MEETING MICHAEL NEILL

I've spent the last two days up in london attending Michael Neill's Coaching Mastery course. It was absolutely excellent. For those of you not familiar with Michael, he is one of the world's top success coaches with lots of celebrities and film stars among his clients.

In spite of this he's a remarkably down to earth sort of guy. The course was wonderful and hugely inspirational. As always when coaches get together there was a great atmosphere of generosity and sharing. The attendees really learned a lot from eachother - as well as loads from Michael of course!

Meeting someone you have huge admiration and respect for can sometimes be a worry..... will they really live up to your image of them? I needn't have worried. Michael Neill not only met but far exceed my own expectations. Thank you Michael and everyone else who attended the course - fantastic.

Whilst there I gained a lot of clarity about my plans, so expect a few changes in my website soon. I'll keep you posted! Have a great weekend x

GOOD ENOUGH

It's been a little while since my last post. I'd love to say I've been away to sunnier climes or been doing something similarly exotic - but I'd be lying. The plain truth is I've been a victim..... of trying for perfection.

Let me explain.......

Sometimes in our lives we get stuck don't we? It's as if we can't move on with something until it's absolutley perfect? Does this strike any chords with you?

Regarding the blog, I've had lots of half-formed ideas for posts in the previous couple of weeks.... but nothing that was quite perfect. So instead of choosing something, anything,in fact..... inertia set in. Once you leave off doing something for a while, it gets harder and harder to get back into it.

Whilst contemplating this very fact this morning at 6.30am as I drove in to the surgery, it struck me that the most valuable lesson in this was accepting that being good enough is sometimes the best option at the time.

What have you been holding back from doing as you thought you weren't going to do it perfectly? Why not take this opportunity to decide that where you are, right now, is the best place to start from - and just go for it. That's good enough for me!

BE PASSIONATE !

Last night I ran a workshop on Limiting Beliefs.
It's a subject that I find is hugely relavant to so many of my clients.

What things in your life do you believe in that are holding you back?
Where did they come from?
What purpose are these beliefs serving you?
What have you missed out on because you have continued to believe these things?

These topics and many more were covered last night and went down well with the attendees. We had a really great, highly interactive session. It's excellent when people realise thay are not the only ones to feel as they do and share ideas and strategies with others in a similar situation.

When I got home afterwards, I was asked if I had enjoyed it - "I loved it!" was my response - not a moment's thought needed......

Although those that came along really seemed to enjoy it and get something out of it too - I think the real winner there was me. I don't say that in any sort of arrogant way...... far from it. I see the opportunity to do this sort of thing, to get out there and talk to others about something you are really passionate about, as a huge privilege.

So come on. What do you really enjoy doing? What are you passionate about? Whatever it is, know that you have all the resources you need to succeed inside yourself and just go for it. Step out of your comfort zone and fly!

GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT

Yesterday was devoted entirely to networking - a vital part of building any business and a part that I have really come to enjoy. It is also one part of my life as a life coach that differs hugely from my life as a GP. GP's don't really need to network. We're just there. People find us. We don't need to advertise or put ourselves about so to speak. However, like coaching - it's very much about forging relationships and building a reputation.

I have had quite a few meetings with other business women in the last few weeks and I never fail to be amazed at just how much you can get out of these meetings if you go into them with the right attitude. The thing that always amazes me is the real generosity of spirit. There's a real sense of sharing, of camerarderie, of all being in it together. This sharing extends to information, contacts, ideas.... you name it.

If we both have an apple and we swop them, we've still got one apple each. But if we each have an idea and we swap them...... we've now both got TWO ideas. Probably just the process of discussing them will throw up a few more besides and so it goes on.

Being generous with our time and helping others is one of the greatest ways for us to contribute to the happiness of those around us, and subsequently to our own happiness. Think about your own life, your contacts and friends. What can you do for them that will make their life a little easier? Just thinking about it will probably bring a smile to your face. Go on - give it a try!

TAKING FIVE

How has your day been so far? Mine has been pretty busy.
It's one of my GP days today so I was here just after 7am catching up on paperwork and results. A fairly hectic morning on call followed and I'm just about to start evening surgery.
So I decided to take five.....

I'm sitting here in my consulting room, looking out at the sun. What a differnce the sun makes. Although there's a building next door, I'm on the first floor and can only see trees from my chair. The birds are singing loudly and the faint rumble of traffic in the distance is barely audible. There a gentle breeze blowing, I'm warm and comfy..... all is at peace in the world.....

Well it made me feel good anyway!

My point is, that however busy your day is, make a deliberate point of taking five...... just stopping, sitting still and just for a moment...... doing nothing. Be a human being for once, rather than a human doing. Look after yourself and your body. If you don't, where else are you going to live?

BREAKING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

Today's post was inspired by a presentation I gave in my network meeting. I belong to a branch of the WIBN (Women in Business Network) www.wibn.co.uk and we start every meeting by giving a one minute presentation about our business. I try and do something different each time - to make it memorable and humorous.

Today I decided to handcuff myself to promote my new series of workshops entitled "What's Holding You Back?" I'm giving three evening workshops on topics relevant to just about everyone I know!

1) Limiting Beliefs

2) How to Thrive in a Recession

3) Motivation

My point was that we all have a choice. We can either choose to stay in our comfort zone (even if it's not feeling too comfy) or we can BREAK OUT to the wonderful, balanced, exciting lives we deserve. It was at this point that I escaped the cuffs with a flourish!

If you're ready to escape your comfort zone, now is a great time to come along to one of my workshops. The details are on my website www.change-it-lifecoaching.co.uk If you're not local, why not book some one to one coaching sessions with me? As well as face to face coaching, I work with many of my clients on the telephone or via Skype  (changeitlifecoaching). More details are on my site.

Remember, you can stay right where you are....... or you can choose to live the life of your dreams. It's your call.

ENTHUSIASM

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm !"
Ralph Waldo Emmerson

This has to be one of my all time favourite quotes.
It encapsulates the energy of wanting to get out there and just do it.

I thought about this last recently when I was interviewing for a new member of staff in our practice. Among the questions I asked was for them to select three words that best described them. I told them it was OK to blow their own trumpets too. Lots of them struggled with this.
What would you say to this?

The first of my words would definitely be enthusiastic. If you're not doing something that you really love doing - do something else. Failing that, find a way to love what you are doing. Do it with energy, commitment and as if your life depended on it. Strive to make yourself into someone who is great for others to be around, a source of energy and inspiration.

When now would be a great time to start?