August reminded me that…
There is a quiet power in creating space.
Space between who we truly are and the conditioning we have absorbed; between a thought and our belief in it; between an emotion and our reaction to it. When we step back and become the observer, we can begin to ask:
Is this true?
Is it worthy?
Is it helpful?
We become more conscious of what we are mirroring, leading with and role-modelling – and of what, in turn, is being mirrored back to us, often through the people closest to us, especially our children.
This is where real transformation begins:
Not in believing every thought, following every fear or reacting to every emotion that arises – but in creating enough space to choose how we want to meet what is here.
And perhaps that is part of what it means to live awake.
To notice. To question. To choose consciously.
To trust that even when we cannot see the whole path clearly, it is still there.
And in that space between what arises and what we choose next, we may discover something that was available to us all along:
The possibility of a different response – and perhaps find the peace that has been waiting for us in the present moment all along.
The Wisdom of our Children
Kids say the darndest things, don’t they?
But what if, every now and then, we stopped long enough to really listen?
As adults, we spend so much time nurturing, guiding, protecting and teaching our children all the things we think they need to know about life.
And then, every so often, they turn around and teach us something instead.
Lately, I’ve found myself being reminded of this by my own children – and by watching other parents with theirs. In their honesty, curiosity, unexpected wisdom (and sometimes hilarious observations!), children have a wonderful way of making us see things differently.
So here are a few little reminders from this month that made me smile, think, or both.
Because sometimes, while we’re busy raising them, they’re raising us too.
How one sentence opened up a window to a whole new parenting style – Watch Here
How my own daughter taught me about teamwork – Watch Here
And the way our children grow into the things we’ve taught them – Read Here
In Case You Missed It Some Whatsapp Channel Highlights
On August 9th, we honoured the women who came before us, the women rising beside us and the generations still to come.
Their silence was never the absence of a voice.
It was courage. Resistance. Collective power.
Across seven decades, their voices have continued to rise – calling for freedom, truth, unity and leadership.
She rises. We rise.
#NationalWomensDay #WomensDay2026 #SheRisesWeRise #TheAwakenedWoman #ConsciousLiving
August 12th saw us recognising our youngsters.
Listen to young people.
Make space for their voices.
Recognise that they are already shaping the world.
Mind full or mindful?
One creates noise.
The other creates space.
Being mindful means becoming the observer of your thoughts, not getting lost inside them.
Here’s your friendly reminder:
You don’t have to carry every thought into every day.
We had a few cold, wet and rainy days in Eswatini this month… and it got me thinking. 🌧️
When the weather is cold, we put on layers.
Perhaps we do the same with people.
When the environment around us feels cold, critical or unwelcoming, we protect ourselves. We close off. We add layers.
And when there is warmth, safety and acceptance, something in us begins to soften.
So a little Conscious Living thought for you:
What kind of weather are you creating for the people around you?
Are people having to layer up around you?
Or do they feel safe enough to take a layer off?
#ConsciousLiving 🌱
Try This With Me
Our minds generate thousands of thoughts every day.
The goal isn’t to stop thinking.
The goal is to become aware of which thoughts you’re giving your attention to.
This month’s exercise is one I often use in therapy to help create a little space between ourselves and our thoughts.
Give it a try, and afterwards ask yourself:
What changed when I became the observer instead of the thinker? 🤍
#ConsciousLiving 🌱
Upcoming Events
Tomorrow, as we step into spring, something new begins.
On 1 September, I’ll be hosting the very first Awakened Woman Circle – a monthly online space for women to deepen the work, stay connected, and keep choosing how they want to live.
The Circle is both a continuation and a beginning – for women who have journeyed with us before, and those joining us for the very first time.
🌿 The Awakened Woman Circle
First Tuesday of every month
18:30 (SAST)
Begins 1 September
SZL 250/month
Learn More & Register → Awakened Woman Circle
Where women stay awake – together. 🦋
And if you missed the Awakened Woman workshops, stay close… I have some exciting news coming soon. 👀🌿
Behind The Scenes
This month, I’ve been reading A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson – a book that explores what can shift when we begin to move from fear towards love.
One line that has stayed with me comes from A Course in Miracles, which deeply influences the book:
“The past is over. It can touch me not.”
A simple but powerful reminder that while the past may shape us, it doesn’t have to decide what happens next.
It fits beautifully with this month’s themes of stepping back, observing our thoughts, being present and remembering that sometimes a new beginning starts with seeing differently.
August Affirmation
You don’t need to wish you’d started sooner.
You just need to start from where you are.
The second best time is now.
Consciously,
Bronwyn Russo
Clinical Psychologist
M.A. Clin. Psych. (Curtin University, Australia)
