At the beginning of the year a number of realistic and unrealistic resolutions were laid out for the months ahead. Some of you may have gotten through them and some of you may have fallen off the wagon. I hope that over the course of this year the coaching provided in this blogspot came as some help or small assistance to you!
At this point you are now in a great place to look back and see what worked and what didn't work.
This is not to be an exercise in 'I should have' or 'I really need to do this next year...'. The reality is that you did what you did, to the best of your ability for that particular time in your life. Simple as that. You learn, you move on.
So what do we do in December? What if NONE of the resolutions came to be?? What if you are exactly in the same place as last year??? Nothing has changed??? If this is what you are thinking then STOP. Pause for a moment, and be grateful for the chance you now have to change things for the better.
If you have managed to get even part of your resolutions completed then 'Good for You!'...
The key message here is about celebrating and being thankful for what you have created in your life RIGHT NOW. I say this realizing that many people have lost their jobs and are facing a Christmas with little or no money.
I'm also saying this realizing that life is precious, so for the moment you are in RIGHT NOW, find one thing to be thankful for and celebrate in the fact that you are alive, at this very moment...and that you have the ability to learn, grow and move on.
2009 is a wonderful opportunity to set down a new course of action towards a new set of goals having the wonderful gift of hindsight! 2008 can provide you with some key insights into how you work best and what can side track you or take away your energy!You are in a better place to know what works for you and what doesn't!
I know it is the start of December but I truely wish everyone who visits this site a WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS and a HEALTHY AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
January 2009 will be the start of Life Coaching - PHASE 2 I reckon, so I'll be focusing on setting goals and achieving them now that I've had a year to experiment with what works and what doesn't!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Getting Creative with Change
November can be quite a gloomy month by all accounts. It is the biggest stretch before Christmas for some, while it can be a nutty month of shopping and Thanksgiving for others. On top of that we have the global situation of an economy which is not as healthy as it once was.
Every direction we hear of someone being let go, laid off or offered a redundancy package...if it hasn't happened directly to you that is! I know this situation first hand, and have been grappling with a way on how best to turn it all around.
So here's my thinking.
This whole situation can be viewed from an entirely different place if we put our minds to it. We're not going to stick our heads in the sand, but we can approach it all from a more open point of view.
'Thats all fab' I hear you say, 'but what about the mortgage and the bills??'...well consider the following. Perhaps you've been in your job for some time, were getting comfortable and possibly pushing thoughts out of your head of changing or following the dream you had.
Maybe NOW is the RIGHT TIME to start thinking about those things again. Change is scary for most people, and it is especially scary when it is forced upon you when you've had little time to ponder on whether you're okay with it, let alone prepared.
So to avoid the panic try the following:
Keep some sort of proper daily routine
Look for 'cover work' while you establish your next step
Dig out that dream again
Start a vision board
The key point in all of this is to keep yourself focused on the positive, embrace the change, allow for the bills to be paid by getting any work, and give yourself the chance to adapt to the new situation without thinking it is a permanent change. The vision board will allow you to focus on the bigger picture - casually and without unecessary pressure being added...and remember, change is a good thing, even when it might not feel that way. It is an opportunity to start a NEW CHAPTER in the book of YOU. You get to decide what way you want to write it.
NOTE - VISION BOARD
This involves getting images from papers and magazines of how you'd like to see your new career or life move forward. Maybe you fancy working in a bigger office, or owning your own business...any picture, colour or words that reflect this can be put on the board. You're creating a strong image of what you want in the future. When you do this it becomes easier to know what you want and how to go for it!
On a personal note I'll be doing the above so know that you are not alone when doing this! I'm looking forward to it and also looking forward to the new direction it will bring, so I hope you do too!
Every direction we hear of someone being let go, laid off or offered a redundancy package...if it hasn't happened directly to you that is! I know this situation first hand, and have been grappling with a way on how best to turn it all around.
So here's my thinking.
This whole situation can be viewed from an entirely different place if we put our minds to it. We're not going to stick our heads in the sand, but we can approach it all from a more open point of view.
'Thats all fab' I hear you say, 'but what about the mortgage and the bills??'...well consider the following. Perhaps you've been in your job for some time, were getting comfortable and possibly pushing thoughts out of your head of changing or following the dream you had.
Maybe NOW is the RIGHT TIME to start thinking about those things again. Change is scary for most people, and it is especially scary when it is forced upon you when you've had little time to ponder on whether you're okay with it, let alone prepared.
So to avoid the panic try the following:
Keep some sort of proper daily routine
Look for 'cover work' while you establish your next step
Dig out that dream again
Start a vision board
The key point in all of this is to keep yourself focused on the positive, embrace the change, allow for the bills to be paid by getting any work, and give yourself the chance to adapt to the new situation without thinking it is a permanent change. The vision board will allow you to focus on the bigger picture - casually and without unecessary pressure being added...and remember, change is a good thing, even when it might not feel that way. It is an opportunity to start a NEW CHAPTER in the book of YOU. You get to decide what way you want to write it.
NOTE - VISION BOARD
This involves getting images from papers and magazines of how you'd like to see your new career or life move forward. Maybe you fancy working in a bigger office, or owning your own business...any picture, colour or words that reflect this can be put on the board. You're creating a strong image of what you want in the future. When you do this it becomes easier to know what you want and how to go for it!
On a personal note I'll be doing the above so know that you are not alone when doing this! I'm looking forward to it and also looking forward to the new direction it will bring, so I hope you do too!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
92 DAYS until the end of 2008!!
October is a great month. It is the final break before we start to head into the last hurdle before Christmas, and as such is a welcome chance to just enjoy Halloween and if the weather is decent, enjoy the beautiful crisp sky and full moon. In some cases people don't get so thrilled about it as it means trouble and stress from noisy heads, bonfires and general mischief.
Taking a different viewpoint however, the start of October means 92 Days until we sign up for another New Year. The distant resolutions from January begin to come back and knock on our door and we tend to add them to the list for the following year, putting whatever excuse works down as to why it didn't get done.
92 DAY PLAN - click on the picture and print for your copy to get started!!
It doesn’t have to be ridiculously big, just something small. For e.g. in Health, maybe you want to stop drinking coffee and cut down on snacks for 5 days and then push it more for the next 10days etc. Doing this will build a positive association for you in setting out plans and sticking with them!
GET STARTED!...I'm going to do it!...health is definitely on my list as I'm fed up getting colds every year, plus I'd like to get a better picture on my career! So there is plenty to keep me amused until the end of the year, and I'm considering it good training to start 2009 more REALISTICALLY!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Planting new seeds or reaping the Harvest?
September!...did we even have a summer? I don't think so! Aside from the obvious, the biggest thing being learned so far this year is how difficult it is to maintain a focus on New Years Resolutions! This is now month number 9, and personally I find it difficult to remember where I left the list of targets/goals/resolutions let alone what they're about!
So this got me thinking. What can I learn from all this? KEEP THINGS SIMPLE and USE THE ENERGY AT THE TIME. What exactly do I mean by that you ask - well here's what I'm thinking:
The list of 10 or 20 resolutions is fun, ambitious and exciting - but a SIMPLE 1 THING ON THE NEW YEAR RESOLUTION LIST is way better.
The beginning of the year is usually a good intentions time, but the energy or resources might not be...so observe when the energy is good for you and observe its general peaking time. September is normally a good time as people are getting back into a routine after the summer. The energy about is more focused, people start courses around this time, start preparing for school, start new ventures in general. Take advantage of this energy!
You might be on track with your resolutions - if so examine the reason for the success and make a note of it! Did you keep your resolutions small, achievable and realistic?
Either way please note that everything you do is great because there is always something to learn from it! If this year is turning out to be like every other year, then write down how so - 2009 is not going to be another repeat!
So to sum it all up and stop it from meandering wildly, we've got from now until December to either get the resolutions in gear, ditch the list and make a new one or admit the whole thing hasn't worked so far but write down the reasons for it. We've got a chance to review, renew and get energised to kick the remainder of 2008 into gear and end it with a sense of real achievment - SO LETS DO IT!
So this got me thinking. What can I learn from all this? KEEP THINGS SIMPLE and USE THE ENERGY AT THE TIME. What exactly do I mean by that you ask - well here's what I'm thinking:
The list of 10 or 20 resolutions is fun, ambitious and exciting - but a SIMPLE 1 THING ON THE NEW YEAR RESOLUTION LIST is way better.
The beginning of the year is usually a good intentions time, but the energy or resources might not be...so observe when the energy is good for you and observe its general peaking time. September is normally a good time as people are getting back into a routine after the summer. The energy about is more focused, people start courses around this time, start preparing for school, start new ventures in general. Take advantage of this energy!
You might be on track with your resolutions - if so examine the reason for the success and make a note of it! Did you keep your resolutions small, achievable and realistic?
Either way please note that everything you do is great because there is always something to learn from it! If this year is turning out to be like every other year, then write down how so - 2009 is not going to be another repeat!
So to sum it all up and stop it from meandering wildly, we've got from now until December to either get the resolutions in gear, ditch the list and make a new one or admit the whole thing hasn't worked so far but write down the reasons for it. We've got a chance to review, renew and get energised to kick the remainder of 2008 into gear and end it with a sense of real achievment - SO LETS DO IT!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Put the sunshine back into your thinking!
I'm confused. There are so many books out there at the moment about attracting what you want, watch what you think, attract without thinking, vibrate at a higher energy more, go with the flow...and so on.
Coaching is about changing your thinking, shifting it to become more aware of how you've been relating to yourself and whether this has been a good thing for you or isn't working any more. It's also about how your thinking effects your relationships with others in your life and what choices you make because of your thoughts.
Shifting your thinking enables you to change your perspective in an instant. Ever had an 'ah ha!' moment? One where you had such clarity or just knew what you were doing with such certainty that the world looked brighter? Can you remember that first 'floating' feeling when you were in love? How good did life look then? Your thinking was different, you were in a positive place and you were energized.
So how can you shift your thinking so you can FOCUS on the things you are grateful for, look forward to the things you want and think better of yourself and your life? You can start by simply THINKING..
Right now...
Just think something good about yourself..
It's a good place to start.
Coaching is about changing your thinking, shifting it to become more aware of how you've been relating to yourself and whether this has been a good thing for you or isn't working any more. It's also about how your thinking effects your relationships with others in your life and what choices you make because of your thoughts.
Shifting your thinking enables you to change your perspective in an instant. Ever had an 'ah ha!' moment? One where you had such clarity or just knew what you were doing with such certainty that the world looked brighter? Can you remember that first 'floating' feeling when you were in love? How good did life look then? Your thinking was different, you were in a positive place and you were energized.
So how can you shift your thinking so you can FOCUS on the things you are grateful for, look forward to the things you want and think better of yourself and your life? You can start by simply THINKING..
Right now...
Just think something good about yourself..
It's a good place to start.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Words, words, words...choosing them wisely for July
During the summer, when you manage to get a half decent one that is, you normally take time to chillout, relax and enjoy the outdoors and barbeques. The last thing on your mind will be any of the 'to do' things on your list for this year.
However, this is a great chance for you to sneak in some new habits to help you on your way to achieving your goals.
Consider the following:
What is your self talk like?
What kind of expressions or words do you use most often?
When is the last time you stopped to hear what you were actually saying to yourself..or to others?
Treating ourselves with respect and kindness is sometimes not that easy...sure it comes quite naturally when others need it from us. When it comes to ourselves however we tend to fall down and get quite critical.
This month is a chance to examine your self talk and change it. If your thoughts lean towards the negative then lets get started on stopping that trend.
First step - watch out for the following pressure words - always, should, never - they put pressure on yourself and sound hard and can be off putting. You might be saying them to others, you might be hearing it a lot from others. These pressure words can be replaced with - sometimes, occassionally - and instantly release the pressure attached to them.
E.G - Oh I should really lose weight, I should be earning more, I should be an astronaut(okay so the last one was just to highlight a point!).
Second step - Write down all the things you think you 'should' be either doing or being... even write down the ones that other people think you 'should' be doing or being..(if the list gets long just keep going with it!)
Third step - Once you've finished writing pick out your top 5 common 'should' statements.
How do you feel reading each sentence?
Are you inspired or pressured to do something about it?
Fourth step - replace each of the shoulds in each sentence with 'sometimes' or 'occassionally'.
How do you feel reading each sentence now?
What has changed?
Do this as many times as you like - the more often you stop to consider your thoughts and self talk, the easier it becomes at recognising those destructive and negative words and sentences...and for those that have an external source for the sentences, i.e. other people, maybe July is the time to rethink how you want them to treat you in the future?
Start with number one first - when you improve your own self talk the ripple effect will astound you and your goals become easier as you go on.
REMEMBER! - all of these changes take time, you've established a life time of habits that are possibly outdated for you. No beating yourself up! Change requires kindness and patience and this is long lasting...so enjoy the process and the journey!
However, this is a great chance for you to sneak in some new habits to help you on your way to achieving your goals.
Consider the following:
What is your self talk like?
What kind of expressions or words do you use most often?
When is the last time you stopped to hear what you were actually saying to yourself..or to others?
Treating ourselves with respect and kindness is sometimes not that easy...sure it comes quite naturally when others need it from us. When it comes to ourselves however we tend to fall down and get quite critical.
This month is a chance to examine your self talk and change it. If your thoughts lean towards the negative then lets get started on stopping that trend.
First step - watch out for the following pressure words - always, should, never - they put pressure on yourself and sound hard and can be off putting. You might be saying them to others, you might be hearing it a lot from others. These pressure words can be replaced with - sometimes, occassionally - and instantly release the pressure attached to them.
E.G - Oh I should really lose weight, I should be earning more, I should be an astronaut(okay so the last one was just to highlight a point!).
Second step - Write down all the things you think you 'should' be either doing or being... even write down the ones that other people think you 'should' be doing or being..(if the list gets long just keep going with it!)
Third step - Once you've finished writing pick out your top 5 common 'should' statements.
How do you feel reading each sentence?
Are you inspired or pressured to do something about it?
Fourth step - replace each of the shoulds in each sentence with 'sometimes' or 'occassionally'.
How do you feel reading each sentence now?
What has changed?
Do this as many times as you like - the more often you stop to consider your thoughts and self talk, the easier it becomes at recognising those destructive and negative words and sentences...and for those that have an external source for the sentences, i.e. other people, maybe July is the time to rethink how you want them to treat you in the future?
Start with number one first - when you improve your own self talk the ripple effect will astound you and your goals become easier as you go on.
REMEMBER! - all of these changes take time, you've established a life time of habits that are possibly outdated for you. No beating yourself up! Change requires kindness and patience and this is long lasting...so enjoy the process and the journey!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Look at how far you've come! - June
So we are now in June - half way through the year. Some of the goals you set at the start of the year may be forgotten, completed or refreshed. Either way this is definitely a month to examine what you have achieved so far!
It is very easy to get caught up in the whole process of going for your goals, but it is vital that when you achieve them that you celebrate it.
Just as important as all of that though is a recognition of the journey you've made. You made a decision to honestly strive towards your resolutions and goals this year...and no matter what has happened in the last 6 months, there is no denying that the journey has given you food for thought along the way.
Perhaps during the remaining part of this month, look at what you have achieved so far - even in some of the situations where you feel you might have not done so well, look for the golden opportunity of learning in it all. It will boost your energy and help you focus on the good things you've achieved, and when you acknowledge that every event has a chance to learn then you know your journey is well worth it!
Keep the faith and get ready for next months blog as we'll be stepping it up for the remaining 6 months of 2008!
It is very easy to get caught up in the whole process of going for your goals, but it is vital that when you achieve them that you celebrate it.
Just as important as all of that though is a recognition of the journey you've made. You made a decision to honestly strive towards your resolutions and goals this year...and no matter what has happened in the last 6 months, there is no denying that the journey has given you food for thought along the way.
Perhaps during the remaining part of this month, look at what you have achieved so far - even in some of the situations where you feel you might have not done so well, look for the golden opportunity of learning in it all. It will boost your energy and help you focus on the good things you've achieved, and when you acknowledge that every event has a chance to learn then you know your journey is well worth it!
Keep the faith and get ready for next months blog as we'll be stepping it up for the remaining 6 months of 2008!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)