Surf Blog by Cherie

This morning I was sitting out past the surf break on my surfboard watching this amazing sunrise. 

You know those mornings when the sky is sooooo golden. 

And it gives you an indescribable feeling. 

And then…! 

As I was sitting enjoying the morning. 

…out paddle two buffoons.

Loud, alpha, talkative types looking to shred on the wave. 

TBH I thought they were high - they were so elevated. 

Everything in me shrunk and I wanted to paddle away.

And I did.

Later I was telling my friend about it. 

And he said, ‘you just shouldn’t worry about it…’.

And I thought - I’m not worried, I just didn’t like it!

People often think because I’m sensitive - that I am the problem.

And for years I’d think something similar. 

If I just stay numb and immune to the energetic changes in temperature of moods and people around me - everything would be right in the world again. 

Well, I don’t know if you experience this too…

But neither goes very well for me. 

So, I want to remind you of the incredible power that lies within an introverted and sensitive nature. In a world that often celebrates extroversion, it's important to recognize the strengths that come with being introverted or sensitive.

Maybe you have these traits too, or know someone who does.

These traits means that there’s an ability to deeply reflect, empathize, and listen in a way that can truly set you (or them) apart. 

Let’s embrace it as a superpower because it allows the ability to connect with others on a profound level and bring a sense of calm and understanding to any situation.

But as I often have to remind myself, it's okay to recharge in solitude, connect with Mother Ocean, and together honour the need for quiet moments of introspection. She will always welcome you. Because she knows that introversion is not a limitation but a gift that can lead to great insights and creativity for the world.

Let’s celebrate introverted strengths, trust in its unique perspective, and let your authenticity shine brightly!

---

I hope this message resonates with you and provides the motivation you need to embrace your introverted and sensitive nature. If you need any more support or guidance, feel free to reach out to GroundSwell. 

As we wrap up April...

And step into May.

It's a perfect time to reflect and set intentions for the month ahead.

You see each month I plan 3 goals for the month ahead and I reflect on the month that just went.

I reflect on what I am proud of. What I am grateful for. And I reflect on the things that didn't quite work and I ask myself if I had another opportunity how I could improve? And I set my intentions and goals from there.

So, I'm curious...

What are you proud of from April? Take a moment to celebrate your wins, big or small. Every step forward counts.

What can you celebrate or feel grateful for? Acknowledge the effort you've put in and what you have.

And if you had a chance to start again, what goal or intention would you set for May? Think about what excites you, what you want to call in, what you want to learn or do differently.

This is how we can embrace May with positivity, curiosity, and a fresh mindset.

Remember, you're capable of amazing things - trust me!

Here's to a month filled with new opportunities and growth!

Welcome to 2025!  🎉 

2024 seemed to go so fast for me. 

A year of lots of learnings and growing with a lot of effort and striving towards goals and ticking things off. 

This year I am working on being really honest about what I want and what’s not serving me. 

This isn’t always easy to do. 

It’s much easier sometimes to stay quiet or small so we don’t change what is normal and familiar.

And this year I am going to work on setting intentions but with a softer approach creating a space energetically, physically and emotionally for them to unfold and come to me. 

Rather than me working so damn hard to figure out how to bring it to me.

Can you relate?

To do this I create a sacred space and check in with myself and my higher consciousness about what the overall vision for the year should look like.

When I checked in, that 2025 vision will be about expressing more grace and groundedness in my life this year. 

To do that, I start to focus on categories like health or career to create goals that align with the overall vision keeping in mind things I want to achieve. 

For example, with my health, I’d like to feel stronger in my body so that I can surf some bigger waves this year. So I set the intention that this is my goal and with grace and groundedness I will be open to receiving how this can take shape. This doesn’t mean that I sit idle, but I acknowledge my vision and start looking for signs and clues how this will take shape - taking action steps along the way and using my energetic, physical and emotional spaces to maintain momentum.

I’d love to know your intentions and visions for the year! Let me know what’s on your mind.

Remember, that we are all co-creating this world together so know that I celebrate what you have already achieved and hold space for what is coming for you!

There was a time when I would scroll on Facebook absentmindedly whilst also wishing a change in my life.

Maybe even wishing many changes.

What I was not realising that I was the cause for that change not happening.

I don’t believe that we can scroll away and wish for our lives to be different. 

However, we have a tendency to numb and distract ourselves by scrolling.

Have you ever?

Have you ever sat hoping for something to show up in your life whilst losing time on social media?

You’re not alone if you have!

I’m totally guilty. 

I just know that I can create opportunities that take steps to the outcome I want or I can scroll. 

But I can’t do both.

If you’re guilty like me…the invitation is to put down the device and take one step towards that thing you want this week. 

Send an email. Do some research. Connect with Mother Ocean - any action step will do.

I want to see you succeed but we have to take a step beyond wishing first. 

And I'll be stepping along with you this week!

There can be lots of ways to release.

We can move. 

Talk.

Sing. 

Or even cry.

Our nervous system will try and release in ways to support you and get you back to homeostasis. 

Crying is a release of cortisol – a stress hormone built up when life has been too much for too long. 

And it’s the nervous systems way of eliminating this stress hormone that is being stored in the body and no longer needed for survival. 

So there’s no shame in crying. 

The invitation is to follow your body’s reflexive responses - even when it doesn't make sense.

Just like you might imagine Mother Ocean holding sacred waters that she doesn’t force back, you do too. 

So let your own sacred waters flow!

x Groundswell.

P.S Did you know that we offer Surf Therapy sessions as another way to heal. Click here for more information.

Did you know that tears are the most healing waters you can use. 

Never be afraid of them. 

Powerful ointment. 

And the release of cortisol - bound up stress hormones freeing from your body. 

It’s a powerful release. 

But the meaning you make from them can be destructive. 

So keep thoughts aside. 

And allow for movement and flow.

I have had a number of people this week say, man you have a good life. 

And I do. 

And some of those people are the ones that criticised me for my rebellion. 

You see I only say yes to things that bring pleasure to my life. 

If it doesn’t, I say no. 

In this day and age it seems rebellious. 

So many people like to tell me how hard they work. 

Or how busy their day was. 

I was so busy today I didn’t even get lunch. They say.

I feel so sorry for those people. 

I have lunch because it brings me pleasure. 

Which means I can then show up for people. 

I take time to pause. 

Have a bath. 

Go for a surf. 

Because it brings joy and fills me up. 

When I say yes when I need to be saying no…

Everything starts to break down in my life. 

I’m a little fussy. 

I judge. 

I gossip. 

I skip exercise. 

A bad mood insidiously creeps in and I can be left wondering what’s wrong with me. 

Nothing!

I just didn’t choose me. 

Let’s choose pleasure this week!

I remembered the importance of resetting recently.

I took a week off from everything and went surfing for a week with friends.

Disconnecting from my routine.

My phone.

My work.

My family.

I spent time in nature and away from what is my usual routine.

I read books, got inspiration and had fun!

I encourage you to disconnect at times to reset this week, it's so important, especially in these times.

Hope it's a lovely week for you.

My mentor jokes that she became an overnight success, after ten years. 

As do most successful people. 

After researching success in others, and my own, I often come back to some fundamentals. 

Purpose. Intention. Routine. 

My purpose allows the ability to always hook into something that feels bigger than me.

My intention provides an anchor when it feels dark and confusing. 

And my routine affords momentum and connection.

You see, each morning I follow the same routine and it sets me up for the rest of the day. 

I wake up before the sun and I dedicate some time to bring calm or clarity.

This may mean I do some meditation, or stretching, or dancing, or journaling or gratitude – whatever my body wants...and then I head to the beach no matter what the conditions are and go for a surf! 

Surfing everyday in any condition? I’ve seen it all! Wipeouts galore, dolphin time, epic waves, lake like conditions and way too big for me surf! 

But after the surf I then go for a coffee with my tribe and this is what surfing is all about for me. The sense of community it brings to my life. We all have the same shared passion and love for the ocean. 

This means that before I start my work day I am connected already to my purpose and things I desire in life.

And don't worry I could write a book on the things people have told me I am because of that routine. 

Crazy, rigid, mad, incredible, someone with a death wish, someone that people envy...this list goes on depending on their projection.

I take no notice because I take my routine so seriously knowing that it keeps me alive and successful. 

This routine has saved me but also serves me. 

A routine at the start of the day means that I always have a place to land no matter my conditions or the outside conditions. 

I hope whatever is part of your routine is part of your bigger purpose and is anchoring for you.

x cherie.

So you probably already know that at the start of this year I set myself a challenge to surf everyday, regardless.

Regardless of the weather, the surf conditions or my thoughts!

It's mostly been pretty easy.

Because never has it been something that I said that I should do.

I was fully committed.

But it also has taken a lot discipline (getting up at 4am in the dark in the middle of winter was brutal!).

It has given me so much back though.

It's given me a better understanding of what it takes to adjust. 

Adjustment to whatever is presented in front of you and making the most of it.

There have been dangerous conditions. No swell. Thunderstorms. Sharks. My moods!

But it has also given me so much love. A stronger sense of community. Beautiful sunrises. Dolphins. Fun and plenty more that couldn't fit on this page.

Funnily, committing to it brought more freedom to my life.

Because it brought more richness, connection and love.

I hope you can see the gifts in your commitment and discipline whatever that is for you.

I had a shocker of a week.

You know those weeks where nothing seems to go to plan?

There was overwhelm, lost keys, broken appliances, anger and tears on repeat until I just stopped.

In the process of it all it reminded me of what Peter Levine has said about there being a lack of tolerance for emotional vulnerability and little time being allotted for the working through of emotional events - whatever they may be.

He believes that we are routinely pressured into adjusting too quickly in the aftermath of an overwhelming situation.

This week it reminded me of those messages and this week taught me once again, that I should sit with emotions and process them rather than moving on too quickly.

It reminded me to chose to create unity from within rather than pivoting and controlling experiences and events.

Which can be quite a process and in truth probably started many events ago.

But each moment of internal mastery over events builds on each other.

And when we can choose the path of growth, it leads to more growth, more mastery, more resilience and more strength.

It's not an easy path at times.

And it's a choice to commit to it.

But a rewarding one and a sustainable one my friend.

Recently I took a week off.

I find it helpful to take short breaks to reset myself.

Otherwise I go a little mad!

I often go to a beach I love where I have some pretty magical moments.

Dolphins jumping about.

Eagles soaring.

I even had a dingo follow me this time (I could've done without that!).

But I went with the expectation to take a walk along the beach with a friend where we often have amazing chats because we disconnect and are so attuned to nature and each other.

All week we were trying to recreate a walk we did last year.

To feel an aliveness that was present last time.

But when it's forced and recreated - of course it doesn't happen.

So through the week I was getting edgy to recreate it and trying to control people and things to ensure we could line it up.

Of course things just kept going wrong.

So I let go and kept saying to myself 'things always work out for me'.

And then unexpectedly we got a chance to disconnect with the big group we were with and spend time walking.

And so many unexpected things happened because I wasn't trying to control or recreate.

New and even greater things occurred.

Like feeling so attuned and connected that the colours seemed brighter.

Or that the energy around us so felt alive.

Or feeling so seen in a way that was pretty new to me.

I will continue to say to myself things always are working out for me and see what happens!

Hope things are always working out for you too.

Here’s how surf therapy can benefit you:

✅ Mindfulness and focus: Surfing requires concentration and being fully present in the moment. When you are on a wave you can’t be anywhere else! Riding waves and navigating Mother Ocean's currents can help us develop a mindful mindset and promotes a break from rumination and worries.

✅ Self-confidence and empowerment: Overcoming challenging waves and conditions in surfing can translate into a greater sense of empowerment and resilience in our daily life.

✅ Connection with nature: Spending time in the nature has shown to have a calming and restorative effect on mental health. The sights, sounds, and sensations of the ocean can promote relaxation, mindfulness, and a sense of connection with the natural world.

✅ Physical activity and exercise: Surfing is a full-body workout! Physical activity releases endorphins and improves well-being. It can also help reduce anxiety, depression, and stress.

✅ Social support and community: Connecting with a surf community brings belonging, reduces feelings of isolation, and provides opportunities for social interaction and support.

✅ Trauma and PTSD: Surf therapy can be a great addition to the treatment plan of a person living with PTSD. The U.S. Marine Corps includes surf therapy as a form of mental health treatment. PTSD often means sleepless nights, panic attacks or high anxiety, and feelings of depression or complete collapse. Research shows that surf therapy is helpful when it is paired with other forms of trauma therapy such as trauma-informed counselling or EMDR.

✅ Mood: Mother Ocean can be fickle and teaches us that sometimes we just have to paddle out and hope for the best. This allows us to practice that some days we wake up with worries and just have to get moving and hope the tide turns for us! Sometimes it turns out so much better than we expected.

So the other day I was surfing like I do every morning.

And I was at a surf break where it's a bit notorious to needing to compete for a wave.

I was getting no waves.

And I created so many stories in my head about it.

I blamed others.

He's taking too many waves.

I blamed myself.

I'm not good enough to surf here.

I blamed my board.

It's too short, I should never have bought this board. 

I blamed the waves.

The waves aren't working.

And then I was in a mood.

I created my own reality all by myself.

It happened quite quickly.

So I paddled away from the crowd and went and just sat by myself in the middle of the ocean watching the sunrise.

With not a wave in sight, I was feeling sorry for myself and feeling like I would never catch a wave.

Then I had an idea.

That I would just sit in the energy of gratitude.

Feeling the emotion and energetics of being grateful even if I wasn't feeling like it.

Just being in the experience of it.

I've done this during times when I have been so full of gratitude for something that my body is so rehearsed to know what the emotional and physical experience would feel like.

Then...

The physical environment started to look different.

Suddenly I could see the sunrise and its beauty.

I felt the ocean and her beauty.

And then a pod of dolphins started to swim around me.

So I thought I would experiment with them.

I prayed to the dolphins to bring a wave to me.

I sat in the energy of gratitude for that wave and focused on the intent on what I wanted without taking it too seriously. I was just experimenting.

Then....I am not exaggerating...

Out of nowhere comes a wave. And a decent sized wave.

So I quickly turned and took the wave.

And I look down and there were 3 massive dolphins underneath me.

And it felt like I was on top them and they were carrying me.

And we all had a fun surf together. I could feel their energy radiating.

It was an incredible experience.

And then I look up to see the most crystal clear rainbow I have even seen.

Safe to say my mood was very different!

When we combine our energy, intent, trust and surrender so much magic can happen.

But we have to get beyond our emotions, expectations, our moods - ourselves!

We have to heal our blocks and wounds sometimes to do so.

But it's very doable.

And the ocean helps enormously when you let her.