Positive Energy - 3 Steps To Getting Back On The Right Path

September 2009

Dear Subscriber

It's time for the kids to go back to school, the weather's getting chillier and the nights are drawing in. You know what that means? Autumn precedes winter with another fresh year hot on its heels.

I might be getting a bit ahead of myself, but September really is the perfect time to review your thinking about the success of 2009! How well has your year gone so far? This is an ideal opportunity to evaluate where you're at and make sure you squeeze in some fun before the year is out. And I'm here to help you.

In this issue:

Getting on the Right Path
The Resource Table
What can you do?
What's happening?

Let me know about your positive summer experiences. If you'd like to share your story and feature in our “What can you do?” section email me or call me on 01697 747 821.

Best wishes,

John Lennon once said, “Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans.” Turn the clock forward forty years and we've got Ronan Keating waxing lyrical on a similar theme… “Life is a rollercoaster; you've just got to ride it.”

It's obviously an important message that bridges the generation gap and I agree with it 100%! Yes, it's essential to have goals, but they should guide, not dominate, your life. If you set your vision in stone and only focus on that goal you'll probably end up disappointed.

It's much better to allow your ambitions to take you on a journey and keep your eyes and mind open to opportunity along the way. That way you're likely to enjoy the ride a lot more. Not only will life be far less frustrating, but you'll experience new things and end up feeling a lot more fulfilled.

Right now you're in possession of a gift – the chance to live your life and to take it in whatever direction you want. The secret is to have some idea what that direction might be. You need to start on the right course, but enjoy the journey and use it to broaden your scope of experience along the way.

Positive Practice

Nobody wants to look back at their life with any regrets. Unfortunately a lot of people I meet are clearly on the wrong path. They recognise that they're not happy, but they don't know what they really want. The best way to rediscover what you want out of life is to make time to get to re-know you! Here's an exercise to get you started:

Step 1 – Think about when you have been happy in the past. Maybe you were spending time with certain people, or enjoying time alone. Perhaps you were reading or gardening, playing a musical instrument or taking part in a group activity such as a local history society, walking club or art class?

Step 2 – Look at your current life. Are you doing enough of those things that make you happy? It may be time to reassess your priorities.

Step 3 – Take decisive action to fit more of those enjoyable activities into your week. It may require you to reorganise your diary, but it will be worth it!

You will feel more positive when you are doing more of the things you enjoy. It will increase your confidence and help you feel more in control of your life. Make sure you can look back over 2009 and say you enjoyed it!

If you are struggling to find time to do the things you enjoy, then why not click here to download the ‘Be Your Own Mentor' worksheet from the website.

Enjoy! By Gini Graham Scott. This book will help you have more fun and enjoyment at work - an area where many of us forget that we can be happy.

Motivation 123 – This website is packed with ideas that can keep you motivated and enjoying yourself more. Visit their Happiness Department to start you off or download their free motivation kit.

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (pronounced CHICK-sent-me-high-ee) This books helps you understand being “in the zone” - the state of getting completely absorbed in pleasurable experiences. It examines the process of achieving happiness through the control of your inner life.

What Can You Do?

Gill from Leominster needed to get out more

Gill had been married for 10 years and was starting to feel unhappy in her relationship. On her Fresh Steps course she began to think about what things she wanted to do more of. She wanted to spend more time doing things with her husband rather than sitting together in front of the TV. They both worked out some activities that they enjoyed doing and created time to do them together. They are now both taking an active role in their town's Environmental Group. Gill feels much happier and is also proud of the contribution she's making to the local area.

What's Happening?

Case Studies: We want to put together some case studies to help potential participants understand our programmes better and we'd like anyone who has attended one of our courses to help. We don't need to use your real name or workplace, but if you could email brief answers to the following questions to sue.hewitt@milecastle.co.uk and put Case Study as your subject I'd be extremely grateful.

What course did you attend and when? What positive changes did you make at home and work as a result of the course? How did the course affect your feelings about yourself? What's different now? What tools and tips are you still using? How have your relationships at home and work been affected? What was the most significant thing you got out of the course? What have you achieved since the course ended? What feedback have you had from others since you attended the course? What is the most lasting effect of the course for you?

Stop Press - Telephone Coaching: I have just a few telephone coaching slots left for this month. If you'd like to take advantage of this opportunity email me now. Coaching costs £60 per half hour or £150 for three sessions and you can access it from anywhere in the world.

Next month we're going to look at where you fit into your world and how you can positively affect your own future!