e is for our emotions which connect us all
Can someone else read your emotions?
Think what it’s like to be in a room with a person who is angry or disapproving of you. You can feel their anger without them even saying a word.
What is this mindfulness stuff? a mental state achieved by focusing awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. Calmness and an inner peace arrives with this state.
How do you focus on the present moment? There are many techniques. Meditation is popular but a walk in the park, painting or colouring are good too. I recommend painting a soul map as your brain responds to the symmetrical pattern.
You were once so different; perhaps your life values were different for example; career driven at all costs, you valued big houses and expensive cars, or perhaps you were too shy to do what you wanted to do with your life. You felt happiness in some way eluded you. You did not have a sense of satisfaction with your life.
Last Friday there was a buzz in the air as the college opened its doors to people interested in knowing what they do and to try out a sitting with a healer, medium or one of the other disciplines. It was a great opportunity to meet college tutors and students.
It is hard to be a great chef when you have never experienced a fantastic meal, looked at a recipe or felt the ingredients. You can learn the techniques to be able to lead yourself and your teams.
Enabling change from the inside out: to do this you need to gain insight into your strengths, potential need to change certain habits, the values you hold and determine your goals.
7 steps to achieving success:
Know yourself – Identify what stage you are in your leadership and life. What you have learned so far? Have you acquired any bad habits? Discover what change is needed.Now bring your vision into reality
Alison Pooley-Wem – life coach, author and leadership consultant, MBCS CITP, former Business Transformation Director, IT Director, Programme Director who led major transformation programmes for corporate and multi-national organisations such as Amey PLC, Christies. News UK.
b is for retaining your balance through all of those challenges in life
Be kind to yourself, you are not a magician and we all try to do our best.
Be happy with yourself if you have made the choices you felt were right. If you find out there are better choices, change what you choose to do.
As the saying goes ‘Variety is the spice of life’. When you are seeking to understand the world you live in, your place in it and who you are; variety of approach is good. By trying different approaches you might find that one gives you greater insight than another. However many people find it difficult to find authentic people who can show them their approach.
I have spent the last 20 years seeking out such people. Below are people I have either worked with , been their student or their client. I have found them helpful in my personal development. Of course you need to decide if they are right for you.
In many cultures and communities, men are the leaders at work and at home. They earn a living for the family and have more limited involvement in rearing the children. Of course much of this is changing but it is not ubiquitous yet.
Recently a 55-year-old man from a traditional mining community confided to me he decided not to follow the traditional male role and to express his appreciation of the benefits that mindfulness brought him. He is a grandfather and decided not to work so hard so he could be more involved with his grandchildren. He wished he had done it with his own children.