20 Insights From the Duet Voices: Issue 2

The Duet Journal newsletter contains insights into what 20 of the Duet Voices have been sharing on LinkedIn this week. The Duet Voices are a group of 100+ mental health, wellness, and coaching leaders. They are all well worth a follow.

I now write a niche "Journaling for Recruiters and Talent Acquisition" newsletter every Tuesday that focuses on some of my journaling work.

Weekly "Top 3" Duet Voices:

The quality of your life is determined by the quality of your relationships. How is your relationship with yourself going? When I started my self-love journey leading me to resilience facilitation, I started documenting it in a book called Crumbs. More precisely, if you’ve seen my tattoo or my insta socials, the title is: Love No Crumbs. No Crumbs means to love fully and wholeheartedly and never accept scraps of anything. No Crumbs. No BS. It comes from the concept that you deserve the whole cake and the whole bakery. Mouna Laaragat

Releasing myself from feeling disgust with my body took me many, many years. Years of learning, practicing, and cultivating fierce self-compassion. Compassion is a powerful anchor, keeping me grounded, I invest in my non-negotiable practices and practice what I speak. Even with multiple degrees and studying Psychotherapy for many years, I would never tell anyone that I am immune to body shame, I am not. There will still be times when shame and self-criticism whisper in my ear. The important thing is, I have learned the tools and the methods to quieten the roar to a whisper and give the main stage to the self-compassionate self I have built within. Tara O’Donoghue

“Being with” is the simple act of sitting and being with something without needing it to change, without needing anyone or anything to be different, and without doing anything to avoid having to be with it. Suppressing whatever is showing up is the most common way to avoid being with something. We can suppress ourselves by refusing to feel something altogether (but you may not even be conscious that you are). Adam Quiney

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space, there is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom - Viktor Frankl. This principle is fundamental in emotional eating, but even more complex as we have to bypass physiological and behavioural loops that sometimes keep us "stuck" in this behaviour, despite our willpower. To overcome emotional eating and sugar cravings the best strategy is to work on both sides: nutrition strategy + behavioural strategy. Claudia Armani

I believe the antidote to many of the psychological toxins in society is courage: courage to confront falsehoods and irrational thinking and behaviour; courage to sustain hopeful scepticism when there seem to be precious few grounds for it; courage to weigh up different, often conflicting advice and points of view; and courage to listen to the still small voice within and be authentic and true to oneself, especially when there is complete uncertainty and no apparent answers. Mark Ashton

It's easy to fall into the trap of operating on autopilot. Repeating the same habits day in and day out. But stepping outside of your comfort zone, especially as an introvert, can lead to incredible growth and opportunities. Trying new things = discovering strengths and abilities. Challenge yourself = your confidence grows. Overcoming fears = boost to your self-esteem. Start small. You don't have to make huge changes overnight. Sarah Bryer

As ambitious individuals, we often strive for perfection and can become easily frustrated if things don't go to plan. But guess what? Life will continue to throw challenges at us because that’s what it does. Tip: Focus on the 10% that is positive in any given situation - yes, there really is 10% that is good. Why? Negativity bias is our tendency to register negative things more readily than positive things. Making a conscious effort to appreciate the good in every situation forms new neural pathways and habits, improving mental fitness. Krissi Carter

You don't need more qualifications. You don't need anyone's permission. You need to get out of your own way. What is keeping you stuck? Identify it, have courage to sit in discomfort with it and then make a decision to do something about it. That's how you do it. Elaine Champion

To trust or not to trust. Walking through the threshold of a new experience awakens the inner layers of dormant potential. There is anticipation for the new, what could be, how will unfold. Feelings tied to past experiences running much deeper into the core of who we are may come to light, and they may pose resistance towards embracing the unknown. I have been dancing most of my adult life in the 'not-knowing'. Monica Dettori

Do you ever feel like you're going through the motions at work, or that your career path lacks direction? You might be talented and hardworking, but something feels off. That "something" could be the missing piece of the puzzle: your Core Gift. Your Core Gift is your unique offering to the world. It's the special sauce that makes you, you, and allows you to make a real impact. But how do you know if you haven't discovered it yet? Learn the signs… Camilla Hasloch

You can be direct and honest without ruining a relationship. Feeling the need to be liked is something many of us understand. However, it should not stop us from asking tough questions, challenging others, or providing honest feedback. What happens when we don’t ask the right questions, challenge or be upfront?? You are agreeing to proceed with limited information. Which leads to lots of wasted time…. You are selling an approach without really knowing the problem and therefore the right solution…. You are risking your relationship because you are likely not to deliver…. You don’t improve anything for the client and so you just become another lovely person they don’t have time to talk to! Kate Hayward

Working through limiting beliefs and imposter syndrome - for many years I never felt good enough and tried to fit in but after a series of coaching and havening sessions, I accepted me for who I am. I now embrace my nuances fully. I'm not afraid to stand out from the crowd. I'm fearless in challenging the status quo and calling out bad behaviour. I have the confidence and self-belief to dream big and go after what I want. Gemma Hogan

The compound effect of habits. Imagine this: Two people. One embraces new habits, invests in personal growth, and makes small, positive changes daily. The other sticks to old patterns and remains in their comfort zone. Over time, the first person experiences significant growth and transformation, while the other stays in familiar, yet stagnant, territory. It’s not just about making big decisions; it’s about the daily actions that lead to real change. Start small, be consistent, and watch those positive actions build new habits, gradually replacing old, less productive ones. Gabriela Medar

I’m delighted to be part of this Menstrual poverty conversation. Breaking the stigma around a humanitarian problem that affects millions of girls and women lives around the world, especially those living in poverty in developing counties. Unsanitary conditions, climate disasters and environmental changes can lead to economic hardships and disruptions in income. When families face economic instability, women and girls are expected to make compromises first.?Karina Murray

Maria Paviour’s “The Vampire Default” helps us to learn the different vampire types in our lives allowing us to recognise how we may be being eaten alive and how, once we identify this, we can skilfully avoid being drained. Furthermore, we are educated on why we may be a target and we are gifted with the antidote to the illness. In addition, Maria helps us to realise where the desire to feed comes from and to consider how our own internal little vampires may be rising to feast on others. Sarah Restall

Do you catch yourself saying: I know I’m fiercely independent … I know I’m a control freak … I know I’m closed off … Errr let me stop you right there! Self-reliance can be empowering, I get it. It builds confidence and independence. But it has its downsides too: 1. You push others away. 2. You shy away from connection. 3. You end up on the verge of burnout. You may like this title, wearing it like a badge of honour. But you’re just continuing the cycle. Danielle Robins

Too warm to exercise? When it starts to warm, I often receive messages from students saying it is too hot to come to class. This may feel like it is the case, yet the opposite is in fact true. When we exercise, the body will try and maintain homeostasis by cooling itself through sweat. The effect of exercising in warmer temperature means it will result in a cooling effect upon the body. The result is a feeling of being refreshed. Much better than sitting around in the evening feeling hot and bothered. Scott Robinson

Some thoughts for people who are tentatively finding their wings posting their thoughts in public (and hesitating because they are afraid of potential criticism)… An athlete won’t judge you for working out. A millionaire won’t judge you for starting a business. A musician won’t judge you for trying to sing a song. It’s always the people who are going nowhere who have something to say. Pascale Scheurer

Leaders, managers, colleagues and friends it’s time to lean into the discomfort of the current situation. Shying away or staying silent does more harm than good. Silence upholds what is wrong on so many levels. Your voice?has power, and it needs to be used. It’s time to speak up.?Don’t let fear of not knowing what to say or?do or getting it “right” stop you. Show your care, show your support, show your humanness. Bring everyone together. This is inclusion. Dipti Shah

Intention matters. Some of my favourite lower body exercises are simple yet highly effective. In the fitness world, there's a trend toward increasingly complex and flashy exercises. However, the more complicated these exercises become, the less effective they often are. I rarely combine multiple movements into a single exercise because I believe that intention and focus are more important than performing a series of half-hearted combinations. My approach is to ensure each exercise serves a clear purpose. Hedi Shah

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Having been an HR Ghostwriter for a decade until 2023, I am now encouraging people to find their voices rather than lend them mine.

Thoughts make more sense when you take the time to write them down.

When you share your journal (anonymously) with another person, it has more impact.

All the best, Parzival11