In a world that demands conformity, there’s a quiet rebellion inside each of us, craving something more. It’s the voice that tells you there’s another way - one that doesn’t follow the well-trodden path but leads to a life of adventure, purpose, and joy. As a coach, a businesswoman, and a human, I’ve realised that embracing this inner rebellion is transformative. I call it the Rebel Heart.

The Rebel is the mind. The Heart is the body. Together, they break you free. The mind starts the rebellion - questioning, challenging, refusing to accept the status quo. The body is where real change happens, when you start to embody the change you want to create. When mind and body are in sync, you don’t just think differently - you move, act, and live differently.

I see this all the time. The moment someone stops outsourcing decisions to external approval and starts trusting what feels right in their body - everything changes. It doesn’t have to be dramatic. Sometimes, it’s as simple as saying no when the world expects a yes or resting when you’re told to push through. Small acts of rebellion add up. Over time, they reshape how you live, how you see yourself, and how you feel. Eventually, your whole system moves differently.

At its core, a Rebel Heart is the refusal to accept the status quo when it doesn’t fit who you are. It means choosing a life that feels right, not just one that looks right. It’s recognising that the expectations placed on you are just that - someone else’s rules. It’s stepping away from everything that holds you back, even when it’s uncomfortable.

So, what if we stopped being dead-eyed robots and started actually living in a way that we want to? What could happen then?.

Here’s what this mindful rebellion means to me…

* Connecting with, and listening to, my body (especially when it's screaming at me to make some changes

* Stopping my mind from stopping my actions

* Saying what's true for me without all the soft squishy edges

* Stepping out of comfort into uncertainty

* Owning who I am, without the need for permission or apology

Easier said than done I hear you say. I know, I’ve been there.

Following your Rebel Heart isn’t the easiest path you can take, but it could be the most joyful, fulfilling and freeing way to live that actually feels like you.

If you want to try it out, here are some ideas, prompts and questions to get you started:

- Question everything. Don’t just do something because you “should.” Tune into your inner voice (the good one, not the gremlin), listen to your body (sounds hard, but it’s easy once you know how), and make choices from that place. If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a no.

Prompt: What beliefs are keeping you small? What truth are you avoiding? How does your mind stop you from taking action?

 - You don’t have to burn it all down. Small shifts create real change. What feels like rebellion for one person will be different for another - that’s the point, find what works for you.

Prompt: What’s your body telling you? Where do you feel stuck or open? What movement, breath, or action would make you feel powerful/in control/free? (Remember: Pain is a signal. So is intuition. Listen to both).

 - It won’t always feel easy. You’ll doubt yourself. You’ll second-guess your choices. But over time, these shifts connect you to who you actually are. The more you trust your Rebel Heart, the more you start living a life that feels right to you.

Prompt: What would shift if you stopped waiting? What if you moved without permission? What could happen if you trusted yourself more?

As a mind-body coach, I help you connect with yourself and find the courage to make the changes in your life that you want to see. If you're ready to explore how coaching can help, let's chat.

Rebel Heart: A mindful rebellion

If you’re reading this it’s probably because you haven’t got a clue what I’m pushing here and you’re intrigued to find out. If that’s the case, I’m Carol-Anne, a mind-body coach, and that’s my face at the top. That's the intro done, let’s crack on with why you’re here :)


Let’s dive straight in. Mind-body coaching – it might sound like some kind of holistic magic a celebrity would rave about, but stick with me, it’s genuinely transformative.


And, for all the doubters out there (I hear you, I’ve been there), this stuff is based on some science too. As Mathew McConaughey would say, “green light”.
Imagine your mind and body are completely out of sync. Well, most of us don’t need to imagine, we’re in that space a lot of the time. Anyway, imagine your mind’s talking deadlines and your body’s nervously sweating. Neither knows what the other really wants, and neither are listening to find out. Mind-body coaching is like the friend who steps in, cuts through all the awkward stuff, and gets them to have a real conversation.


In essence, it’s about recognising that your thoughts, emotions, physical sensations and behaviour are all inextricably linked. Instead of listening to the constant chatter of the mind, this kind of coaching turns the focus on what your body’s trying to tell you. Spoiler: it’s always smarter than we give it credit for. And there’s neuroscience to back it up.


There is a LOT more to this, but in a nutshell, your mind and body communicate through the nervous system, with the vagus nerve being a key player. It’s responsible for regulating everything from your heart rate to digestion, and research shows that stimulating through things like meditation, breathing and movement, can reduce stress and improve mental well-being. Your gut, often called the "second brain," is also constantly sending signals to your mind, influencing your mood and cognition. Mind-body coaching taps into these connections, helping you understand what your body is trying to communicate to your brain so you can make different choices.



Let’s address the elephant in the room, why does connecting with our bodies feel so bloody weird?!


Well, the strange concept that humans have pushed for generations is that our mind (in our head) and our bodies (that thing our head is stuck on) are two separate things. Total madness when you actually think about it.


This divide, especially in Western medicine and psychology, where physical health and mental health have been treated as completely separate entities, has left us feeling disconnected from ourselves. The stigma around mental health has only deepened this split, but here's where neuroplasticity comes in to change things.


Neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to rewire itself, shows that the mind is constantly changing in response to experiences we have. Mind-body coaching leverages this by helping you create new, healthier patterns between your thoughts and bodily sensations. When your brain thoughts change, and your body feelings change in response, you subconsciously embrace different behaviours, which in turn helps you to change your life. Bloody magic if you ask me.


And, what’s all this “gut feelings” and “intuition” mumbo-jumbo?
Think about “gut feelings” and how you often find yourself saying “I know I was right about XYZ…”. The gut feeling, stress, elation, peace, shakes, wobbles, pains and everything in between, is all your body telling you something important and asking you to listen.


Mind-body coaching teaches you how to actually pay attention to those signals. Your body’s not just there to lug your brain around. It’s there to be an important player in this thing we call life.


Sessions involve a bit of everything – talking (the classic coaching technique), noticing sensations as you talk (mind-body connections), breathing, movement (which could be a shift of position on your chair, physically walking around or star jumps), whatever it is, you’re always 100% in control.


It’s about getting you out of your head and into your body. And trust me, once you understand how to do it, you’ll be fascinated at how transformative it can be.


If you think (or feel) that you could use some of this superpower magic sauce, then get in touch and we’ll chat!


What is mind-body coaching? 

A free 20-minute no-obligation discovery call to explore working together to make real and lasting change in your life.

Carol-Anne Ward

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