One Size Fits All?...really?

When I go out to shop and see some clothes with the tag 'One size fits all' I put that item back on the rail.  It'll never be a tag that works for me and yet for someone else it might be perfect.

Then it got me thinking about 'one size fits all' and 'coaching' and how many ways there are to communicate.  There are tons of opinions on the internet about the Law of Attraction, The Secret, vision boards and SMART goals.  Some cite that the power of positive thinking is an impossible task, while others view the law of attraction as a notion that isn't realistic.

Vision boards are also up for the opinion poll, and some go so far as to outline experiments conducted that show how a vision board may provide a sense of satisfaction among people but that it doesn't ultimately result in more success.

So it got me thinking and some of those thoughts were as follows:

1 - A vision board provides people with a chance to play.  It frees up their inhibitions, permits them to dream BIG and provides some focus for getting clear on what they want to go for.

2 - A positive attitude can help them to take action and ensure that goals extracted from the vision board can be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achieveable, Realistic and Timely)

3 - The idea that energetically we influence outcomes through thoughts can help us to understand the simple principle that what we put our attention on we get more of.  Minds will wander, thoughts will dip, energy shifts...but being AWARE that this impacts on our ability to think or focus and take action to or away from a goal can be extremely helpful.

4 - Lots of options being available to people means there is a stronger likelihood that a change for the better can be made in their lives because the message behind all of this is about being responsible for your own life and how you live it.  

If all of these approaches to coaching dispelled with the myth that one is better than the other, then essentially you just have a good solid honest message told a number of different ways.As far as communication goes one size does NOT fit all so however the message reaches you, if it helps you to shift your thinking or move to act positively then it is doing the job it is meant to do.  It's helping.

My Tree is NOT for sale

(Image taken from http://coilltefarmforestryinvest.ie/Coillte_Investment_Schemes/146)

Facebook is normally a good place to catch up with friends while avoiding some hard work...but this morning I found a message calling me to join a cause in relation to Trees.

Ireland used to be full of wonderful green trees which unfortunately were not kept as a valuable part of our country. They were in the way of ESB poles & housing estates...removed in the name of progress.

In the period of growth brought on by the Celtic Tiger, mindless culling of trees to make way for dull, souless apartment blocks or toytown housing estates became something of a sore point for me. I felt helpless watching it and also felt decidedly heartbroken as some of the trees being cut down could have been avoided.

Our remaining forests and woodlands are currently being used as currency by the government. In 2000 the people of Ireland were given a tree to celebrate the Millenium. Now it appears that this gift is being taken back.

On this occassion I don't want to roll over and play dead about it. I want my tree to remain in place, with its roots firmly in the soil and with it's branches providing a home possibly to any number of creatures.
So today I'm asking people to go visit http://www.causes.com/causes/654077-my-tree-is-not-for-sale/about and if possible JOIN.

Being able to take a stand on this when so much of what has happened in this country feels like its beyond your control or grasp, makes me feel good. IT's a small stand, granted..but it is still a stand.

I want to see a positive impact from this cause because, well simply put...
I LOVE TREES.