Welcome!
Thank you for stopping by The Best of Intentions. I hope that you enjoy what you find here.
Why the Best of Intentions?
I was raised to believe in the best in people (I think it comes with the name) and that everyone (usually) has the best of intentions for when it comes to being a decent person in the world.
Some of my own best intentions include:
Eat better, and do more exercise
Be a better friend, daughter, wife, colleague, citizen!
Listen, and then listen some more
Have more patience with others (see above)
Use my phone less, go on the internet less, go outside more
Write more, and write better!
And I could keep going…
However, it’s when life gets messy, and challenging, especially when it’s messy and challenging that we might feel as though our best intentions fall short - mine certainly do.
If you can relate to any of the above, then this newsletter might be for you.
What to expect from TBOI?
TBOI is a newsletter that aims to explore some of these intentions, so you can expect to find a mix of opinion and research-led posts about a range of areas such as health/fitness, work, politics, travel and culture.
I’ll also be sharing some insights from the field of psychology. Having worked as a psychology teacher for several years, I believe that the area has a lot to offer (and, some might argue, to answer for) when it comes to understanding our behaviour, thinking, and emotions, and so I hope to cover as much as I can.
One of my areas of interest within psychology is health and fitness and this led me to complete some research into the role of strength training and body image. It turns out that the way we think about our body is complicated. Who knew! Earlier this year, I was fortunate to have some of my research published by Leyla Kazim on her newsletter right here on Substack.
Besides writing about health and fitness, some of the other areas that I have written about are: work burnout, the power of play, the joys of urban planning (yes, just that), and how weak tie connections can be beneficial to our wellbeing.
An additional aim for this newsletter is to debunk some of the common misconceptions about the field and shine a light on contemporary research.
What else can I find here?
Well, I am glad you asked!
This newsletter is not just for those interested in the field of psychology, and although I love the subject (if you hadn’t guessed), there will also be posts about photography, life in Hong Kong (where I have lived for several years), as well as ones about writing and other stuff in the Notebook. You could say that this newsletter has a pick n’ mix feel. It’s a blog, basically.
If you’re still with me at this point and it sounds like something you might like, then please subscribe, and if you think someone else might be interested, then please share it around!
Still interested?
All posts are free to read, but if you would like to support my work, you are welcome to upgrade to a paid subscription. Although I would be delighted if you could provide your support through sharing the posts and commenting on these.
You will receive one post a week, and generally these will land on a Tuesday or a Wednesday. Why then? Not sure, really. I just picked the middle of the week.
About me
I’m a writer, educator, and a psychologist, Hong Kong based but grew up in the UK. Currently working as a freelance writer/editor where I have written for education publications, as well as publishing work here on Substack. Hobbies include travel, reading, strength training and hiking.
Best,
Sarah
