On this episode of Stockmanship for the Mind I have a great discussion with Claire Smith and Roy Jackson, Rural Partners in WR Partners accountancy firm, which is based in Shropshire, Wales and Cheshire. Claire and Roy are both from farming backgrounds and have a combined experience of almost 40 years of working with farmers and other rural businesses, so they bring a huge wealth of expertise to the table.

We cover some of the technical reasons why planning for the handover of a farming business to the next generation is just so important. The updated inheritance tax law has brought this thorny issue to a head for many farmers and it has never been more crucial to plan ahead.

Everyone knows this… So why can it be such a difficult discussion to have on farm? Why do so many farmers just want to bury their head in the sand?

Partly, the high value of agricultural assets means that there is a lot to play for, but we also take a look at some of the emotional aspects that are almost inevitably tied up with passing on the family farm.

Come along to this episode for a fresh look at succession planning with Roy and Claire.

We all know that difficult topics can make for difficult conversations... how do we make that easier? How do we make sure that we give ourselves the best chance of a productive chat, where everyone feels better and you can actually resolve an issue... or at least make some headway?

When's the best time to tackle something tricky? Is it when we feel like our blood is boiling and we can't rest until we sort something (or somebody!) out? Would we train our dog in that state of mind??

Feeling under pressure? Does it look like life is throwing ALOT at you? I hear you!

What can we do about this? Nobody wants to feel stressed all the time but sometimes it kind of looks like that's the only real response to a situation. Is there anything we can see about this with fresh eyes?

In this episode I have a lovely chat with Jo Blackburn from Shropshire Rural Support about all manner of things rural and how it affects our headspace.

We all know that life feels waaaay better in a good headspace. Do we get a good headspace as a result of life going well, achieving our goals and having less problems to contend with? Maybe.

What if it works the other way around?

Come along to the podcast to hear more.

We all have issues that go round our head, things that we worry about or ideals that we feel we need to live up to. Sometimes, it feels if we were to let that go, we would be being irresponsible or not doing our best.

When we've seen something a certain way for a long time, it feels crazy to us that there is an entirely new perspective available to us - to us, it just seems 'that's the way it is.'

When we get fresh thinking, it is often quite suprising to us, it always leads us to a new perspective, even on an old problem - but is it really possible?

There are basic principles behind life, when we begin to understand them everything makes more sense.

The Three Principles, also known as the Inside-Out Understanding, describe the essential elements behind our human experience. They have always been true—since the dawn of time. Throughout history, wise folk have understood this stuff. The rest of us are just catching up!

These principles were articulated in the 1970s by Sydney Banks. Since then, this understanding has spread worldwide. It is shared with CEOs of major corporations, the US military, prisoners, and individuals facing challenges such as mental illness and addiction—as well as everyday people who simply want to feel better and live more fulfilling lives.

We live in a world of thought. Our consciousness brings those thoughts to life, making them feel so real to us! When we don’t understand the process, we can easily get so lost in this! But as we begin to see through it, clearer thinking and a deeper sense of well-being—often referred to as Mind—are always available to us.

If you’d like to learn more, come along to the podcast!

In this podcast I discuss neurodivergence and the nervous system with Karen Fisher, Farm Advisor for the Soil Association and neurodivergence and LGBTQ consultant for the rural industries.

How does it affect our view of life if we are neurodivergent? What if underneath we are all the same? Does it bring extra challenges? A superpower?

Come along to the podcast to hear more!