CONNECT

Have you met your Future Self?

Have you met your Future Self?

Have you met your future self?

The older, wiser version of you?

The you that’s waiting to emerge over time?

The calm, clear, quiet voice of wisdom we all have within us?

In a powerful yoga session, the brilliant Roisin spoke about making choices that day that our future selves would be grateful for.

They were words that snagged in my brain - and those of other people in the class too. Lots of us gathered round her at the end to ask her to repeat the words.

They were wise words.

And useful ones too.

It’s why visualising our future self - who we will become in 20 years or more - can be a powerful thing to do.

How do you love to learn?

How do you love to learn?

I’ve realised recently that I love to learn by listening.

Preferably outside and walking as I do it.

It’s a rather astonishing discovery!

For years I have sat down at a desk and taken notes as I absorbed information. Lots of notes.

I’ve also read a lot, and taken a lot of notes.

And it’s worked in lots of ways. It’s got me here.

But now it’s my least favourite way to take on information and get insight.

So what’s changed?

Have I changed?

Or have I been able to test out different ways of learning and found ones that work better?

#ThisLittleGirlIsMe

#ThisLittleGirlIsMe

This little girl is about to head off for her first day at school. She loves to read and learn, and so it’s exciting - as well as a bit overwhelming - to be starting something new.

At school she will work hard, follow all the things that interest her, and have some brilliant teachers who bring out the best in her.

She will also learn how to be a perfect pupil.

To learn that there’s always a right answer, and that it’s important to get that answer right.

A big part of her identity will be being the clever one who always does well and rarely makes a mistake – which will come with some pros and a good few cons.

 

This little girl is me, and the advice I would give my younger self is that it’s OK not to be a perfect pupil.

Are you having enough fun?

Are you having enough fun?

We’ve just returned from a 2-week trip to visit family in the States.

It’s always a special time.

We live in different countries and it’s lovely to see each other, catch up with where we are, see how everyone has grown and changed, and generally be a part of each others lives for a while.

There are everyday moments of connection - the simple pleasures of going to the supermarket together. Running errands, making meals, watching Netflix, walking their dog, putting coffee on.

And there are the sparkly, memory making, moments where we had fun and played together.

What gives you a sense of purpose?

What gives you a sense of purpose?

When I work with people around purpose the biggest emotion is often a sense of relief.

That I’m not going to ask them to find their ‘one thing’.

That our goal isn’t a mythical quest that they have to strive to work on for the rest of their lives.

That it’s not (always) about saving the whole world.

Instead it’s about connecting with how we show up, and the impact we have, when we feel a sense of purpose - when we feel ‘on purpose’.

Who's your alter ego?

Who's your alter ego?

This label has been with me for the last 5 years.

It dates from when I did the brilliant Co-Active Training Institute Fundamentals coaching course, from an exercise a couple of days in.

In small groups each person had some time in the spotlight, and everyone took it in turns to acknowledge them.

To name the qualities they saw that shone out into the world.

To share the qualities they wanted to see more of, that could come to the surface and be more visible.

It was incredibly powerful to be seen in this way.

This label came from the last part - an archetype to sum up the noticings. An alter ego to play with for the rest of the day.

What feels like luxury to you?

The word luxury can conjure up images of grandeur, of impossible dreams, of wealth, and maybe a little self indulgence?

And yet it’s also a lovely feeling to treat ourselves. To give ourselves a small piece of something that feels like luxury to us. To add an element of luxury into our day to day to lift our energy.

Especially if we spend a lot of our time and energy working, delivering, supporting others.

For me, as someone who works from home, and who grew up as a Paperchase devotee in the 80’s, this is luxury for me.

It’s also how I spend every Monday morning - thanks to inspiration from fellow coach Catriona Horey.

What's your recipe for a life that gives you energy?

What's your recipe for a life that gives you energy?

“Start by drawing a line down the middle of a piece of paper”

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve said this as part of a coaching session - either for the work we are doing in it, or as something to explore in between sessions.

I find it SUCH a useful tool for getting things down on paper so we can see them, understand them, and decide what to do about them.

One of my favourites is in the picture - the Energy Map.