Imagine if you could follow your ambition without drowning in it – how much more fulfilling life would be? That’s what Pause Purpose Play is all about – finding balance over burnout by setting you free from needing to be perfect, so that you can take action and get started with what matters to you, instead of getting stuck in procrastination and holding yourself back with self-limiting beliefs your inner critic tells you. In this podcast, Michaela Thomas, Clinical Psychologist, Couples Therapist and founder of The Thomas Connection, shares bite-sized learning around psychology of performance, habits, self-confidence, stress, anxiety, perfectionism, parenthood and couples relationships. The podcast will mix solo episodes with guest interviews; diving deep into their professional zone of genius and learning about how they have found pause, purpose and play in their life and in their work. My new book, The Lasting Connection, is available now from all good bookshops.
Episodes
Thursday Nov 09, 2023
Thursday Nov 09, 2023
“Good enough” is not a curse word.
“Good enough” is not a sign of failure.
“Good enough” is workable.
“Good enough” will set you free.
In today’s episode, we’re reflecting on how much time we’ve wasted on things that don't really matter.
All because we didn't allow ourselves permission to do things just “good enough”.
Join me today as we discuss how “good enough” will save you time, energy, and potentially money.
Here are the highlights:
(1:41) Imperfections and self-compassion
(6:28) Avoiding burnout for female entrepreneurs
(9:20) Embracing imperfection during the holidays
(13:55) Letting go of perfection and embracing “good enough”
Find out more:
www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/burn-bright
info@thethomasconnection.co.uk to ask Michaela about Burn Bright.
Thursday Nov 02, 2023
Thursday Nov 02, 2023
When thinking about your capacity, consider looking at your energy levels as a battery.
This is all about energy management.
You don’t want to be running on empty.
You want to be at capacity, doing all the things that matter most to you.
This is especially important if you feel overwhelmed or rundown.
So, join me as we discuss what drains your battery and energy.
Here are the highlights:
(1:58) Energy management for busy people
(6:20) Burnout prevention for ambitious women
(8:02) Managing energy and self-compassion
(12:14) Setting clear boundaries
Find out more:
www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/burn-bright
info@thethomasconnection.co.uk to ask Michaela about Burn Bright.
Thursday Oct 26, 2023
Thursday Oct 26, 2023
Women come to me saying they have no energy.
We have demands on our time, pressures on our capacity, drains on our energy and expectations on our performance.
No wonder we feel frantic and overwhelmed when we juggle that much.
That's why I don’t do morning routines.
But there are things we can do instead.
So, join me as we discuss energy, nervous system activation, and how to soften rigid rules into something more manageable.
Here are the highlights:
(1:42) Managing energy levels in ADHD
(5:26) Avoiding burnout for female entrepreneurs
(6:57) Flexible self-care options
(9:59) Morning routines and self-care
Find out more:
www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/burn-bright
info@thethomasconnection.co.uk to ask Michaela about Burn Bright.
Thursday Oct 19, 2023
Thursday Oct 19, 2023
People pleasing goes hand in hand with perfectionism and compassion.
And most of the time, people pleasers struggle with saying no.
They spread themselves too thin by agreeing to things they don't want, or have the capacity to do.
It can lead to feelings of resentment, exhaustion, irritation, and even burnout when we repeatedly ignore our own limits, in order to please others.
So, join me today as we discuss people pleasing, saying no and setting boundaries.
Here are the highlights:
(1:43) People pleasing and setting boundaries
(5:33) Burnout prevention for women in business
(7:33) Setting boundaries in relationships
(10:32) Prioritizing self-care
Here is the link to my workshop - People Pleasing in Relationships.
Thursday Oct 05, 2023
Thursday Oct 05, 2023
Not every perfectionistic person has impostor syndrome.
Not everyone who is bothered by impostor syndrome has perfectionism.
But there is an overlap between the two.
The fear of being found out as a fraud can make us feel that we’re not good enough.
So, today we're talking about impostor syndrome with my guest Jill Stoddard.
So, if you’re bothered by these feelings whenever you do something new, this episode is for you.
Join us.
Here are the highlights:
(3:08) Imposter syndrome impacting successful women
(13:29) Those feelings of self-doubt
(22:57) Vulnerability and imposter syndrome
(28:30) Burnout for women in leadership
(36:58) Growth and midlife clarity
(44:12) Imposter syndrome impacting success
(46:56) Your inner self-criticism
Find out more:
Order Jill's book Impostor No More here:
Jill's website: https://jillstoddard.com/
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
Are you a perfectionist?
Perhaps you put a lot of pressure on yourself?
Maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed with lots on your plate?
There are many ways the pressure of perfection can affect us.
So today, I’m discussing letting go of that pressure.
Join me, as we give ourselves permission to make progress over perfection.
Here are the highlights:
(1:10) Perfectionism and inner work
(4:49) Overcoming perfectionism and burnout
(8:29) Perfectionism and progress
(11:18) Improving relationships, health and wealth
Find out more:
www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/burn-bright
info@thethomasconnection.co.uk to ask Michaela about Burn Bright.
Thursday Sep 21, 2023
Thursday Sep 21, 2023
This episode has a little twist.
Because today we’re talking about nutrition.
I'm bringing back my fabulous guest, Thalia Pellegrini, a registered nutritional therapist.
You might think nutrition is just about food.
But there's so much more to it than that.
So, join us as we discuss nutrition, and learn how to nourish ourselves while being more self-compassionate through what we put on our plates.
Here are the highlights:
(2:52) Nutritional therapy for women’s health
(10:09) Food and our mental health
(18:41) Burnout prevention for female entrepreneurs
(26:01) Healthy eating habits
(34:19) Nutrition and psychology for better health
Find out more:
Thalia's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thaliapellegrini_nutrition/
Thalia's website: https://www.thaliapellegrini.com/
Join the transformational group coaching programme Burn Bright before the 27th of September to see a full recording of this episode: www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/burn-bright
Tuesday Sep 19, 2023
Tuesday Sep 19, 2023
Welcome to today’s bonus episode.
Things can get stressful at this time of year, with our kids going back and starting school.
We have a lot going on.
So, today I’m opening up about my experiences over the last few days.
Join me, to hear how I used mindfulness tools to stop, breathe and notice.
Here are the highlights:
(2:06) Being spontaneous
(5:44) Tricky transitions
(9:35) Compassionate responses
(13:42) Gaslighting yourself
Thursday Sep 14, 2023
Thursday Sep 14, 2023
People pleasing, setting boundaries, trusting yourself.
These are just a few topics I’m touching on today.
I’m joined by Natalie Costa, an award-winning coach, speaker, author and founder of Power Thoughts.
So, if you’re someone who has a mean inner critical voice, or you’re a bit of an overworker, then this episode is for you.
Join us.
Here are the highlights:
(2:18) This episode is for YOU
(7:27) Bringing toxic work culture into your own business
(16:06) How the nervous system is impacted by the programme
(20:07) The power of self-compassion and mindfulness
(29:26) Feeling scared about your worth
(36:58) How to find Natalie and her work
Find out more:
www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/burn-bright
info@thethomasconnection.co.uk to ask Michaela about Burn Bright.
Natalie’s website: www.powerthoughts.co.uk
Natalie’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/powerthoughtsnc
Natalie’s previous episode on Pause Purpose Play: https://thethomasconnection.co.uk/power-thoughts-with-natalie-costa/
Thursday Sep 07, 2023
Thursday Sep 07, 2023
It’s easy to obsess over removing every imperfection.
We all know how hard it is to let things go when we don't feel that they’re ready.
So today, I’m answering your questions about letting go of ‘perfect’.
Join me, and let’s make more progress.
Here are the highlights:
(3:14) Just doing it
(6:45) How to burn bright
(9:39) Letting go
(13:24) Life coaching
I provide both coaching and therapy, and can identify which intervention is best suited to you and your current life circumstances, in a way that life coaches cannot.
I am so passionate about this that I am running a free masterclass about it on the 13th of September at 12.00 called
No Regrets-Build the life you want to live.
https://thethomasconnection.lpages.co/noregrets
The other exciting news is that the doors are now OPEN to Burn Bright for this round’s applications.
I won’t open the doors again until January 2024, so if this is for you–make sure to book a call with me in September.
Register your interest on
www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/burn-bright
and I will answer any questions you have.
Application form for Burn Bright : https://info859178.typeform.com/to/xteAuHmx
Email me questions:info@thethomasconnection.co.uk