Growing contentment
Cultivating Growth and Wellbeing: Insights from Lou Hamilton.
In this solo episode of the Brave New Girls podcast, I explore a question central to our existence: How do we cultivate contentment in a world that often feels overwhelming? The answer, I’ve found, lies in courage—specifically, in understanding our fears and using them as catalysts for acts of service. These practices have not only transformed my life but can help you grow happier and healthier too.
Facing Fear: My Journey to Courage
At 50, I reached a turning point. Struggling with health anxiety, menopause, and grief, I felt paralyzed by fear—fear of the unknown, of failure, and even of success. My fear wasn’t unfounded; it stemmed from deep losses and personal trauma, including the harrowing experience of witnessing the Lockerbie bombing aftermath. For years, I suppressed these emotions, but they resurfaced, demanding to be addressed.
Through trial and error, I learned that courage isn’t about eliminating fear but working with it. Courage grows when we focus outward, on acts of service, rather than inward, on our anxieties. These acts nourish us, much like regenerative farming restores depleted soil, yielding a flourishing ecosystem. By practicing compassion, contribution, connection, and creativity—the 4 C’s of Courage—I’ve cultivated not just contentment but joy, gratitude, and peace.
Practices That Transformed My Life
Compassion: My journey with permaculture has taught me the power of kindness—toward the earth, others, and myself. Growing my own vegetables and nurturing soil mirrors the compassion I’ve learned to show myself, turning anxiety into a sense of purpose.
Contribution: Sharing my story through books, workshops, and the Brave New Girls podcast has been a powerful way to transform pain into purpose. By helping others, I’ve found healing and fulfillment.
Connection: Initially intimidated by networking, I reframed it as an opportunity for curiosity and connection. Building relationships has become a joy, reminding me that loneliness dissolves in the warmth of community.
Creativity: Painting and public art have allowed me to channel my fears into creative expression. My art often reflects the ephemeral qualities of essential oils, evoking feelings of calm, energy, and abundance.
These practices don’t eliminate fear but help us coexist with it, transforming it into a driving force for courage.
For overall support of these growth practices, the following three Young Living essential oils/blends would align beautifully with the practices discussed in cultivating courage and contentment:
Lavender (for Compassion)
Lavender is renowned for its calming and soothing properties, making it ideal for fostering self-compassion. Whether diffused, applied topically, or added to a bath, it helps ease tension and promotes relaxation, encouraging you to treat yourself with kindness and care.Valor (for Contribution)
This empowering blend of spruce, rosewood, blue tansy, and frankincense is perfect for building courage and strength. Valor can help you feel grounded and focused, making it easier to contribute to others and step into leadership roles in service of the greater good.Joy (for Connection)
A blend of floral and citrus oils like bergamot, ylang ylang, and geranium, Joy uplifts the spirit and opens the heart. This oil is perfect for deepening connections, fostering positivity, and creating an inviting space for meaningful relationships.
These oils can support your journey by enhancing emotional balance, courage, and the joy needed to practice compassion, contribution, connection, and creativity daily. Combined with the strategies discussed by me, they can form part of a holistic approach to growth & wellbeing. They can be used in various ways, such as diffusing them, applying them topically (diluted as needed), or incorporating them into meditative or therapeutic practices. Each blend has specific properties that can support emotional well-being, aiding in the journey from suffering to a place of safety, purpose, and healing. I am a Brand Partner with Young Living if you wish to order these oil blends at a discount.
Do you want to join our next Brave New Girls Wellbeing Growth Retreat? Find out more.
Talk to Lou Hamilton- Your Wellbeing Coach
Ten Actionable Steps to Grow Courage and Contentment
Acknowledge your fears without judgment.
Practice small acts of kindness daily, starting with yourself.
Create a ritual of gratitude to focus on life’s positives.
Connect with others by listening and sharing authentically.
Volunteer or contribute to a cause bigger than yourself.
Explore creative outlets like journaling, painting, or gardening.
Use essential oils like lavender for calm, citrus for energy, and frankincense for grounding.
Spend time in nature to reconnect with the earth and yourself.
Seek learning opportunities to expand your understanding and skills.
Commit to daily acts of courage, no matter how small.
Grow your courage to cultivate contentment through compassion, contribution, connection, and creativity, transforming fear into joy.
If you have worries around life’s juggles & health challenges, and want to grow a healthier, happier life, work with your Wellbeing Coach Lou Hamilton who will guide you through the steps you need to take, to get to where you want to be.
See which bespoke coaching programme works for you & we can tailor them further to your growth needs.
