who has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. And so I am even more inspired to write these words.

For her.
For you.
For your sister.
For your mother.
For your friend.
For your daughter.

On that note, feel free to share this page for anyone who might be going through something tough in life. It might be cancer but it could be anything that rocks your world. I am writing my book, and am sharing snippets and nuggets of wisdom as I go.

I’ve just written a chapter about losing my hair during my cancer journey… and it brought up more than I expected.

I wanted to share a piece of it with you.

When you are diagnosed with cancer, you have a million questions to ask your oncologist. And I can distinctly remember that one of the first questions was

"Will I lose my hair?"

When she told me, yes, I would and within three weeks I cried.

I had always had long hair.
Thick. Brown. Strong.

And in some way… it felt like my power.
My identity.

And then when it started to fall out… in the shower, I knew. It was time. Seeing it come out in clumps was distressing and I didn't want to go through that anymore.

Nigel sat me outside, and he shaved my head. And I remember feeling everything at once.

Fear.
Sadness.
Grief.

Tears rolled out my eyes as my hair fell to the floor beneath me.

I remember how I felt so exposed and vulnerable.

And then that night we were going out to celebrate my daughter’s 21st.

I had a short blonde wig.

Going from long brown hair… to blonde it was quite a transformation.

I remember walking into the venue and for a moment… no one recognised me.

And it felt strange.

Like I had lost something familiar…

But also stepped into something new.

But then something shifted…

I felt strangely beautiful.

I felt dressed up.
I felt held.
I felt loved.

I danced most of the night with my daughter and with her friends.
And that mattered to me more than anything. I allowed myself to be truly in the moment

For the days leading up to the party I had been so sick with the chemo and was so afraid I wouldn't be well enough for the evening. I think that God helped me so much be well that night 🩷

This part really stayed with me.

Because even in the middle of losing parts of myself…

I was still allowed to feel joy.

Still allowed to celebrate.

Still allowed to show up.

And maybe that’s the lesson in all of this

We don’t have to wait until everything is “fixed”
or “back to normal”
to live our lives.

We can still step into the moment exactly as we are

🩷

13/04/2026

11/04/2026

I’ve started writing my book, which has been a long time coming.

This morning on my walk I received the message that the time is now, and I’ve decided to share it as I go. It's not exactly polished, nor is it perfect by any stretch of the imagination but it is real and raw.

The book isn’t just about cancer, it's far more than that. It's about all the ways life can quietly break you while you’re still showing up, still smiling, still being “strong” for everyone else. I think many of you can relate to that.

I wrote about a moment today that changed everything. And honestly the reason I share is I don't want to wait before I share some of the nuggets with you. Some people may need to read this now. Before I get to the "publish" stage.

So here it goes.

"The Collapse".

From the outside, it didn’t look like much, I was standing there holding a carrot cake, about to walk into the Powerhoop class. All I wanted to do was to celebrate my friends birthday and to see my lovely community.

But inside?

Everything was happening at once. My chest tightened, my breath changed and my legs didn’t feel steady anymore.

And then this overwhelming feeling hit me, like I wasn’t safe inside myself.

I remember wondering what the hell is happening to me?

But there was no space or time to figure it out.

Because something deeper had taken over. It wasn’t just panic. It was everything I had been holding together for so long to finally giving way.

All the pushing.
All the pretending.
All the “I’m fine.”

Gone. Just like that.

And the strangest part?

There was a tiny voice underneath it all that knew this has been coming for a while.

I physically could not walk through the doors. It felt like I had hit something invisible like a glass wall had appeared in front of me.

And then my body took over, because my mind had ignored it for far too long.
This was my collapse. The moment I finally lost control of everything. It was finally out of my hands.

The ambulance arrived and I began my final descent. Head first into the big black hole.

The message in this chapter is you don’t have to wait until you completely collapse before you start listening to yourself .

I'll keep sharing as I go and hopefully it helps you in some way 🩷

06/04/2026

It's Easter Monday and tonight I'm without my co host Lucy Marie Francis 🥲 but she will be back next week. She's enjoying some rest with family. Instead I'm joined by the lovely Inna Neal - Innerlightened instead. We will be chatting about the importance of rest and what magic occurs when we allow ourselves to have time out. You don't want to miss this one.

Tune in at 7pm tonight from anywhere on the world.

https://eastfm.nz/shows/silver-linings/

12/03/2026

The Heart Van Sessions are Back for a limited time only 🤍

After some time away, I’m opening the doors to the Heart Van again for those who feel called to sit, breathe, and reconnect.

These are gentle 1-hour sessions where I hold a safe and supportive space just for you. Together we can slow down, talk through whatever is on your heart, and I’ll intuitively read some cards to offer guidance and clarity if you’re feeling a little lost or searching for direction.

Sometimes we just need someone to truly listen…
Sometimes we need a moment to reconnect with ourselves.

This is a special space for healing, reflection, and encouragement.

1 hour private session
Card reading + intuitive guidance
Held in a calm, supportive space
$99 per session

If you feel called to come and sit in the Heart Van, send me a message.

I have three spots available this Saturday afternoon at Howick Beach. 1pm 3pm and 5pm.

With love,
Amy🩷

11/03/2026

I Spoke at Bellyful tonight and my heart is so full 🩷

I shared parts of my journey — the breakdown, cancer, and the biggest lesson life forced me to learn… that prioritising yourself isn’t selfish, it’s necessary.

For years I put everyone else first and kept pushing through, until my body finally said enough.

Healing for me began the moment I started listening to myself, slowing down, and choosing what I needed too.

What really touched me tonight were the women who came up afterwards with hugs, tears and the words “I needed to hear that.”

That’s why sharing our stories matters. When one woman speaks her truth, it gives others permission to do the same.

Grateful for such a beautiful night 🩷
Thank you ladies for the work you do in the community to help new mums. 🩷

02/03/2026

Join Lucy Marie Francis and myself for the next couple hours for some fun and uplifting conversations

nnfm.nz/shows/silver-linings

22/02/2026

Signs ❤️

Four years today since Buddy left us.

22.02.22

Even the numbers feel crazy:

Losing him the way we did was traumatic. One minute he was here, the next he wasn’t. Dreadful.

After he passed, we all asked him for a sign. Something personal.

Max chose dolphins.
Daisy chose sunsets.
I chose white feathers

But Chloe wasn’t getting anything so I told her to ask him. Ask him for something clear.

That morning she walked into a random place she’d never been before witb her friend and there was a Coca-Cola sign from that name campaign years ago.

It said: “Have a Coke with Buddy.”

Buddy isn’t some common name in our world. Of all the names. In that moment. On that day. Seriously! 😅

I remember being fully blown away.

A few short months later, Bailey came into our lives. And I truly believe Buddy sent him. The timing, the way it unfolded, the urgency of her coming into our lives.

Every morning now I walk in the park and find a little white feather. Nearly every day. I keep them in a jar. My little jar of Godwinks. Reminders that love doesn’t just disappear.

Four years without his crazy little ways.

Love doesn’t leave. It just changes form.

And check out the time and date I took the snapshot of Buddy 😅

16/02/2026

Join myself and the wonderful Shona tonight for a show full of inspiration and silver linings

Sadly no Lucy Marie Francis tonight but back next week 🩷fm.nz/shows/silver-linings

13/02/2026

I’m now available for speaking events. 🩷

Do you or your staff need a long lasting and impacting morale boost?

There is nothing more powerful than being in a room together… feeling the energy shift, watching walls come down, seeing people reconnect with themselves and each other.

I share my story, not from theory, but from lived experience.

Overcoming eating disorder
Body image battles.
Breast cancer
Double mastectomy
Breakdowns.
Rebuilding.
Resilience.
Energy.
Happiness after adversity

And the question so many of us quietly carry

How do we rebuild ourselves after life hits so hard?

How do we rise when we feel completely depleted?

How do we find our energy again when it feels like it’s all gone?

My talks are real. Honest. Vulnerable.
But more importantly, they are also uplifting, warm, and full of light.

There is laughter. There is connection. There are moments that make you exhale and think, “me too.”

People don’t walk away feeling heavy.
They walk away feeling energised. Motivated. Seen. Loved.

They leave remembering who they are.

If you’re looking for a speaker who can move hearts, shift the atmosphere in the room, and create a truly beautiful experience for your staff, school, or community — I would love to work with you.

Let’s create something powerful together. 🩷🩷🩷

DM me or email me amymcauley29@gmail.com

03/02/2026

Wow… I honestly don’t even have the words which isn't like me 😅

Receiving messages like this reminds me exactly why I do what I do. Ths was feedback from last week session i ran for the school staff.

These sessions and talks aren’t just about motivation — they’re about real tools, real shifts, and real change in everyday life.

To know someone walked away feeling uplifted, energised, and already making small changes like gratitude over doom scrolling… that’s everything.

Thank you for trusting me, for listening, and for being open to something different

If you’re looking for a speaker for your school, workplace, group or event — I would LOVE to bring this joy, truth and energy to your people.

Let’s talk.