What does it really mean to be resilient? Is it about being strong for everyone around us or might there be strength in recognising when we need one another?

In this episode of Reframing Resilience I speak with Asha Shah, personal brand and fashion stylist and founder of Distinct Styling.

Asha shares her experiences of losing her father and grandfather and how she found herself being the strong one for those around her while privately navigating her own grief. We explore the difference between appearing resilient and how we actually feel inside.

As a stylist Asha is passionate about helping people feel confident in who they are. Our conversation takes us beyond the wardrobe to explore body image, the impact of comments about our appearance and the assumptions we make about others based on what we see.

But one of the biggest themes to emerge is the importance of connection.

When someone tells us they're ok, how often do we take that at face value? And when we know someone is struggling, do we wait for them to ask for help or do we take the initiative to reach out?

Asha shares a powerful example of checking in on a friend and how something as simple as a phone call can make a real difference.

We also explore how we process difficult emotions, the importance of learning from mistakes and a simple writing practice that gave me goosebumps during our conversation.

In this episode, we explore:

• The difference between being strong and feeling resilient

• Grief and the pressure to hold everything together

• Body image, confidence and looking beyond appearances

• Why "I'm ok" doesn't always mean someone is ok

• The power of reaching out rather than waiting to be asked

• Learning from failure and finding ways to process difficult emotions

About Asha

Asha Shah is a personal brand and fashion stylist with a passion for helping individuals look and feel their most confident.

Through her work at Distinct Styling she crafts intentional, elevated looks that go beyond the wardrobe by aligning style with identity and purpose.

Whether working with private clients or building a brand's visual presence Asha brings her expertise and a deeply personal touch to everything she does.

Find Asha

Website: https://www.distinctstyling.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livefashionlovestyle

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashametulshah

What if resilience wasn't just about how we cope, but how we support one another?

Being seen as strong, capable and resilient can come with expectations. We might feel that we should be able to cope with everything ourselves, while those around us may assume that we don't need their support.

In this episode of Reframing Resilience, I'm joined by business and personal coach Vicky Stanton to explore how we can challenge these assumptions and rethink both giving and receiving support.

We talk about the pressure many women feel to do everything and how we might reframe asking for help by thinking of it as delegation. After all, delegation is recognised as a strength in leadership, so why do we sometimes see asking for help in our personal lives as a weakness?

Vicky shares her experience of losing her mum while working in a senior leadership role and how being perceived as someone who could always cope meant her need for support was overlooked.

We also explore the idea that resilient people aren't made of Teflon. As Vicky says, "Stuff does stick and stuff does hurt." Being strong doesn't mean we're unaffected by what happens to us.

And perhaps one of the most important messages from our conversation is that we don't always have to wait to be asked before offering help. Sometimes recognising what someone needs and offering something practical can make all the difference.

We finish with Vicky's beautifully simple resilience reframe: just do your best today.

About Vicky

Vicky Stanton is a qualified and accredited business and personal coach and a certified grief and loss coach. She works with business owners and senior leaders, helping them recognise how personal development can positively influence their lives, careers and businesses.

Vicky believes passionately that we can all do, be and have anything we choose.

Outside her coaching work, Vicky has been involved with Girlguiding UK since she was a young member and has spent over 40 years as a uniformed leader. It's something that keeps her young at heart and enjoying life.

Find Vicky

Website: https://vickystanton.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickystanton/

What if being resilient isn't about managing everything yourself but recognising when you need support?

In this episode of Reframing Resilience, Liz is joined by Shannon Holdstock to explore the emotional impact of constantly keeping going and why asking for help can be a strength rather than a weakness.

As a business owner and mum of two, Shannon knows how easily the demands of work, family and everyday life can become overwhelming. She shares her experience of a particularly challenging period when she found herself in survival mode, continuing to do everything that needed doing while emotionally struggling.

Together, Liz and Shannon explore:

• The difference between getting through something and feeling resilient

• How stress can build when we move from one responsibility to the next without pausing

• Why self-care shouldn't become another job on our to-do list

• The importance of recognising and expressing our emotions

• Why asking for help can feel so difficult

• The value of support networks, boundaries and connection

• How gratitude can help us find perspective during challenging times

Shannon's resilience reframe brings the conversation back to boundaries, mindset and recognising that we cannot do everything ourselves.

Perhaps resilience isn't simply about how much we can cope with but about recognising what we need to help us through.

About Shannon

Shannon Holdstock is a Property Finder at Starris Property. Alongside running her business and managing clients, she balances the demands of family life with two young children and a dog.

Drawing on her own experiences, Shannon brings an open and relatable perspective to the pressures of modern life and the importance of making space to pause, reset and look after ourselves.

Find Shannon

Website: https://www.starris.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starris_property/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starrisproperty

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sholdstock/