In Your Right Mind with Monique Rhodes

Yesterday Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Tennis Open. The stand she has taken for her mental health is a lesson for us all.

In a world that is so fast, it can be hard to be patient. We are being taught that we can have most things instantly. However, patience is so powerful and can teach us so much. Most of all, it can teach us how to be fearless.

This week I was interview for a podcast called Bleep Bulimia. I thought you might like to hear the interview.

There was a lot of talk this week about the supermoon. It was a once in a 40-year phenomenon. It got me thinking about how amazing it is to say something that only happens once in 40 years and the lesson that holds for us.

Most of the time, our thoughts are like a river. They flow consistently, one after the other. However, there is a gap in our thoughts. Becoming aware of that gap is a powerful way for us to work with them.

What can we do when things happen over and over again in our lives? It can be surprising for us to realize that the things that keep happening consistently are the easiest ones to change.

There were two ways that I was taught to understand my mind. I find them both incredibly powerful to help relieve stress and anxiety.

What happens to our peace of mind when the world feels consumed by negativity? In this episode, I explore how constant exposure to bad news, outrage, and fear-based stories can quietly shape our minds—and what we can do to reclaim calm and perspective. From media headlines to social chatter, we often absorb stress that doesn't even belong to us. I share practical ways to shift your focus back to what's real, grounding, and good in your own life—because while we can't control the world's noise, we can choose the world we create inside our minds.

I met a friend at the weekend. She talked about the incredible struggles she has had in her life and how grateful she is for them. I found our conversation profoundly inspiring.

We are masters of the external world. If we take a moment to think of all of the things we've created as human beings, it is extraordinary. However, this highlights the great imbalance that it's helpful for us to be aware of.

How can we manage overwhelm? What can we do when everything feels like it's more than we can cope with? Let me give you some strategies and tips that I use when I think that I've fallen into a state of overwhelm.

In today's podcast, I discuss how we can work with sound in everyday life as a form of meditation.

Sometimes, we can see events that can be difficult and not understand how we got to this place. Understanding other people's backstory and our own enables us to have more understanding and compassion in our lives.

I received an email from one of my students concerned about her growing anger and prejudice to a current event in the news. In today's podcast, I give her some ways to work with the war in her own heart.

When we learn new things, there is a process that we go through. Often we get to a point where we want to give up. However, if we understand the learning pit, we can see where we are in the process and lessen the chances of giving up and reaching the breakthrough that we are aiming for.

I have received many emails from students concerned about feeling overwhelmed as their country begins to open up. And today's podcast, I talk about how to cope as many of us re-enter the world.

I listened to a podcast from a well-loved author yesterday and finished it a little despairing about her conversation on anxiety. Here are my thoughts on why it troubled me.

If we are working with our minds and shifting our habits, what do we do when other people's conversations drag us back into our old ways? This is what I am discussing today.

I received a message today from one of my students questioning the importance of releasing our negative emotions. Working with our negative emotions is important - how we work with them can be the difference between releasing them and solidifying them.

There are two types of ways that we struggle in the world. One of them is part of being human. The other is optional. By understanding that our mental suffering is optional, we can start to relieve ourselves from the hold that it has on us.

I love reading. When I was a kid, I read three books at a time. In our modern world, we can find that we are reading many articles, but is it essential to also read books? I am speaking with Dr Danny Brassel, who has the wonderful title of being America's leading Reading Ambassador in today's podcast.

The role of corporations is to leave us feeling as though we are not enough in order to buy their products. Their job is to sell us unhappiness. We don't realise how inundated we are with their messaging and its toll on our mental health.

When I was 17, I thought I had a reasonable handle on how the world worked. I realise now I had no idea.

We miss out on so much. This is due to us not being able to stay in the present moment.

There are four reminders that we can regularly remember to make a massive difference in our lives. In today's podcast, I discuss what they are and how to work with them.

As we rush through our lives, it can be easy for us to forget the difference that we can make to the world. In today's podcast, I discuss the difference that you can make.

We are hurtling towards an epidemic of stress, anxiety and depression. It is vital to thrive and be happy that we address the imbalance that is causing this.

One of my students wrote to me expressing her feelings of helplessness when she reads the news. It can be easy for us to feel overwhelmed by it. However, we can make a difference.

I received an email from one of my students struggling to understand the idea that another person does not necessarily cause us to hurt. In today's podcast, I help clarify this for her.

There is so much pressure on us to be winners, to succeed. It can be exhausting. It creates so much pressure on us. However, there is only one strategy that we need to have a big and exciting life…if that's what we want.

One of my students is originally from India. I received an email from her where she writes about her concern for her family over this time. What I tell her has lessons for us all.

It isn't easy when people we love pass away. However, today I answer a question from one of my students who has a huge loss and is struggling.

I am so excited about tonight. I am hosting an Aunty Party. This means that two of my nieces and one of my nephews are coming over to stay. Yes - we are about to have a party! What a reminder this is of what is important.

Sometimes we put a lot of pressure on the people closest to us to love us. This is learned behaviour. It can make a huge difference in our lives if we can become conscious of where we are looking for love.

For the last few days, I have disappeared on a coastal walk in New Zealand. As well as finding it wonderful to be out in nature that same relationship with the earth concerned me. This is what I discuss in today's podcast.

Today is my birthday. I always make it an important day. And the best news is that whenever I am in New Zealand, it is always a holiday!

What if winning has far less to do with talent—and far more to do with your mind? In this episode, I share the powerful lessons I learned while watching world-class athletes unravel under pressure, and how the tight grip we place on outcomes can sabotage even our best efforts. You'll discover why spaciousness matters, why doing your best is enough, and how letting go of the result opens the door to possibilities you couldn't see before. True happiness isn't found in winning—it's found in learning to handle whatever comes your way.

How do we balance caring for others without losing ourselves? In this episode, I respond to a listener's heartfelt question about putting their own needs aside—often until it's too late. We'll explore why self-care so often disappears in times of crisis, and how creating non-negotiable habits can anchor us even when life feels overwhelming. Let's talk about why honoring your own wellbeing isn't selfish—it's the foundation for everything else you give.

Do you dream of changing the world? In this episode, I explore how the most powerful transformation doesn't start out there—it begins within. I share why working with your mind is the key to reducing suffering, building happiness, and seeing the world through a more loving and compassionate lens. Discover how your perception shapes everything and how becoming kinder and more conscious creates a ripple effect of change. Learn how shifting your internal world is the truest way to make a difference.

As life moves on at such a fast pace, we can easily forget the cycles of it. In this last week, there have been two passings and one birth that have touched me. In today's podcast, I explain why.

Many of us have morning rituals that help start our days in the best way possible. One of my clients asked me if she could do things at night to help her wake up happier in the morning. In this podcast, I give my thoughts.

Sometimes, it's hard for us to tell someone we love that they have hurt us. We may not even be able to see it. What we do see instead is a decoy.

Is there an expiry date to dreams? What if you've suffered a lot and feel you might be too old to dream? In today's podcast, I answer a question from one of my students questioning whether it's too late to dream.

Is it ok to feel proud of myself? Doesn't feeling proud of myself mean that I am arrogant? In today's podcast, I answer a question from one of my students and discuss what healthy and unhealthy pride looks like.

What if most of your suffering isn't coming from life—but from a habit of the mind? In this episode, I explore how easily we can slip into identifying with our struggles, repeating the same stories, and unconsciously placing ourselves at the center of every difficulty. You'll learn how to recognize the subtle ways we attach to suffering, how to shift into solution-based thinking, and why turning your attention outward brings more joy, connection, and freedom. When we stop reenforcing the "poor me" narrative, we create space for genuine happiness to rise.

What if the frustrations you feel on the road were actually invitations to grow? In this episode, I explore how our reactions to other drivers reveal far more about our own minds than about anyone else on the road. Through stories from my years in India and New Zealand, I share how shifting our perception—from judgment to understanding—can dissolve tension and open the door to genuine compassion. When we remember that everyone is doing their best, including us, driving becomes more than a commute; it becomes a daily practice in kindness.

Last week, one of my team had the worst news. Her mother not only had Covid but had to go into hospital. We were so worried. It was a good reminder that there was something we could do to help.

What if every person who crosses your path is here to teach you something? In this episode, I explore how every relationship—whether filled with love, challenge, or loss—holds a lesson meant to help us grow. When we choose to stay open, even when it hurts, we discover that everyone we meet is both our student and our teacher, guiding us toward healing and deeper love.

Being busy is seen as a badge of honour. The busier we are, the more important we appear. However, we're constantly overwhelmed by our busyness. What is it that we are doing when we're consistently trying to fill our lives up?

As I sat at my friend's father's funeral this week, I listened to all of the beautiful things people said about him. He was such a kind and gentle man—a real gentleman. No one talked about his achievements. They only talked about who he was. It got me thinking about what it is that people remember about us.