Resilience, wellbeing and coaching support for environmental, sustainability and conservation professionals.
Working to protect nature, respond to climate change or create a more sustainable future can be deeply meaningful — and deeply demanding.
The scale of the challenges, constant exposure to difficult news, pressure to keep contributing and the sense that there is always more to do can gradually take a toll.
Balanced Path offers practical support through thoughtfully designed courses and one-to-one coaching to help you stay resilient, grounded and hopeful — while continuing to do the work you care about in ways that are healthier and more sustainable for you.
Your wellbeing is not separate from your contribution. It is part of what makes that contribution possible over the long term.
I’m Jem Friar.
For more than 35 years, I’ve worked in health, wellbeing, coaching and personal development. Over the past seven years, I’ve also worked professionally in climate change and sustainability.
That combination has given me a particular understanding of both sides of this work: the importance of what we’re trying to change in the world, and the very human cost that caring deeply about it can sometimes bring.
Through Balanced Path, I bring these worlds together — helping people working for nature, climate and sustainability stay resilient, grounded and well, so they can continue contributing without sacrificing themselves in the process.
My approach is calm, practical and human, drawing on resilience coaching, positive psychology, wellbeing practices and decades of experience helping people create meaningful change.
The people working to protect nature, respond to climate change and create a more sustainable future are part of the solution too.
If we become depleted, overwhelmed or disconnected from ourselves, it becomes harder to contribute with clarity, creativity and resilience.
Caring for ourselves is not separate from caring for the world.
It is part of how we stay able to keep showing up for what matters.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world, or simply want some practical ways to stay more grounded and hopeful, the free "Staying Positive Resource Guide" is a good place to begin.
It brings together simple ideas and resources to help you manage difficult news, protect your wellbeing and stay connected to what is still working in the world.