Normally, I’d begin with something about fresh starts or longer days.
Instead, many of us switched on the TV or radio this morning to reports of overnight escalation.
Airstrikes. Political leaders responding. Commentary already framing what it all means.
And when uncertainty has already been running in the background for months — cost-of-living pressures, performance strain, ongoing global instability — it doesn’t land in isolation.
It stacks.
Whatever the merits. Whatever version of events we choose to trust.
It’s not good for humanity. And it’s certainly not good for the thousands — if not millions — directly impacted.
But beyond the politics, something else happens.
It unsettles the nervous system.
Subconsciously, our critical friend goes into overdrive — that protective inner voice wired to scan for threat and fast-forward to worst-case scenarios.
Will this escalate? Will it spread? Are we safe?
Rarely spoken aloud. But quietly active.
As Maya Angelou wrote:
“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” — Maya Angelou
The headlines may be outside our control. How we carry them isn’t.
— Mike
✍️ This month on the blog, we’re exploring:
🧠 Workplace Wellbeing — What It Really Requires in Times of Uncertainty Not token wellness talks or platitudes — this post goes to the heart of what wellbeing looks like when people are carrying invisible strain, not just visible burnout. It’s about culture, psychology, and practical measures that actually make work feel safer and more sustainable.
🔥 Workplace Burnout Warning Signs — Early Signals We Often Miss Burnout isn’t a dramatic collapse — it’s a subtle systems overload. In this blog, we spotlight the early indicators that aren’t on most checklists but show up in real people long before overt burnout does.
📅 What Mental Health First Aid Actually Offers — Beyond the Badge Training isn’t just a tick box. This piece unpacks how Mental Health First Aid in the UK provides language for uncertainty, psychological tools for pressure, and a culture that reduces hidden stigma — especially when everyone’s nervous system is already carrying more than usual.
🌍 Resilience at the Edge
Some of you will know that in 2022 I was diagnosed with a pituitary tumour and underwent emergency brain surgery.
Conditions affecting the pituitary impact around 1 in 1,000 people. Rare — but not insignificant. Adrenal insufficiency in particular remains under-recognised, with many living for years with unexplained fatigue, pain, weight changes, and reduced quality of life.
I was fortunate. The tumour was identified. Surgery was swift. Care is ongoing.
But recovery doesn’t end at surgery.
Osteoporosis is now something I manage following a DEXA scan. Medication matters. Hormone levels matter. Vitamin D needs measuring — not assuming.
What stayed with me from a recent Pituitary Foundation support session wasn’t the prescription detail.
It was the mindset.
Long-term conditions don’t just require compliance. They require engagement.
Understanding your blood markers. Knowing the right questions. Being clear who is overseeing your care.
Professor John Wass made a point I respect: he welcomes patients who arrive informed — even those who’ve used tools like ChatGPT to understand their condition. It sharpens the conversation.
Not every clinician will respond the same way.
But informed isn’t confrontational.
It’s collaborative.
And this extends beyond physical health.
Many people I meet are quietly living with anxiety, burnout, low mood or chronic stress — often defaulting to, “I’ll just leave it to the GP.”
GPs are vital. But they are one part of the ecosystem.
Charities. Support groups. Specialist organisations. More support exists than many realise.
Being part of The Pituitary Foundation gives me access to insight from leading endocrinologists — insight I can discuss with my consultant at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and my GP. Those conversations are usually receptive. Action follows.
Passive patients rarely receive proactive care.
That’s not criticism. It’s reality.
Resilience at the edge isn’t about pushing through alone.
It’s about widening your support system — and stepping into conversations prepared.
You may not control the diagnosis. But you can influence the quality of the dialogue around it.
🎧 One thing that actually helps when your mind won’t switch off
It’s March.
The year is properly underway. Targets are live. Deadlines are real. And for many of us, the background noise hasn’t quietened — it’s intensified.
When global tension rises and pressure stacks, the nervous system doesn’t politely wait for certainty.
It stays alert.
That constant low-level activation — scanning, processing, anticipating — makes it harder to focus properly and harder to rest deeply.
Most people I work with don’t lack discipline.
They lack mental space.
Too wired to concentrate. Too tired to switch off. Stuck in that half-on state where the body’s exhausted but the mind won’t settle.
Not as a miracle fix. Not as a substitute for proper recovery. But as structured support.
It uses sound designed to help the brain shift state — into focus, relaxation or sleep — particularly when willpower isn’t enough.
Focus mode when you want flow, not force. Relax mode when your nervous system needs breathing room. Sleep mode when your body is tired but your thoughts are still active.
I only recommend tools I genuinely use.
No hype. No hacks. Just something practical that helps your brain settle.
🎧 Try Brain.fm free — and notice how it feels in your own body, not just in theory.
Here’s what’s inside this month’s edition:
🧠 Workplace Wellbeing — What It Really Requires in Times of Uncertainty
When the external world feels unstable, workplace culture carries more weight than ever. This blog explores what real wellbeing looks like when people are managing invisible strain — not dramatic burnout, just cumulative pressure. If your team is functioning but quietly stretched, this is worth five minutes. ⬇️
🔥 Workplace Burnout Warning Signs — Early Signals We Often Miss
Burnout rarely starts with collapse. It begins with subtle shifts — irritability, detachment, decision fatigue, a slow erosion of energy. This blog explores the early indicators that don’t always make formal checklists but show up in real people long before anything looks “serious.” If you’re still coping but not quite yourself, this is worth five minutes.
📅 What Mental Health First Aid Actually Offers — Beyond the Badge
Behind every MHFA course is a reason. An anxious colleague. A struggling friend. A quiet fear that you might say the wrong thing. This blog looks at what the training actually gives you when those moments arrive. The next online course runs 23–24 March (online).
You know that feeling when a book, podcast, or film completely shifts your perspective? Or when you binge on something so good, you immediately want to tell everyone about it?
Well, this is that space. Whether it’s a mind-blowing book, a documentary I can’t stop talking about, or a podcast that made me rethink everything, here’s what’s been filling my brain (and occasionally distracting me from work).
Curious? Dive in. 👇
📚
The Psychology of Money
Morgan Housel
I’ve been listening to The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel.
An early chapter contrasts two lives: a janitor who quietly built long-term wealth through disciplined saving, and a high-earning executive who went bankrupt through lifestyle inflation. Intelligence wasn’t the difference. Behaviour was.
Housel explores how luck, timing and lived experience shape our financial decisions far more than we often admit.
Doing well with money has little to do with how smart you are and a lot to do with how you behave. — Morgan Housel
🎬
Pole to Pole
Will Smith
In Zimbabwe, Will Smith spends time with one of the world’s oldest tribes — learning to hunt, provide, and survive from the land.
Barefoot, he realises shoes don’t just protect — they block information. Feeling the terrain matters. There’s a humbling moment when they study his soft hands before teaching him to light a fire with kindling and flint.
It’s a reminder of how far many of us in the industrialised world have drifted from the basics — and that some communities still live directly from the earth.
Compelling, funny, emotional — and serious in intent without ever feeling preachy.
Well worth your time.
🎧
Two Hearts
Lindsey Webster
Originally recorded by Teddy Pendergrass and Stephanie Mills, Two Hearts carries serious soul heritage.
Lindsey Webster’s version feels fresh without losing the warmth of the original — respectful, modern, beautifully produced.
Well worth a listen if you appreciate timeless soul delivered with contemporary polish.
💫 That’s a wrap for March.
We can’t ignore what’s happening in the world right now. It’s serious. It affects lives directly, and indirectly it shapes mood, markets, sport and conversation.
It reminds me of something I first read at university in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.
He wrote about the difference between our Circle of Concern and our Circle of Influence.
The Circle of Concern is vast — war, geopolitics, decisions made far from our control.
The Circle of Influence is smaller — how we respond, how we lead, how we support others, how we regulate ourselves.
We don’t get to choose the headlines.
But we do get to choose where we place our focus.
If you’re looking for practical support inside that circle, there’s a Resources section on the site — free downloads, simple tools like the 12 Second Reset, and previous blogs and newsletters if you’ve missed any.
Nothing to sign up for. Just things that might help.
— Mike
Let’s Stay Connected! 🔗💬
💡 If something in this newsletter resonated, challenged you, or made you pause — let’s talk.
Whether you’re feeling the pressure of the budget, battling quiet stress, or facing your own hurricane in life… you don’t have to navigate it alone.
📩 Email me directly: hello@mikelawrence.co.uk 💬 Follow, share, or drop me a message — connection isn’t just part of the work — it is the work.
Hi, I’m Mike Lawrence, and I’m dedicated to enhancing mental health and wellbeing. After overcoming significant health challenges, including brain surgery, I’ve committed to a journey of self-improvement and helping others. My adventures range from thrilling skydives for charity to transformative travels in Thailand. I share insights from my experiences and key learnings from impactful audiobooks. Join me in exploring holistic health and wellbeing, and let’s embrace life’s adventures together!
Feel free to connect with me through email at hello@mikelawrence.co.uk or LinkedIn. For more detailed insights and stories from Mike, click here to read the latest blogs.
