Newsletter Archive: July 2009

 

Text Box: July 2009 Welcome to the Dare to Blossom newsletter If this has been forwarded to you by someone else, you can sign up for your own copy every month here. If you do not wish to receive future editions, please email me to unsubscribe. Everyone who is on the mailing list will be entered into a draw twice a year (at the end of June and the end of December) with a chance to win a prize of six free life coaching sessions. In this issue: Reflections: from life coaching to ‘coaching for connection’ Dare to Blossom workshops: plans for Autumn 2009 workshops New book: celebrating my first commissioned book The winner of the June draw to win six telephone life coaching sessions Reflections: From Life Coaching to ‘Coaching for Connection’ For some time I have been feeling that ‘life coaching’ does not really describe the work I do with people. It is sometimes ‘coaching’ as in helping identify goals, develop an action plan and follow it through. As I know from working with my own coach, that is a very important and valuable role. Sometimes it is ‘business coaching’, focusing more on business development, perhaps marketing or staff issues, writing or revising a business plan, strategy and product development. At other times it is something that feels quite different. For me it is about connecting to what is really important to me. Sometimes it is ‘reconnection’ and I wrote a chapter about that in Dare to Blossom: Coaching and Creativity. Reading that again, it was about being stuck and needing to reconnect with myself and my inspiration. And that is something I work with for myself and with my clients on many occasions to reconnect with good things already here in our lives. Now, today, as I write this, my feeling is slightly different. This ‘connecting’ is about linking with something new and different. About a new way of looking at things, a new energy, new ideas, innovative ways of doing things. A saying often used in counselling is “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” I know I often fall into that potential trap and wonder why things are not changing. For you: try thinking or writing about some of these questions: Where are you are feeling lost or dissatisfied with life? Are you ‘doing what you’ve always done’? What would you like to change? What would you like to have happen? What would be the perfect outcome, what would it look like, feel like, sound like, taste like even? When you have as detailed and real a picture as possible of what it would be like to experience this perfect outcome, then ask yourself: What one thing can I do today to feel like this? And go and do it! (If this sounds hard, an example might be wanting to go on holiday – today you could have lunch in the park and enjoy the sunshine and flowers and birds and really feel that holiday freedom for half an hour. Or, if you want more time to write, take a notebook and do that too.) For me, I have gone through a period of applying for work to replace the part time contract that ended in March, attending many interviews without success, going through that rollercoaster of awaiting the phone call, feeling disappointed and having to pick myself up and try again. Trying to fit myself into other people’s job roles and ‘person specifications’. For a while I felt I had lost connection with who I really am and what I can offer to the world. Over the last few weeks I have been using the process above for myself and have been enjoying the results (whether direct or coincidence I don’t mind!): the book commission (see more below), freelance training work, new clients, new ideas for workshops. At the same time, an abundance of support has appeared from all directions, from friends, ex-colleagues, comments from students and coaching clients. A totally different feel to my life. I feel connected to the ‘flow’ again, full of energy and resilience to deal with whatever comes my way. So ‘coaching for connection’ feels a good way to describe the results that the people I work with are reporting. If you would like to find out more for yourself, the offer of a free consultation is always available. To read some recent testimonials follow this link. Dare to Blossom workshops: plans for Autumn 2009 workshops “Embracing Abundance with Passion” Workshop, Dunkeswell Eco Business Park, near Honiton, East Devon: Saturday 26 September. The next Dare to Blossom workshop will be on Saturday 26 September at The Meeting Room, Dunkeswell Eco Business Park, Marcus Road, Dunkeswell, near Honiton EX14 4LA. Come and enjoy a day of fun, laughter, and reflection, to focus on what matters most to you. We will use life coaching and creative exercises designed to help you to celebrate the abundance all around us even in the midst of change and uncertainty. You will also learn more about the process of life coaching and how it can be used in all areas of your life, from business or work to health, relationships, sport or creativity. Times: arrival from 9.30 for refreshments, start at 10.00, finish at 3.30 p.m. Bring: a notebook, and a packed lunch. Early Bird Price: £50 for bookings received with payment before 31 July 2009 Cost: £65 per person, including a follow-up telephone coaching consultation after the workshop (value £45). Some bursaries are available for special circumstances, please contact me for details.  Booking form here. Accessibility: The Meeting Room has easy access for everyone, and there is plenty of free parking. Your requirements: if there is anything I can do to make it more comfortable for you to attend a workshop, perhaps seating, cushions, extra heating, or dietary requirements, please do not hesitate to contact me by email or phone. Workshops in Cornwall I am currently booking dates for events in Cornwall in October, more details in the next newsletter. If you would like to host a workshop in your area please contact me. There is a free place for you if you can get a group of at least six people together. New book: celebrating my first commissioned book I am delighted to tell you that I have been commissioned by Need2Know Books to write a title on cervical cancer, (Cervical Cancer: The Essential Guide). It will also cover the vaccination and screening programmes and provide practical up to date information - aimed particularly at young people, parents, teachers and professionals. The target publication date is Autumn 2009. If anyone has any experiences they would like to share do get in touch and we could arrange a time to talk on the phone. The book is not intended to be in a ‘life story’ format but the publishers are keen to include quotes from real experiences, and of course any background information will be very useful for me. The publishers have an excellent range of practical books from dyslexia to advice for working mothers. I have suggested another title I could write after my recent personal experience: Job Search: The Essential Guide. Watch this space to see if I am successful with that idea too! The winner of the June draw to win six telephone life coaching sessions The winner has been drawn at random and the person notified, please contact me as soon as possible to confirm that you wish to take up your prize sessions Thank you for reading, do email me with any questions, comments or suggestions, or feedback on particular items. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone you think may be interested. Mary Text Box:  



 

 

 

Home

 

What’s in it for me?

 

Services

 

Courses & workshops

 

My background

 

My books

 

Reviews

 

Testimonials

 

Web links

 

Book List

 

Are you ready for Coaching?

 

Newsletter

Sign-up & Link to Archives

 

Inspiring Events

 

Coaching code of ethics

 

Newsletter Archive

July 2009

 

 

 
Photo of brilliant pink passionflower