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Bethany Ward Life Coaching

I'm a Certified Life Coach and athlete, who loves to talk about personal development and work/life relationships. I help my clients embrace change with courage and determination. Subscribe to my newsletter to get helpful ways to improve mindset, and turn challenges into successes.

Featured Post

Good things grow from what you plant

A few months ago, we planted a little garden. I didn’t go into it with high hopes, seeing as how I’ve kept a total of 2 plants alive . . ever. One of my neighbours who keeps a nice garden did assure me, “the worst that can happen is they die and you buy new ones, they’re cheap.” That’s the kind of motivational encouragement I needed to get started. At first, it was mostly soil and unfounded hope. But now 6 weeks later nothing has died, we’ve got bees, butterflies, and ladybugs making...

This weekend, I was working at the finish line of the Outlaw Holkham 70.3 triathlon. If you’ve ever been near the end of a big endurance event, you’ll know it’s heavy with emotion - exhaustion, relief, pride (sometimes disappointment), all coming out at once. One thing that hit me over and over was how many athletes crossed the line in tears. Some cried quietly, some absolutely sobbed. And every time, myself or one of the other volunteers was right there, offering a hug, a hand on the...

Last year we redid our guest bedroom. I had visions of a blissful hotel room, always looking perfect and welcoming. You can probably guess what’s next . . You know the clean laundry pile? The one that starts as a neat little stack you promise to yourself you’ll put away later, but somehow by the end of the week, it’s turned into a mountain of clothes you’re now dreading to tackle? That’s what’s usually sitting on our hotel-like bed in our welcoming guest room. Our thoughts and feelings can...

The other weekend I completed my 4th Iron-distance triathlon, Ironman Austria. I was prepared. I’d done the training, felt rested, fuelled and strong. But as anyone who’s pursued a big goal knows (either in sport or life), sometimes the day has other plans. So what happened? Click here to read more. Sport and life ask us the same things. Whatever you’re aiming for right now, a big career change, a personal goal, a relationship shift, chances are, you’re going to hit a stretch where it’s...

Have you noticed how common it is these days to type out frustration online? To share the things that annoy us, disappoint us, or make us feel unseen, often without naming names, and definitely without inviting a response? Venting has its place. I’ve been thinking about the difference between broadcasting and connecting. Change doesn’t happen in the comments section of social media. The next time you’re tempted to post a cryptic message on social media, please stop and think. Change and...

Over the weekend, I completed a 70.3 triathlon after not having done one for six years. It was tough, cold (and then hot), and it was long. And at times, definitely uncomfortable. And it was exactly what I needed. I’m four weeks out from Ironman Austria which has been on my calendar (and in my mind) for almost a year now. This 70.3 was a stepping stone. Not a comfort zone. It reminded me what it feels like to push through the hard parts, and to keep going when it stops being fun. To get...

Last weekend my husband and I went cycling off-road, soaking up the gorgeous weather. Everything was fine until about halfway in, when the trail suddenly disappeared. Some trees had fallen and were completely blocking the trail. The way forward wasn’t obvious. We couldn’t just hop over; we had to hike around, climb under branches, jump down an embankment, and find the trail again. If my husband had groaned about it, gotten frustrated, or doubted whether we could continue, it would have been...

I was out for a run on Tuesday and this tree caught my eye, it's grown around the fence and completely enveloped it. Over time, the fence became part of the tree, not because it belongs there, but because the tree didn’t have another option. Trees just keep growing, wrapping themselves around the thing in the way. We do this too. When something feels too hard to deal with - an uncomfortable conversation, a quiet resentment, a disappointment we’ve never voiced - we just carry on. We adapt. We...

Cheers to the start of a new week! We just had daylight savings this past weekend (in the UK) and I’m loving the longer evening light. On Saturday my husband and I were having a rare lazy morning in bed, drinking coffee, talking, and reading. He came across an article in The Times that featured several bio-hackers sharing their tips. Seeing their photos, there was no doubt they were born with good genes. Or at least the genes that provide glowing skin and good looks. Their daily routines...

A black and white photo of a door with a question mark on it

Last week, we talked about the power of one sentence in conversations with others, and how starting with just a single honest statement (or question) can open the door to change, and real connection. But what if we turned that inward? What if the most important conversation you need to have right now is with yourself? It's so easy for us to go through the motions without stopping to ask: Am I happy with this? Does this feel right for me? What do I need right now? These simple, but powerful...