Positive Energy – Top Tips For Expanding Your Mind

July 2008

Dear Anne

I don't think there's anything I find more rewarding than helping people tap into their true potential. That's why I started writing this newsletter. I wanted to share lessons, exercises and success stories with a wider community. And that leads me onto this month's topic. I want to encourage you to share what you know and see how that can help you achieve your personal goals.

My own community of readers is growing day by day. If you know of anyone who'd enjoy receiving Positive Energy each month, then don't forget to forward it on and encourage them to subscribe.

Cheers,

Sue

When we learn something new it doesn't just happen. It always involves a cycle of learning. For example, the first time you experienced nettles you probably didn't know they could sting. But when you got stung you will have assessed the pain and concluded that it wasn't life threatening, but should be avoided in the future. Then no doubt you'll have decided not to walk in nettles again. Even though it was a painful lesson - learning took place.

In another example, you might have seen or heard of a new technique for dealing assertively with colleagues. You might have tried it out but received a different response from what you expected. Again you'll have reflected on the experience and concluded that you needed to think again. Then you might plan to try out another method next time. Once again you have gained learning.

Learning is great for keeping you motivated and moving forwards. You can strengthen that learning by sharing what you know with someone else. This is a really positive way to build your confidence and lock in what you've learnt so you don't forget it.

Positive Practice

If you’re sitting there wondering what learning you have to share, here is an exercise to help.

Step one – Make a list of all the things that you have learnt since Christmas. Get a friend to do the same thing, but don’t share the information just yet! My list would include: I know now that it costs £7.50 in petrol to get to Newcastle; I know that I can’t manage on 4 hours sleep; I know that I don’t like most sorts of red wine and I know that I can be more successful when I get help from other people.
Step two - Look at your list and work out how you learned those things. It might be down to experience or something you read. Whatever it is, locate the pathway that lead to that learning.
Step three - Share your list with your friend. They will have learned very different things to you and the way that they learned them may also be very different. Share what you have learned from different situations.
Step four – It’s great to keep a note of what you’ve learnt. That way you acknowledge it, value it and remember it. Make a habit of writing down what you’ve learnt at work each week, or what you’ve learned about yourself each month.

By capturing and sharing your learning you will gain huge amounts of confidence and you will be able to learn even more. And if you keep a regular learning log or diary it will soon build up into a valuable record of your achievements. Good luck and keep learning!

Anne from Cheltenham got some help.

Anne attended my Spring Forward course several years ago. She was in a very stressful job. She had started to feel out of control and very isolated. She hadn't made the link between the feelings that she had and the situation she was in. Then she was offered some practical help with her work load and suddenly noticed that she felt much more positive. She wrote about it in her learning log. Writing it down made her realise that she'd been over worked and the help she'd received had made a huge difference. Now when she starts to feel stressed she knows to ask for help. That single act of writing it down has been a great stress protector ever since.

Visual Thinking by Nancy Margulies and Christine Valenza. 29 research studies show that graphical representation of ideas help people learn and retain information. This book gives you great ideas about how to make it work for you.

Develop Your NLP Skills by Andrew Bradbury. One of my biggest learning journeys over the last three years has been discovering so much more about myself through NLP. This book will give you a taste of what is possible.

The Wisdom Paradox by Elkhonon Goldberg. As we grow older the brain becomes better at recognising patterns. We can make decisions at a more intuitive and effective level. What does that tell us about other aspects of learning?

What's Happening?

I'm off to France shortly to deliver a women's development programme for a technology company in Toulouse. The high tech industry is woefully short of women in senior positions. We have a programme that can help with that. Do you know someone who would be interested in learning more about it? If you put me in touch with someone who invests in a course then I'll treat you to lunch anywhere in the UK.

Tell me your story! I am often in touch with journalists who are interested in stories about the achievements of women or older workers. It's really important to raise the profile of Springboard, Spring Forward and Fresh Steps in the press so that more people can benefit from the programmes. I already have loads of anecdotes and it would be really useful to have more. I know that you have all achieved brilliant stuff since you have been on my programmes. I want to make it easy for you to tell me about them so I've put a “My Story” form on the website here. You can send this off to me whenever you have something to celebrate. I won't pass your information on to anyone unless you say I can. Why not make it a monthly task? That will keep you motivated!

If you're not very good at recognising and celebrating your successes, then take a look at this worksheet on my website. It's designed to show you exactly why you must celebrate your successes and a simple exercise to encourage you to do it.

Hi Sue
Loved the newsletter which prompted this email. As well as ditching the duff friends it's great to tell your good pals just how good they are!

YOU are one of my most positive influences. You have always been unfailingly supportive and a great inspiration. You are a loyal and wonderful friend. We often think these things but how often do we say them - usually never. It's only when we are going through difficult times do you realise just how much strength your friends give you. Whether it's asked for or not, we know those people who will step up. And you have helped me a lot - whether you know it or not. So thank you.

Janet
http://www.coolscapes.co.uk/

In next month's newsletter we'll look at practical steps you can take to maximise your chances of success!