A kinder way of being
About
Be More Giraffe is a philosophy, a body of work, and an invitation.
An invitation to slow down in a reactive world. To meet ourselves and others with more compassion. And to choose connection — even when things feel hard.
At its heart, Be More Giraffe is about learning to respond rather than react, and to live from a place of understanding rather than judgement.
Join the heart-led herd
The Giraffe Circle is a warm, supportive space rooted in the principles of Be More Giraffe.
Hi. I’m Siân Goodspeed: the human behind the giraffe.Â
Where it began
I'm a mum, former teacher, and compassionate communication trainer. I live on the Devon coast with my family and a lively collection of animals.
For many years, I lived in constant go-mode. I was juggling work, responsibility and family life, while quietly overriding my own needs. On the outside, I looked capable. On the inside, I was overwhelmed.
At home, that overwhelm showed up in ways I didn’t like — snapping, reacting, raising my voice — followed by guilt and self-criticism.
I loved my children deeply.
I just didn’t always know how to meet everyone’s needs — including my own.
The shift
Everything began to change when I began Nonviolent Communication training (or, as I prefer to call it: Compassionate Communication, or Giraffe-Speak).
Through my background in education, Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) and Compassionate Communication, I learned a different way of understanding behaviour — mine and others’.Â
I learned that:
- reactivity is often a signal of unmet needs
- shouting is rarely about anger, and often about overwhelm
- repair matters more than perfection
- self-compassion is not optional — it’s foundational
As I practised these principles, my relationships softened.
Not because life became easy — but because I had tools to meet difficulty with more awareness and care.
This inner shift became the foundation of Be More Giraffe.
Why the giraffe?
The giraffe is the animal with the largest heart of any land mammal.
For me, it symbolises:
- big-heartedness
- perspective
- calm presence
- the ability to see the wider picture
In contrast, the “jackal” represents our reactive, protective responses — the voice of blame, judgement and defence that so often appears under stress.
Be More Giraffe isn’t about getting rid of our inner jackal.
It’s about learning to understand it — and choosing a more compassionate response when we can.
The heart of Be More Giraffe
At its core, Be More Giraffe is about:
- responding with curiosity instead of judgement
- understanding feelings and needs — our own and others’
- repairing connection when things go wrong
- modelling emotional intelligence in everyday life
- slowing down enough to notice what really matters
This work applies everywhere — in families, schools, workplaces and communities.
Be More Giraffe today
Be More Giraffe continues to evolve.
Sometimes it shows up as writing.
Sometimes as teaching or training.
And sometimes as community.
Right now, the main way this work is being expressed is through The Giraffe Circle — an online community designed to support busy working mums who are carrying a lot and longing for a gentler way to live and parent.
The Giraffe Circle
The Giraffe Circle is a warm, supportive space rooted in the principles of Be More Giraffe.
It’s a place to:
- Pause and breathe
- Learn compassionate communication at a human pace
- Reflect without judgement
- And be supported by others walking a similar path
It’s not about doing more or becoming someone else.
It’s about coming home to yourself — and modelling that for the next generation.
Say hello to the herd
We get you...
(Definition) to be more giraffe: to make a conscious choice to live in a big hearted way - with compassion, abundance and joy
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