Happy New Year!

As we hit 2026, the hopeful and daunting mantra 'New Year New You' probably looms somewhere in your conscience or on your social media thread! But how do we do 'New You'? How do we build healthy habits, love ourselves, be kind to ourselves and all of these things that can sound so good?

Before I got into recovery, I was eating compulsively and addictively and hating myself for it; reinforcing cycles of shame and hopelessness day after day. I would cringe at the phrase 'be kind to yourself'. For me that meant 'give yourself some chocolate' - which only exacerbated the problem - or 'run a bath and light candles' which I really didn't enjoy. So I continued to be utterly perplexed about the concept of 'self love'. 

Since going on a painful but glorious journey of healing and coming to know my identity in Christ, I have got a whole different understanding of what it means to 'love oneself'. 

To hear my thoughts on self love and healthy habits this New Year, listen to our conversation on 'Talking Point with Ashley Andrew' from UCB's Boxing Day broadcast

God bless you this year, to walk in the fullness and freedom of who God has made you to be. 

Love Thea x