Believeing passionately in what she does

In an age of algorithm-driven Instagram health fads and ubiquitous wellness experts, it might be tempting to dismiss Aintherese Madden as just another component of an already saturated industry. But there is nothing insincere about the Lorrha woman. The former biomedical scientist turned life coach is utterly genuine, and believes passionately in what she does. You can take it that her new book, 'Being: Finding your spiritual balance gently and sustainably', which has hit the shelves and is now available online, will be similarly authentic.

Her first career (as a biomedical scientist) taught her how to analyse and investigate, and evidently, she has extrapolated those skills to her second profession, which is less of a job and more of a vocation. What does that vocation entail? In essence, she helps people, helps them to chart a course in life, to find a purpose, to unlock potential. “People have everything they need within themselves,” she says, adding that her role is to guide them and allow them to discover those capabilities.

The book, her first, draws on the lessons she has learned from working with various clients down the years, but also takes inspiration from her own personal journey. It isn’t really autobiographical, she says, although she does present an “honest background to herself” within its pages. It is the product of a fusion of “compelling personal stories, meditations and soul-centred wisdom,” and she has composed it not for herself, but for the benefit of others. It was a book that needed to be written, she feels, because many people are crying out for it, although they may not directly know it.

“I just wanted to put it together for people because I really just felt that a lot of people had difficulties in common, or struggles in common, where they were just getting really stuck, where they were getting overwhelmed. And I just felt like there was just this need for people to be able to take a pause, to create that space in that moment for themselves.”

Guiding principle

That “space” which she talks about is an essential guiding principle in terms of both the book and the work she does as an integrative wellness coach.

“We often wait for the perfect moment, for life to line up for us,” she says. “But really what I’m saying in the book, is that no matter how difficult things are, it’s really worth your while taking that pause, stepping into that calm space, and within that space then, great things can happen.”

Aintherese also emphasises the importance of “finding balance in all body systems - mental, emotional, spiritual and physical.” The spiritual element is particularly important, she says. She isn’t referring to spirituality in the sense of an organised religion, but rather a person’s own individual experience or interpretation of spirituality. If you can find that spiritual balance, “other things fall into place more easily,” she explains.

Aintherese’s book is not exclusively targeted to individuals. She is a big thinker and doesn’t shy away from the existential issues and questions that are affecting the world right now. Ireland, as a country, has “big decisions to make” and she believes that we must take that pause before making them. She notes that the world is dealing with a huge amount of violence right now and that this country cannot allow itself to be sidelined by bigger powers.

“Just because we’re a small country doesn't mean that what we have to say is not equally important. And we make better decisions when we value what it is that we have worked very hard in this country to create - which is peace.”

Adversity

Aintherese openly admits that she “doesn’t have the perfect life.” Like everyone, she has been touched by adversity. Her mother, who suffered from Alzheimer's, passed away around this time last year. The book was released on February 3, the date of her first anniversary. Aintherese has fond memories of her but laments the fact that she never got the chance to read it. Still, the new author is immensely proud of the work she has produced. She has always loved writing, right back to her days in secondary school. But it was not inevitable that she would write a book. It was a long and arduous process, but now that it has finally come to fruition, she is thrilled.

BOOK STOCKIST

'Being' will be available in paperback format from Scéal Shop Lorrha, The Nenagh Bookshop, Bookworm Thurles and through www.buythebook.ie.