Welcome to Messy Work
A monthly magazine for deep thinkers, big feelers, and more-to-lifers.
Hello!
If you’re reading this, you might be a more-to-lifer. A deep thinker, a big feeler, a recovering high achiever, a get-to-the-bottom-of-things-er, an independent spirit, an ideas person.
You want your life to be full of meaning, purpose, connection, creativity, integrity, freedom, and beauty. So you’re often drawn to go where others don’t—whether it’s carving out a career on your terms, creating a life with more spaciousness and slowness, or simply radical self-awareness: delving beneath the surface to unpick the truth of who you are.
I know because (surprise, surprise) I’m also a more-to-lifer. And (alongside ruminating, overthinking, spiralling, etc.) I write about my quest for all of the above. And the messy work it entails.
My story
There’s been many a time in my life where everything has felt like a big old mess—from hopeless dates to dramatic breakups, from friendship fallouts to sitcom-worthy workplaces. Not to mention all the global turmoil happening in the background.
Amid the chaos, my type A personality has tried to cling to control. But often, the universe had other plans. In 2020, not only did the whole world go into lockdown, but I lost my lovely dad to COVID.
Grief taught me a big lesson: when things fall apart, you can’t put them back together again. At least, not in the same way they were before. Because life isn’t a jigsaw puzzle that fits neatly together. It’s a fluid, ever-evolving patchwork of experiences, some good, some bad—but all leading to growth (even if it’s the painful kind).
The Messy Work philosophy
Sifting through those experiences, to try to find some clarity, some peace, is messy work. But I believe it’s essential if we do want to get more from life.
A life well-lived is a continuous journey of reflection and enquiry. A bit like going down the rabbit hole into Wonderland, things continue to surprise us. No sooner have we learned one lesson than another will slap us around the face with a wet fish (to borrow a favourite expression of my dad’s). Perspectives tilt, paradigms bend, one door closes, another door opens.
To me, it’s all part of the fun. Because perhaps life isn’t an art to perfect; it’s a process to enjoy.
My work as a transformative coach
Alongside my writing, I’m an accredited transformative coach. So I help other people do their own messy work, plus I’m a huge psychology nerd who’s always on the hunt for new perspectives to help us understand ourselves.
That’s not to say I have neat answers. But I do ask a lot of questions—about love, loss, growth, creativity, identity, and what it means to build a life and career that truly feels like yours.
Learn more about my coaching practice, More To Life, here.
What to expect
You can think of Messy Work as part journal, part field notes, part emotional support group.
This space is for you if you’re:
Someone who skips the small talk—and gets straight to the deep, meaningful questions
Letting go of old patterns, beliefs and systems to build a life that doesn’t always fit the mould
Trying to make space for more creativity, connection, compassion, courage, and calm
All subscribers get access to monthly “issues” of Messy Work*, which include:
Personal Essays: documenting my latest musings/existential crisis
Loose Guides: (strictly non-prescriptive) insights from the world of coaching psychology aka stuff I think they should teach us in school
Ideas People: inspiring, honest conversations with more-to-lifers who had a big idea—and took a risk to make it happen
Paid subscribers get all of the above, plus:
Messy Club membership: a community chat and monthly journaling workshops (you’ll get access to a live Zoom + an audio recording) to support you with your own messy work.
*I publish all three posts at the same time, once a month, to combat the content saturation that is rife in our digital dystopia. Think: less like me spamming your inbox with my inane babblings all the time, more like running to the corner shop for your fave magazine as a teen (not that Messy Work will ever compare to the embarrassing stories column in Mizz).*
Thank you for being here, and please muck in! The main reason I write is for big, cheesy, we’re all in this together vibes. So I love hearing if something did (or didn’t!) resonate.
Popular posts
How to work with me
Thinking huh, I could actually do with a writer or coach right now? When I’m not Substacking, I offer:
1:1 coaching for recovering high achievers at a crossroads and independent spirits who need a sounding board.
Copy with personality and purpose for startup brands - ask me for my portfolio to learn more.
Coaching-led writing and consulting for fellow coaches and business owners who need help finding their voice as a writer.
Drop me a message if you’d like to chat.
Tell me about your work!
I love discovering new Substacks from likeminded writers, so please send yours my way. We can also connect on LinkedIn and you can encourage me to post more on Instagram.
