Suffering or feeling exhausted? Re-energise yourself with mindfulness and self-compassion
Are you tender with yourself? Transformational coach and change consultant Gail Cox probes what mindfulness and self-compassion really entail, including slowing down and softening, being where your feet are, and ‘kind-ing your mind.’ Relating stories from her own life, she illuminates having a free pass versus giving oneself a permission slip, and healing from psoriasis. Sponsored content.
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In episode 232 of the weekly podcast series Calm, Clear & Helpful, transformational coach, facilitator and change consultant Gail Cox considers
whether life is difficult – and the fact that we’re not taught ‘how to suffer’
2 key elements to facilitate relieving stress and developing resilience
the story of how Gail came to mindfulness
how Gail’s psoriasis was healed
what mindfulness entails: learning how to be present with yourself, pause, and reset
the effect of physical as well as imaginary threat
whether mindfulness has a goal
self-compassion: cultivating a kind mind and a steady heart
having a Free Pass versus giving oneself a Permission Slip
2 stories from Gail’s life illustrating the Free Pass and Permission Slip idea
In this episode, Gail mentions Dr Simon Whitesman and Brené Brown.
Scroll down for more about Gail.
Gail’s Free Passes & Permission Slips Workshop: 30 November 2025
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Also listen to Gail sharing stories and life & leadership lessons from accepting the challenge of open-water swimming in Mallorca.
You can read Gail’s Up Close & Personal article here.
More about Gail
Gail Cox is a transformational coach, facilitator and change consultant with a deep commitment to helping leaders and teams grow in ways that support both business and human vitality. She's walked many paths: entrepreneur, corporate employee and consultant, team coach, and in her private practice, she supports adults navigating high-stakes life/career transitions.
Gail blends a range of human-centered coaching modalities with leadership development, helping people build resilience, emotional steadiness, and the kind of energy that sustains — at work, at home, and in community. She’s also a globally accredited mindfulness-based stress reduction teacher with over two decades of personal practice.
Gail lives in Cape Town with her husband, two young adult children and her rescue dogs, and is as likely to be found reading or coaching as swimming. She describes this season of her life as one of mastery, wisdom, and a bit of madness — still learning, still stretching, still showing up.
Website: https://www.gailcoxcoaching.com/
Email: connect@gailcoxcoaching.com
Tel. +27 83 320 9889
Virtual coaching partners profile: https://virtualcoachingpartners.com/product/gail-cox
LinkedIn: Gail Cox
Facebook: Gail Cox
The free podcast series Calm, Clear & Helpful is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Player FM and Iono.fm – I hope you’ll subscribe!
Original music by Mart-Marie Snyman
Thumbnail image: Pexels. Model used
Photograph of Gail Cox: supplied