When Life Gets Loud: A Slower Way to Begin Again
A personal story of burnout, money shame, and rebuilding something softer — with rest, reconnection, and a different kind of resilience.
I’ve been in a season of stepping back — not from life, but from the way I’d been running my business. Most of my energy went into other meaningful projects while I gave myself permission to see what comes next: supporting a charity, collaborating with a disabled artist, and exploring things that got me excited. I let go of the pressure to be “always on” so I could make space for ideas I’d been craving to explore, and opportunities I couldn’t see before.
In many ways, it was a kind of hibernation — not from living, but from pushing. I gave myself permission to stop offering in the way I had been, to rest when I needed to, and to seek joy in the small, everyday moments. My personal time became my practice, and that gentler pace slowly brought me back home to myself, my loved ones, and the kind of work I truly want to share.
Big Love Movement began because wellbeing shouldn't feel distant—it should feel real, useful, and accessible for everyday life. (Learn more)
The truth about burnout, money shame, and starting over
Things got too loud for a while — in my own head, and out here in the world. Living in a hyper-contented, always-on culture takes its toll. My senses were frazzled. The edges of myself singed. So I stepped back — and this time, I honoured that need. I wondered if you’d still be here. But I remembered: if this work is meant to be, if it truly matters — then so will the people. If you’re reading this now after the silence, thank you. It means the world.
Money — a lifelong challenge.
I struggled with maths at school, and through my twenties, debt followed me like a shadow. Even now, saving feels like a foreign language. Money has often been the thing that kept me pushing, even when my body was saying no. Bills to pay. A life I want to live. Guilt for still needing help. Shame I don’t want to carry.
It’s something I want to speak more openly about. Financial stress affects our whole bodies — our breath, our sleep, our ability to rest. And it’s something I’ll be exploring more inside the Big Love Resource Hub, including a new section around Financial Wellbeing (coming soon). Because nervous system support and self-compassion are just as needed here.
What I learned from stepping back — and what might help you too
Six years ago, I left my fashion career. I became self-employed. I met my now-husband (good things really do come in threes). But it’s taken nearly all of those six years to accept one simple truth: I don’t want to do just one thing.
I’m a creative. I write. I make. I plan. I sketch. I teach. I guide. I get ideas faster than I can digest my breakfast. And I love turning them into something real, something someone else can hold or feel or use.
I taught movement because of the pandemic — but what I really care about is helping people feel their way back home to themselves.
I’ve hosted workshops. Designed journals. Curated gatherings. Created a membership. Shared breath, playlists, space, and my personal story. I’ve done a lot. And it still never felt like enough.
Why? Because I believed the old lie: “You have to focus on one thing.” That belief kept me circling ideas that no longer fit. It made me question my worth and fragment my joy.
So I moved to the seaside. (Hello from Margate 👋)
I got my head down. Tried new things. Worked on different projects. Juggled. Shifted. Sometimes burned out. Sometimes thrived. Every single time: I learned.
The clearest lesson? I’m not here to narrow myself. I’m here to follow what brings me joy — to create, to nurture, to be fully alive.
As Big Love slowly takes new shape, I’m being intentional about who and what I invite in. This time around, I’m building things with a gentler pace — and with more collaboration, care, and community at the heart of it.
We’ll be welcoming trusted practitioners, educators, and lived experience voices to contribute resources, workshops, and stories. Every contributor will align with our values: trauma-informed, transparent, inclusive, and grounded in compassion. It matters that what we share is not just helpful, but also safe and respectful.
If you’re someone who holds space for others — or if you’ve walked through something and want to share what helped — there will be space for you too. Contributors will apply through our Code of Practice, and once verified, can offer content, run sessions, or share stories within the Big Love Hub. (More about us)
Real, useful, and accessible—for everyday life.
Over the past few months, I’ve been quietly building something behind the scenes — a new Resource Hub — a space to gently support you through the harder (and more human) parts of life.
The first three free sections are now live:
Calm & Clarity: Tools for easing anxiety and regulating your nervous system — including breathwork, grounding techniques, and self-holding practices. As we say inside: "Anxiety is embodied. Let’s meet it there." (Explore – Calm & Clarity)
Lift Your Mood: When You’re Feeling Low or Stuck — Gentle practices to shift your energy, reconnect with yourself, and move toward lightness — in your own time and at your own pace. (Explore – Lift Your Mood)
Restful Nights: Improving Sleep Quality — Sleep hygiene tips, relaxation techniques, and bedtime routines to enhance sleep and help you wind down with more ease.
This is just the beginning. More is coming, slowly and soulfully — with the help of thoughtful contributors and practices I trust. You can see the wider vision of the hub right here.
I’ll be writing again soon — and gently adding to the Hub as I go. If you’d like to walk with me as this unfolds, stay close.
For now, I’m just glad to be writing to you again.
Big Love,
Becki x