There have been magical moments in my life when the penny dropped, the insight landed, the way forward became clear. I knew what needed to change!
I’ll never forget those moments, often sparked by an unexpected conversation with someone who unlocked the way forward.
Each one fundamentally changed the course of my life. They led to years out, travel, career paths, resignations, redirections and reinventions.
Which makes it sound like the changes were easy. If only!
One of my most memorable coach training days was focused on Improv skills, and during it we played a number of games to stretch us in all kinds of ways.
One in particular really stayed with me. We stood in a circle and moved imaginary energy around and between us - accepting it and passing it on (Zip) or rejecting it and sending it back (Boing).
It took me back to a few university drinking games (with fewer after effects!).
At one point the energy got stuck in a Zip-Boing loop - bouncing back and forth, trying to move and then being blocked, over and over again.
The only way for it to get moving again was for someone to make a change, release the energy and break the pattern.
And, of course, it’s the same in real life.
I’ve had this book on a shelf for many years - one of those that I felt I should read, and wanted to read, but couldn’t seem to get around taking it off the shelf and starting.
And then, a month or so ago, the Time To Think approach came up in conversation with a friend. She was a huge fan, and hearing her perspective really inspired me.
Even better, she offered to be my study buddy.
Sometimes, the way we think about ourself or our life can change in an instant. A remark, a conversation, an idea, can throw things up in the air and rearrange them in a different way.
We suddenly see with startling clarity - what’s not working, what needs to change, exactly what we want or where we need to be.
It’s absolutely brilliant! Now we know!
It can also be utterly overwhelming.
I love these new signs on the gates in Bushy Park!
I’ve spent years trying to open them the wrong way, or from the wrong side - and now I can get it right.
For my husband they are irrelevant (just look at the hinges!), but for me they are a game changer.
It’s a small prompt that makes it easier for me to do the right thing - and it’s nice to know it wasn’t just me who could use the information :-)
It’s hard to focus when we’re constantly being interrupted.
Notifications, messages, calls, meeting invitations, people popping in for a chat and not realising we’re listening to or working on something.
It’s frustrating - we never get a chance to get into what we need to or want to.
If only there was a way that we could get some quiet focus time…
Oh wait. There are lots of ways!
This post sparked to life in conversation with a brilliant coaching client. There were so many big changes to celebrate when we looked back!
And just as importantly, smaller ones too, which they had decided to capture in a weekly “Well done” list.
I loved this idea SO much!
I know how much it helps to look back - if we don’t pause for perspective, it’s easy to miss our progress - and this sounded like a fun way to do it.
One of the simplest ways to have a more successful day is to start with something that gives you energy.
A workout before you start work. Some fresh air before you settle at your desk. Doing the thing you’re most looking forward to first, rather than saving it for last.
Fuelling our energy first really works.
It’s been over 4 months since I started Couch to 5k and I’ve just completed the final run of Week 4 for the 5th time.
Can you tell it hasn’t gone to plan?
It’s really not been the consistent, steady process I hoped for when running and I started dating again. There have been false starts, frustrating setbacks and ever decreasing motivation.
At the start of the year, I hit a low. What was the point? Was it even worth keeping going when it felt this hard?
Last week I spent a joyful afternoon making a Christmas wreath in the kitchen of the brilliant Annie Jenkins.
It was both wonderfully organised and completely free - the best kind of supervised creative play. The time flew past, and we all left with a completely different wreath - no two the same size, shape, or mix of colours, each brilliantly festive.
What a gift.
