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Sharon Fitzmaurice

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Honour what is growing in your life

July 30, 2025 Sharon Fitzmaurice

Honouring What’s Growing

As we move into August, the ancient Celtic festival of Lughnasadh (pronounced Loo-nah-sah)it invites us to pause and honour the first harvest, not just of the land, but of our lives.

It’s a sacred time to reflect on what is growing, what is already flourishing, and what we are ready to reap with gratitude. In a world that often nudges us to focus on what’s next, Lughnasadh gently reminds us to celebrate where we are now.

What have you nurtured this year?
What seeds have you sown that are now beginning to bloom?
What abundance is already present in your life, even in the simplest moments?

Gratitude is the gateway to grounded joy. Whether your harvest is a project completed, a healing journey progressed, a relationship deepened, or even just a renewed sense of self, it deserves to be acknowledged and honoured.

This is your invitation to gather the golden threads of your own inner harvest, to stop and say, “Yes, I’ve come this far.”

Here are a few gentle prompts to help you connect with this energy:

  • What am I most grateful for right now?

  • What part of my personal or professional journey feels ready to be celebrated?

  • Where can I pause and breathe in the abundance that already exists?

Let this season be a celebration of your soul’s resilience and growth. You don’t need to wait for a perfect ending, life is worthy of honouring in the middle of the becoming.

Celebrate yourself for how far you have come.


Sharon Fitzmaurice

Holistic Wellness Coach, Author & Podcast Host

Tags lughnasadh, growth, development, personal, professional, becoming, celebration, resilience, pause, breathe, blog, sharon fitzmaurice, gratitude
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Living with Loss and Finding Meaning

July 25, 2025 Sharon Fitzmaurice

This may be a hard conversation to listen to but one that I feel is necessary to speak openly and honestly about.  My recent episode with Andy Campbell on The Sharon Fitzmaurice Podcast was one of those. A deeply soulful, open-hearted dialogue that was less of an interview and more of a communion between two souls who understand the raw, often silent language of pain.

Andy’s story is unimaginable. As a young boy, he experienced sexual abuse. He watched his mother bravely battle cancer for 11 years before she passed away far too young. Estranged from his father, and now navigating his own journey through stage four pancreatic cancer, Andy has known suffering at depths that could easily consume even the strongest of spirits. But nothing could prepare him - or any parent - for the devastating loss of his son, Heston, who died by suicide at just 18 years old.

As we spoke, Andy shared how they knew from when Heston was only nine that the world felt too overwhelming for him. Despite the love, the support, the daily effort to help him choose life, the decision was ultimately out of their hands. There was pain, yes—deep, soul-aching pain - but also anger, helplessness, and a hollow sense of having to keep moving forward in a world where their son no longer existed physically.

In his grief, Andy speaks to Heston. He asks him for help in easing the despair, in somehow mending the heartbreak that now lives in him, his wife, and their three other sons. His new book Overcoming Life’s Toughest Setbacks is both a legacy of healing and a lifeline to others who may find themselves at the edge of their own despair.

As Andy shared, I felt a familiar echo in my heart.

I, too, am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. And for a long time, I carried the belief that I was only meant to know pain. That somehow, love, joy, and peace were not mine to claim. There were times I truly believed the pain would only end if I did. And there was a moment - one that many will never speak of -where choosing to stay felt like the most painful decision of all.

But I stayed.

And staying meant I had to learn to walk alongside the pain, not run from it. It meant holding space for the wounded parts of me, not burying them under smiles and silence. It meant breathing through the nights I thought I wouldn’t make it. And, slowly, one step at a time, I began to believe that healing was not only possible—it was sacred.

In my conversation with Andy, there was a deep resonance between our stories. Two people shaped by trauma, carrying invisible scars, yet still choosing to show up for life, for love, for others. Still choosing to believe that healing is not a betrayal of our pain, but a devotion to our spirit.

We cannot always change what happens to us. But we can transform how we move through it. We can speak, we can share, we can write, we can walk hand in hand with others who are just beginning to find their way through the darkness.

If you are reading this and your heart feels heavy, please know - you are not alone. Your pain is real, your story matters, and even if it feels impossible right now, there is a path forward. Maybe not a painless one, but a path nonetheless. One where meaning can be made from the broken pieces. One where love lives on. One where peace, slowly but surely, returns.

From Andy’s story and my own, I offer this: stay if you can. And if you do, know you are loved.

Sharon Fitzmaurice

Author, Speaker, Holistic Wellness Coach & Podcast Host

Tags grief, suicide awareness, losing a child, parents, families, depression, mental health awareness, choices, pain, darkness, resilience, pancreatic cancer, childhood trauma, support, counselling, therapy
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No one else can steer your ship

July 17, 2025 Sharon Fitzmaurice

Life is an open sea - vast, unpredictable, and filled with both breath-taking beauty and stormy chaos. Each of us is given a ship at birth, and whether we realise it or not, we are the captains. No one else can truly steer our ship. Others may try to influence us, advise us, or even attempt to grab the wheel - but the truth is, only you can decide the course you take.

Our compass? It’s not made of metal - it’s our heart. That quiet inner knowing, the subtle nudges, the dreams that refuse to die even after we’ve pushed them aside… they are pointing us towards true north. That’s the direction of purpose, peace, passion, and soul-alignment.

Just like any ship braving the open waters, we sometimes lose direction. Storms roll in - the griefs, the fears, the unexpected life turns - and we get knocked off course. It’s easy to feel lost in those moments, drifting without knowing where land is. But here’s the gift: every storm teaches us something. About ourselves. About our strength. About how much we’re capable of enduring and overcoming.

And we begin to realise - we are more resilient than we ever imagined. We are more powerful than we give ourselves credit for. And we are the only ones who can truly navigate our way back to clarity, back to the essence of who we are and what we came here to do.

So I ask you now…

What is your compass?
What pulls at your heartstrings? What fills you with fire, even if you’ve long buried it beneath “real life” responsibilities? What lights you up from the inside?

What direction are you heading in life right now?
Are you moving with intention, or simply floating with the tides?

If you're unsure of your direction, take a deep breath and look inward. Think back to a dream you once had - the one that made your heart beat a little faster, the one that felt so you. You may have pushed it aside, convinced yourself it was unrealistic or selfish. But what if it wasn’t? What if it was your soul speaking truth?

Close your eyes. Picture yourself living that dream.
What does it look like?
What does it feel like?
Let your heart guide you through the vision. Let your inner compass begin to stir again.

Because no matter how far off course you think you've gone, you're never truly lost. Your compass is still within you. And the wheel is still in your hands.

You are the captain. You always have been.

So steady your ship. Trust the wisdom of your heart. And set sail in the direction that calls you home.

Enjoy a 15-Minute Guided Meditation for new beginnings. Every breath is a chance to start again in each moment. We learn to focus on our breath as it enters and leaves the body allowing all things to flow naturally and easily. We find peace within the breath and within our mind, body and spirit.

With love and purpose,
Sharon 💖

Tags blog, direction, purpose, heart led, passion, dreams, goals, challenges, resilience, soul alignment
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Reflecting on Resilience, Leadership, and the Environments That Shape Us

July 4, 2025 Sharon Fitzmaurice

This week on The Sharon Fitzmaurice Podcast I had the absolute joy of speaking with the remarkable Sile Walsh - a woman whose journey from childhood challenges to powerful leadership is both inspiring and deeply affirming of the human spirit.

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As a curious and bright 11-year-old with dyslexia, Sile didn't learn the way traditional education expected her to. Rather than being discouraged, she found a different path, one that led her into a kitchen, a very different kind of classroom. There, surrounded by the clatter of pots and the rhythm of a team in motion, Sile began to learn in a way that made sense to her. By the age of 16, she was already leading a section of that kitchen, showing not only resilience but a natural ability to lead, to adapt, and to grow.

That early environment - though unconventional, nurtured her. It allowed her to thrive in ways that traditional systems hadn’t. And it reminds us of something so vital: our ability to thrive depends not just on our willpower or talents, but on the environments we are placed in.

When we are seen, valued, and supported, we grow. When our strengths are nurtured instead of suppressed, our true potential shines.

Sile’s journey led her to specialise in leadership, development, coaching, and psychology. Today, she is an award-winning international best-selling author, with her most recent book Inclusive Leadership: Navigating Organisational Complexity becoming both an Amazon and Irish Times bestseller. Her passion lies in co-creating inclusive, high-performing workplaces where people don't just survive - they thrive.

Her voice in the diversity and inclusion space is not only knowledgeable but lived. She understands, deeply, that leadership is not about control but about creating environments where others can flourish. Where different ways of thinking, learning, and being are not only accepted but celebrated.

In listening to Sile speak, I was reminded again that the spaces we move through, whether in childhood, in workplaces, or in our communities - have the power to either stifle or support our growth. When we are part of environments rooted in understanding, compassion, and inclusivity, we begin to blossom into who we were always meant to be.

May we all be inspired, as I was, by Sile’s story, to reflect on the spaces we create for ourselves and for others. Are they nourishing? Are they safe? Do they encourage authenticity and potential? Because in the end, it’s not just about being in the right place - it’s about being in a place that’s right for you.

And that, I believe, is where true leadership begins.

Sharon Fitzmaurice

Author, Speaker, Wellness Coach & Podcast Host

Tags leadership, inclusive, strength, resilience, personal development, education, psychology, coaching, dyslexia, diversity, the sharon fitzmaurice podcast, sile walsh, irish times bestseller, author, book, thrive, workplaces
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A journey through Motherhood

May 29, 2025 Sharon Fitzmaurice

Life doesn’t always unfold as we imagine it will - especially in motherhood. Often, it takes us on a journey that cracks us open, reshapes us, and ultimately reveals the depth of our inner strength. On this week’s episode of The Sharon Fitzmaurice Podcast, I’m honoured to sit with Tracy Holmes - a devoted mother of three and wife to Andrew, living in the beautiful surroundings of Co. Wicklow, Ireland.

Tracy’s story is a profound and heartfelt reflection of what it means to grow through motherhood, especially when faced with challenges that shake us to our core. In her raw and beautifully written memoir Raising Resilience, published by Orla Kelly Publishing, she shares the emotionally charged experience of the premature birth of her twin boys, the diagnosis of Down Syndrome for one of her sons, and the early separation of the twins during that tender first year.

But at the heart of Tracy’s story lies something even more universal - the often unspoken reality of maternal mental health.

So many women, as Tracy so vulnerably shares, suffer in silence. Afraid of being judged, of not being seen as a "good enough" mother, they carry their pain alone. But Tracy’s message is one of deep compassion and truth: to be the kind of mother - or father - our children need, we must first care for ourselves. Looking after our mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing is not a luxury; it is a necessity. When we tend to ourselves, we model to our children the power of self-love, resilience, and emotional integrity.

Tracy's healing journey included finding time for herself, reclaiming small yet powerful moments of peace and connection. One of her greatest sources of strength came from sea swimming - an act that brought her not only clarity and calm, but connection to a tribe of supportive women. She also found solace and understanding among other parents raising children with Down Syndrome, discovering that shared experience creates a sacred space where vulnerability is met with empathy rather than judgement.

This conversation is a call to all mothers and parents: you are not alone. Your struggles do not make you less - they are part of the courageous path you walk. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness; it is a profound act of love - for yourself, and for your children.

Tracy's story is a gentle yet powerful reminder that motherhood is not about doing it all perfectly, but about being real, being supported, and being kind to ourselves through the ever-evolving journey. In sharing her truth, she offers a guiding light for others to follow—out of isolation and into connection, out of fear and into trust.

Tune in to this soulful and healing episode. Let Tracy's voice and vulnerability remind you of your own strength, and the sacredness of tending to your own heart as you care for the hearts of those you love.

Sharon Fitzmaurice

Author, Wellbeing Coach & Podcast Host

Tags motherhood, raising resilience, tracy holmes, the sharon fitzmaurice podcast, reflection, writing, isolation, maternal mental health, support, vulnerability, find your tribe, children, down syndrome, premature babies, resilience, healing, space
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