Celebrating Groov with Shantelle Thompson
Highlights from our recent webinar with world champion and Barkindji Warrior Shantelle Thompson.
Did you catch our recent chat with Shantelle Thompson? She joined Sir John Kirwan and Dr Fiona Crichton to celebrate our move to Groov and share how she looks after her wellbeing.
Shantelle is a proud Aboriginal woman, 3x Brazilian Jiu-jitsu world champion, professional speaker, thought leader, mum of five, and a voice of Groov.
She offered so much wisdom in this webinar, including how she honours her intuition, lives in alignment with her values, and balances her passions with her responsibilities.
Watch the replay or read our top 5 takeaways below.
1. Listen to when “your heart says yes”
When Shantelle is in her Groov, her “heart says yes and there’s an ease to life”.
“I can figure things out and make things work. My energy alignment is there,” explains Shantelle. “I might still be a bit tired, but there’s a gentleness to it. I can find a way to make things happen.”
When her heart says no, Shantelle says it feels like she’s in competition with herself.
“It’s the difference between a ‘heart and body yes’ and an ‘ego yes’. Am I doing something because I ‘should’ do it? Am I abandoning myself?” she says.
“I know I’m in my Groov when my family, my business, the cultural responsibilities I hold – they’re all working together. They’re supporting each other, and they’re not in competition.”
2. Take five minutes for you
One of the ways Shantelle stays in her Groov is by taking five minutes to regularly check in with herself.
“It’s very easy for me to say ‘I don’t have the time’ – but something I can do is take five minutes to check in with myself. Then I’m better able to set myself up for success.”
3. Feel all your feelings
Another way Shantelle stays in her Groov is by acknowledging all her feelings, even the difficult ones.
“Everyone wants things to feel good. But you can’t understand real happiness if you haven’t understood loss and deep sorrow,” says Shantelle.
“I give myself permission to feel my feelings and acknowledge my feelings, but no longer feel controlled by them. It’s about being conscious about what’s coming up for me.”
4. Listen to your body
Shantelle pays close attention to how her body reacts to situations, especially when making decisions.
“Listening to your body is a skill and it comes with time. When I get tension through my jaw or contract and go into fetal position, my body is saying no. When I expand, and feel ease and excitement, my body is saying yes,” says Shantelle.
“I’m learning to value all my intelligence.”
5. Find your Groov to help others
Shantelle says one of the main reasons she prioritises staying in her Groov is her family, especially her children.
“It’s easier to build a strong child than to heal a hurt adult. That’s why this work is so important. It’s a responsibility to heal and to be in my Groov, because when I am, I can show up in a way that’s more aligned with my values,” she explains.
Dr Fiona agrees. “When you’re in your Groov, this isn’t just about you. It’s how you walk in the world. It’s who you are. You’re better at work, at home, with the people around you. That’s why we’re so passionate about finding and staying in your Groov – because this is the way we change the world.”
