In an episode from the archives (#46) today’s episode shares two poems I’ve written about our relationship with the Earth and then turn that inwards and explore how that relationship is a mirror for our relationship with ourselves. A reminder o

Special episode: How to stop life feeling like groundhog day

Feb 2nd, 2024 6m 3s

It’s Groundhog Day and if you’re using the idiom to describe how you’re feeling then why not try this 5-minute technique to release the feeling and help you get you back on track. If after listening you would like more information just sign up

Please join me for a online live event!

Nov 1st, 2023 2m

Join us at 6pm UK time on Monday, 13th November for an evening with Alison Smith. If you feel like you're talking to a brick wall in an area of your life, why not come along for this live, virtual event on Zoom. Alison will be using her

#64 Drawing a line in the sand

Oct 1st, 2023 19m 23s

To conclude series three we’re exploring ‘How do you draw a line in the sand and stop yourself from going back to your old way of behaving or relating to someone as you have on previous drawings of the line’? To help you get back on track we’

#63 How to stop the circling

Sep 17th, 2023 6m 44s

As a postscript to episode 36 Alison shares some additional insights to help stop you going round in circles in your life. She’s also written a poem on the subject which you’ll hear at the end of this very short episode. You’ll find all links m

#62 How to come out of the shadows

Sep 10th, 2023 26m 8s

If you know you need to come out of the shadows in an area in your life you may it helpful to join Alison in nature and explore being in the shadows and non-shadows to get a sense as she does about your relationship to them both and to understa

#61 What to do when you’re at a deadend in your life

Sep 3rd, 2023 14m

If you wanted evidence that words have power then the use of deadend for this episode provided evidence of distractions, disruptions and avoidance at every turn – something I think we do when heading for a dead end because it’s always an end to

#60 How to influence others then you feel like you're talking to a brick wall

Aug 27th, 2023 7m 40s

After a very successful workshop entitled ‘Talk to the brick wall – how to influence those you’re struggling with’ I wanted to add a few postscripts to an earlier episode of the podcast and share a poem I’ve written on the subject. You’ll find

#59 Happy 5th Birthday Can’t see the wood for the trees

Aug 21st, 2023 14m 17s

It’s 5 years this month since Can’t See the wood for the Trees – landscaping your life to get back on track was first published. Its content has helped inform the structure of all of the podcast episodes. Do have a listen and see whether a snip

#58 If your problem was a landscape what sort of landscape would it be

Aug 13th, 2023 24m 12s

Rather than venture outside into nature and the rainy weather for this episode Alison uses drawing as another means of using nature as a metaphor for a problem you’re grappling with. So, get your pens and paper ready and be open to something a

#57 How to go for a walk and find solutions to a problem you’re grappling with

Aug 6th, 2023 27m 39s

In the majority of episodes Alison invites us to join her to find solutions in a landscape that represents how we’re feeling whether that’s when we can’t see the wood for the trees #28, are treading water #23, or life feels like an uphill strug

#56 What not to do when testing the water about a situation in your life

Jul 30th, 2023 18m 19s

If you’re thinking about testing the water about something you’d like to do in your life you may want to have a listen and see what insight you can get as you hear me testing the water at St Andrews beach, Fife - because it’s the unexpected tha

#55 Stop planting more trees in your life

Jul 23rd, 2023 9m 30s

Why it is when we can’t see the wood for the trees, are overwhelmed and already too busy with too much to think about we keep planting more trees. In this episode we explore why we wouldn’t do this in nature and why it’s counterproductive in ou

#54 How to get beyond the story you’re telling and see the situation from a higher vantage point?

Jul 16th, 2023 20m 55s

When we’re caught up in the story we’re telling it can be hard to see the wood for the trees and identify a strategy or action plan for getting unstuck and back on track. That’s when taking to a higher vantage point to see all 360 degrees of op

#53 Do you need to let the mud settle before taking action?

Jul 9th, 2023 8m 54s

It’s perhaps a little too easy to get frustrated when things aren’t happening as quickly as we’d like – however nature teaches us that patience and timing are everything – sometimes we just need to let the mud settle, or wait for the next tide

#52 Stop walking half a path and commit to the whole path

Jul 3rd, 2023 25m 27s

An exploration in nature of my belief that “It doesn’t matter how long or short a path we walk as long as we commit to walking the whole of it.” An episode that provides the insight needed to commit to a goal and not go back and forth worrying

#51 From not knowing to knowing what to do

Jun 25th, 2023 21m 33s

Not knowing what to do can be frustrating – not least if you’ve circled around not knowing what to do for some time. That’s where the Landscaping Your Life toolkit can really help. Today’s episode shares more about how to use the toolkit to h

#50 Using nature as our coach - where it all started

Jun 18th, 2023 23m

The podcast is two years old this week and to celebrate I thought I’d share more about where the idea came from to use nature as a metaphor for our lives, and also a few of my favourite examples of the sorts of solutions people have found by t

#49 What to do when you don’t know what to do

May 7th, 2023 3m 54s

Short and sweet again this week. Due to unexpected family issues today’s episode simply shares two poems that have helped me in recent weeks to sit with the ambiguity when I haven’t known what to do. Do let me know what you think. You’ll fi

#48 What to do when you’re beating yourself up

Apr 30th, 2023 3m 5s

Short and sweet today. Due to unexpected family issues today’s episode revisits the I reclaim all my parts poem shared in more detail in episode #45 with reference to episode #29 where you’re asked to put the stick down you’re beating yourself

#47 What to do when you’re disappointed with lack of progress

Apr 23rd, 2023 19m 45s

Today’s episode helps you when you’re feeling disappointed with the progress you’re making – you may even feel like giving up because all the effort is seemingly getting you nowhere. I’ll be sharing 2 poems and a short story inspired by the sea

#46 Earth Day: the day the Earth cried

Apr 16th, 2023 23m 27s

Today’s episode shares two poems I’ve written about our relationship with the Earth and then turn that inwards and explore how that relationship is a mirror for our relationship with ourselves. A reminder of our own brilliance and uniqueness t

#45 An uprooting & lack of confidence in myself

Apr 9th, 2023 29m 28s

Today’s episode provides insight when you’re feeling ungrounded, out of sorts and lacking confidence in yourself. Where that ungroundedness is providing a disconnect between you and your life. Or you may simply want a different perspective a

#44 Paths or destination that is the question

Apr 2nd, 2023 28m 19s

Today’s episode uses the premise that when you’re stuck and don’t know what to do it’s often about the paths and destinations – you may not be clear about the destination or goal, or you’re not on the right path to get to your destination or pe

#43 Stand in nature and hear your inner wisdom’s whispers

Mar 27th, 2023 18m 33s

Today we dive straight into the heart of Landscaping Your Life – using nature as a means of hearing your own inner wisdom. You’re asked to consider “if your life was a landscape what type of landscape would it be?” and to “stand in nature and