Finding Balance in Uncertain Times: Honouring Hauora, Creativity, and Connection
JUST ANOTHER AWESOME CREATIVE JOURNEY
A personal reflection on navigating overwhelm, honouring hauora, and finding balance through connection, creativity, and nature-inspired healing.
April felt heavy, with so much happening globally, nationally, and locally—from war and cyclones to political storms, the cost of living, and widespread hardship. At times I find myself asking: How do I navigate all of this without stressing about everything? How do I return to a more balanced state of mind?
I have an annoying habit of taking on too much—I’m a super-overachiever in my own lunchtime! Even with my current health status, I still convince myself that I can operate at full capacity. I push on, often taking on more than my body—or my partner—can realistically handle.
However, this past month brought a sobering moment. A school friend and my BAF (Best Arty Friend) both shared their cancer diagnoses with me. That news quickly pulled me back to what really matters and challenged my own truth around Hauora (healing). You know those moments when you wish someone would give you a ‘reality slap’? A gentle reminder that it’s okay not to react to everything—to simply focus on what you can control. The goals I’m striving for are still there. I can still reach them, just at a slower pace, by taking the time to better care for myself and my mind.
One of the best things I did this month was attending a conference which filled my work cup and reconnected me with sector colleagues. What truly filled my hauora was staying with my older sister—spending time just being together, pampering ourselves, and doing the inner work. I realised how much I’d missed that connection and the joy we used to find in self-improvement, sharing, and simply showing up for one another.
It’s refreshing to step away and experience a different space for a while. And equally comforting to return home—to your own bed and familiar surroundings. The ngāhere (native forest) that surrounds our whenua (land) is such a tonic for my hauora. It sparks a sense of harmony and creative inspiration. From these experiences, I’ve drawn out a colour palette, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what unfolds from here.
As I move forward from this month, I’m reminding myself that balance isn’t about doing less—it’s about doing what matters with intention, care, and honesty. Listening to my body, honouring my hauora, and allowing space for rest and creativity are not indulgences; they are necessities.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the noise of the world right now, I invite you to pause and check in with yourself. What can you let go of? What truly deserves your energy? Perhaps it’s time to slow the pace, seek connection, step outside into nature, or simply breathe.
Our goals and aspirations don’t disappear when we slow down—they deepen. By caring for ourselves and each other, we create the conditions for creativity, resilience, and well-being to flourish. For me, this is the work of this season. Maybe it’s yours too.
Ngā mihi mahana – many warm thanks
Henriata
Time away gave rise to some much needed creative inspiration. I called my latest musings “Coastal Retreat”, hoping for another reconnection to the moana (ocean) will come soon.
Soft pastels reflected on the walls surrounding a haven.