If you could recommend one step that anyone could take towards healing, what would it be? (Part 2)
This is my favourite question to ask each of our Wag Tales podcast guests, and so far, I’ve had the privilege of posing it to 35 incredible individuals (and counting). Some of our guests share from the perspective of working and leading in the field, while others offer insights drawn from their lived experiences. Together, they provide a wealth of helpful recommendations.
I feel incredibly grateful to host a podcast that allows me to learn from such brilliant people, and I’m even more thankful for the opportunity to share their wisdom with others.
In this post, I’m excited to share part 2 with another 15 answers. This is part 2 of a series, if you missed part 1, you can read them here.
I invite you to read through their suggestions (unedited, directly from our transcripts) and consider what might resonate with you or someone you’re supporting.
Have a recommendation of your own? We’d love to hear it—please share it with us!
Marie McLeod (Positive Psychotherapist featured in the documentary “How to Thrive”, Ep 16) recommends:
“Rewire the brain”
“Changing your lens- know that we’re wired to look at what is wrong. So do the ‘what went well’ to re-wire the brain… but self-compassion is also massive. It depends where people are at. If they’re already doing the work (what went well), then beginning to see ourselves and treat ourselves as our own best friend and to notice when we’re suffering, to soothe ourselves, and to check in with ourselves.”
Kristy Elliott (Founder and Director of Restorative Pathways, Ep: 17) recommends:
“Forgiveness”
“The narratives we have about ourselves are not always great for us. If we can figure out, with relational support, what you need to forgive yourself for, we can start there to put your best self out into the world and then be able to support others with that also..”
Dr Peggy Kern (Professor, Centre for Wellbeing Science at The University of Melbourne, Ep: 18) recommends:
“Mental health”
“Take care of your own mental health. If you don’t have your own wellbeing, then you can’t take care of the wellbeing of others.”
Yahya (NGO employee in the West Bank, Ep: 19) recommends:
“Presence”
“The power of now. We tend to be trapped in the past, and we call this group the nostalgic group. They could be mourning something that already happened, but you cannot reverse the past. Then this is the other group who are always looking to the future. They are just running to reach something and subconsciously they’re just always setting another goal. The trick is to just live the moment. The power of living the present.”
Shane Kelton (Author, speaker and podcaster from Power, strength and vulnerability, Ep: 20) recommends:
“Keep reaching out”
“Not just reach out for help, but keep reaching out. A lot of people who reach out get scared, and rightfully so, it’s daunting. Once you reach out, that is the hardest part done. Continue to reach out and find what works for you and helps you.”
Palestinian tour guide (Ep: 21) recommends:
“Faith”
“I recommend people to go back to their religious beliefs and try to seek safety with God.”
Marissa Williamson Pohlman (Olympian Boxer, Ep: 22) recommends:
“Be real with yourself”
“Just be so fucking for real with yourself, sit down and be like okay “I really need this.” There needs to be less stigma around accessing therapy. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without all the unpacking that I have done. I am a different person to who I was 3 years ago. Please consider taking steps towards improving your mental health that aren’t counterproductive. Don’t do other things to try and fix it, just do the thing, trust yourself, and you’ll thank yourself in the future.”
David Cerrone (Humanitarian Clown and art therapist, Ep: 24) recommends:
“Intimate time”
“Intimate time. Don’t be afraid to dip into yourself and be with yourself for 5 minutes. Like writing, singing, drawing. Let yourself have time and really think how do I feel?, Not to make big changes, but to just to make checks on yourself. The more you spend time with yourself, the more you discover who you are and what you want. Sometimes, just one little change in your life can help you with many things.”
Martin Bisp (Founder at Empire Fighting Chance, Ep: 25) recommends:
“Acceptance”
“Acknowledgement and acceptance of where you are. One of the things we do from day 1 is to say there are no wrong feelings, if you’re angry that’s okay or if you’re this, that’s okay and you see the weight lift from them. Acceptance of a situation and acceptance of who you are allows you to move forward. If you are always trying to change things, it’s difficult to give yourself the space to grow.”
Liam Wood (Director at Cor Effect, Ep: 26) recommends:
“Take action when you’re feeling good”
“Invest in the things that fill your cup when you are feeling well. It can be easy to say, I don’t need that counseling session this month, or I don’t need to meditate or to keep up with my exercise coz I’m feeling pretty good. It’s so much harder to get those things rolling when things start to go bad.“
Belinda Jankowiak (OT and Founder of Project Classroom, Ep: 27) recommends:
“Movement and nature”
“One thing I know from the research and know from me personally is the importance of moving our bodies and I know that throughout many times in my life, something as simple as a walk can be so restorative. Even better if we could add it as a walk in nature. There is incredible research of the soothing benefits that nature can have on our nervous system. Don’t underestimate the power of even a 10-minute walk”
Jen Willis (High altitude mountaineer, Ep: 28) recommends:
“Storytelling”
“Look at the stories that you’ve been telling, very bravely. How many stories have you told over time that you’re telling for someone other than yourself? Were you trying to solidify belonging or acceptance, but realise that story wasn’t truly you? Revisit what story might you have wanted to tell at that time and how might that have worked for you? Sit with those lessons, slow down and be in stillness. Let go of as much influence and expectation of the world and of yourself.”
Rebecca Harris (Author, Director of Embedding Wellbeing, Ep: 29) recommends:
“Awe”
“Find more awe and wonder! Look for the beauty because it is everywhere.”
Ben Sacco (Director at Education Economy, Ep: 30) recommends:
“Connection”
“Be honest with ourselves that we are imperfect beings and we are social beings. We need other people to connect with. Understanding the power of that. It costs no money to send a message and ask if you are free this weekend, but it takes a lot of courage. Be honest with ourselves, we might be the one that needs the healing. It’s a strength, it’s not a weakness.”
Jack Greig (Co-Founder at Teachers’ Well, Ep: 31) recommends:
“Knowing what I can do when I need it”
“Knowing what I can do when I experience stress and overwhelm. So identifying what that feels like and one or two things that I can do. Having that one person you can talk to that will help you be seen and supported. And one more. These aren’t earth-shattering things, but just the way I start the day makes a difference. Having a morning routine.”
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These 15 Wag Tales guests offer a variety of perspectives on healing, highlighting that there’s no single path that works for everyone, all of the time. What you need today might not be what you need tomorrow, and that’s why this list is so valuable. Whether you're looking for ways to connect with yourself, others, or something bigger, there’s a tip here that might just speak to where you are right now. Explore these recommendations and keep in mind that healing is a journey—feel free to revisit these insights as your needs evolve. There’s something here for everyone, no matter where you're at.
As we continue to record episodes for the Wag Tales, we will continue to explore this question with our guests. If you are curious to find out more, you can find each episode and subscribe to the Wag Tales on your preferred platform here.
