Mental Wellness Mastery: Toby Maguire Of InterContinental Phuket Resort On Everyday Life Hacks For Optimal Mental Wellness

In our modern, fast-paced society, mental wellness is a crucial aspect of leading a fulfilling life. However, for many people, achieving and maintaining good mental health can be a challenging task, with obstacles such as stress, anxiety, depression, and more. That’s why it’s essential to have practical and accessible strategies for mental wellness that can help build resilience, emotional intelligence, and overall well-being. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Toby Maguire.

Toby Maguire A seasoned expert, Toby brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Sati Spa at InterContinental Phuket Resort. Originally from London, his personal journey included many struggles and obstacles, leading him to explore meditation and its transformative power. Over two decades, he immersed himself in Eastern philosophies, studying meditation, Thai massage, Chinese medicine, and Qi Gong at renowned monasteries. With a passion for helping others find inner peace, Toby has worked with high-profile individuals globally, offering personalised wellness solutions. His expertise lies in psychological well-being, combining meditation, hypnotherapy, and life coaching. He also offers specialized treatments like Chi Nei Tsang abdominal massage and Qi Gong. Whether through one-on-one sessions, workshops, or retreats, Toby empowers individuals to manage stress, find clarity, and enhance overall well-being. Certified in nutrition, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, and meditation, Toby is dedicated to guiding clients towards greater fulfillment.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive into our discussion about Mental Wellness Life Hacks, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path?

My story really began more than 30 years ago when I suffered from anxiety and depression as a teenager. One day I came across a book about meditation in a bookshop. I read the back and remember the words ‘peace of mind, confidence and clarity of your goals in life’.

So I bought it, and promised myself that I would practice whatever was written in the book until I just felt normal again.

And that is what I did.

Within 3 months of practicing meditating, my whole life turned around. The anxiety and depression completely disappeared, never to return. It made me realize what had caused it, what I had to change in my life a gave me clarity of my life’s purpose. I left my career in the city of London and moved to Thailand to study meditation. This eventually led me onto a path of teaching meditation and stress management in Health and Wellness resorts worldwide and has brought me to where I am today.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

One story always sticks in my mind as it really hit me quite profoundly.

Whilst working in a wellness resort one day, I walked into the spa to see a guest speaking very angrily to one of the spa receptionists. Seeing how flustered the spa receptionist was, I stepped in to try and calm the situation down.

Thinking I was a manager, the lady spoke to me more respectfully, we resolved the issue and then started chatting. When I told her I was the Meditation coach and hypnotherapist, she asked to book a session with me.

The lady was the wife of a multi billionaire and during our session, she confided in me how unhappy she was.

“Toby”, she said “I have more money than I could ever have imagined. But you know what, I am so angry and upset with everything and everyone all the time that I just cannot enjoy any of it”.

It was in that moment that I realized 2 things. Firstly, that anyone can struggle with their mental health, no matter who they are or what they have. Secondly, that nothing in the material will make you happy unless you do the inner work to be able to appreciate it.

You are a successful individual. Which three-character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

Kindness, Faith and Perseverance.

1. Kindness. Being kind will get you further in life than any other quality you can ever cultivate. If you are kind, people will want to work with you and will always recommend you to others. Just recently I moved back to Thailand and as soon as I came back, people who I worked with as far back as 15 years ago reached out to me offering work. Why? Because my number one strength has always been in cultivating positive relationships with people. But kindness is not easy. It takes great strength of character to be kind. This means refraining from gossip, holding your tongue when people have let you down or hurt you and always looking to understand the motivation behind the actions of others instead of judging them. But nothing will gain you greater respect and boost your career prospects than being kind to others.

2.Faith. When I first told my friends and family that I was leaving my stable career in London to study meditation in Thailand, there were a few raised eyebrows. Some people thought I was crazy, some respected me for taking such a courageous decision. For me, jumping into the unknown really was down to faith, listening to my inner calling, following my heart and just knowing that everything would turn out fine.

3. Perseverance. There have been times in my career that I have really struggled following my inner calling. So much so that about 15 years ago I almost gave up my dream as a Meditation Instructor to take on a well-paid position as a Director of a Language Scholl. But I knew if I did, I would always regret it. So, I persevered, even though I was completely broke and in debt. But just as I hit rock bottom, an amazing opportunity arose for me to work at the Bodyholiday in St Lucia as the Master Wellness Practitioner. The day I arrived there I was filled with pure relief and elation and even to this day, I remember it as being the most fun and rewarding job I have ever had. Do what you know is right and neverr give up.

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview about mental wellness mastery. What is one often-overlooked daily habit that can significantly improve one’s mental wellness?

Morning meditation practice. This can be done in as little as 15 minutes and sets your mind up to be in a more calm and reflective space for the day. When your mind is calm, the biggest problem in the world can feel like the smallest. But if you don’t do the inner work, it is easy for your mind to become worried and agitated, and then small problems can feel like the biggest.

How do you recommend individuals recalibrate their mental wellness after experiencing a significant setback or failure?

My favorite quote is “There is no such thing as failure, only feedback”. When we experience a setback or failure, there are always valuable lessons to be learned. Rather than dwelling on the negative aspects, flip to the positive, reflect on the lessons learned and on how you can use those to propel you to success in the future.

In your experience, what is a common misconception about mental health that hinders people from seeking help or improving their wellness?

I think there is still a stigma attached to people admitting they are struggling with mental health, as though it is a weakness and something to be ashamed about. But it’s not a weakness. Life is tough sometimes and we don’t always have the necessary tools to handle it. When I first started to struggle with my mental health, I was embarrassed to talk to anyone about it thinking they would judge me, back away and avoid me. In fact, the complete opposite was true. When I finally opened up to my best friend, he was very supportive, and in it deepened our friendship and took it to a whole new level. 35 years later he is still my best friend, my rock and vice versa. Do not suffer in silence. If you are struggling, reach out to someone. It takes great courage to open up and speak about your vulnerability. That is strength, not weakness.

Can you share a transformative moment or client story that highlights the power of a specific mental wellness strategy?

Not so long ago, I worked with a well-known TV presenter who was experiencing anxiety attacks just before she went live on a TV. The root cause had been a personal tragedy that she had experienced the year before that had left her feeling very vulnerable. We had 4 sessions in total, 2 face to face and 2 online. With a combination of hypnotherapy, coaching and meditation, we began by working on releasing the emotional connection she had with tragic events and then used a technique called reframing, which helped her see her situation in new light. Finally, using hypnosis, we recalibrated positive emotions and excitement to going live on TV. Not only did this stop her anxiety attacks before going live but as a byproduct, also helped her overcome her fear of flying.

Based on your experience and research, can you please share “5 Everyday Life Hacks For Optimal Mental Wellness?”

1. Meditate, every day, even if it’s just for 10 minutes. Sit in a comfortable position either cross legged on the floor or in a chair, making sure your back is straight. Close your eyes and then focus on your breath. Count each breath until you reach 10 and then go back to one again and repeat. Make the exhalations roughly twice as long as the exhalations. When your mind wonders off, just notice the thought, let it go and draw your mind back into the breath.
2. Spend some time journalling every day, ideally 5 minutes after meditation. This will help you to gain clarity about what you want out of life and make better choices every day to take you to where you want to go. Don’t think too much, just put pen to paper and write down whatever thoughts spring to mind. This helps us to understand our minds and our lives with far greater clarity.
3. Exercise every day, even if it’s just for 20 minutes. Exercise is so important to improving your mental well-being as it reduces anxiety, improves quality of sleep and fosters a more positive outlook on life. Find a form of exercise that you enjoy or involve a friend. That way it becomes something to look forward to rather than a chore.
4. Gratitude. You can either see the glass of life as being half full or half empty. Rather than thinking of the things you don’t have in life, reflect on all the amazing things that you do: for example, your health, food to eat, water to drink, a roof over your head, family and friends for example. You will realize that you already have plenty.
5. Spend time in nature as often as you can. Connecting to nature fosters mindfulness and grounding, and deepens our sense of purpose, reminding us of the interconnectedness of all life and our place within it.

What role does technology play in mental wellness today, and how can individuals leverage it positively without exacerbating mental health issues

Our lives are heavily influenced by the information we exposé ourselves too, so make sure that information is positive. Stop watching the news for a start as it creates a perception of a world full of doom and gloom. If you spend a lot of time looking at social media, make sure you are watching positive and inspiring posts that uplift you. And finally, take advantage of meditation apps such as Headspace, Calm and insight Timer.

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?

Funnily enough I am working on that movement now. I am also a Leadership coach and the movement is called Zen Leadership. It brings the ancient teaching of the East into the corporate world so we can change the current culture of ‘profit at any price’ to ‘doing good is good businesses”.

The current state of businesses is clearly having a negative impact on the planet and the workforce with more people currently experiencing stress and mental health issues than ever before.

This is all down to ignorance and selfish desires. What can I take from the world as opposed to what can I give back.

Everything in nature gives without expecting anything back. The sun, the water, the earth all provide a supportive environment for life to grow. These elements expect nothing back in return, and as a result, everything thrives.

But when you turn against these natural laws which is what we are doing now, nature turns against you. And this is why the planet and everything on it is struggling right now.

Businesses thrive when they follow the laws of nature and create a supportive environment such as investing in their people and working towards a higher cause other than that of just financial profit. The higher the cause, the more dedicated and motivated a team will be to make that business a success. With the current state of the world, we need to make that change now and it needs to start from the top and filter downwards.

This is the legacy I intend to leave behind

How can our readers further follow you online?

https://phuket.intercontinental.com/sati-spa

www.tobymaguire.com

Thank you for the time you spent sharing these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!

About The Interviewer: Eden Gold, is a youth speaker, keynote speaker, founder of the online program Life After High School, and host of the Real Life Adulting Podcast. Being America’s rising force for positive change, Eden is a catalyst for change in shaping the future of education. With a lifelong mission of impacting the lives of 1 billion young adults, Eden serves as a practical guide, aiding young adults in honing their self-confidence, challenging societal conventions, and crafting a strategic roadmap towards the fulfilling lives they envision.

Do you need a dynamic speaker, or want to learn more about Eden’s programs? Click here: https://bit.ly/EdenGold.