Personal Development

I recently climbed Mount Culverden. Whilst this mountain isn’t the biggest I’ve climbed at 586m, nor the hardest, it was my self-talking I wanted to share with you!

Just recently I did a presentation aptly named “Powerful Presentations”. The opening for it went this way. ”Do you want to know the ABSOLUTE KEY to Powerful Presentations? It’s the belief, in your head and in your heart that it’s NOT ABOUT YOU - it’s ABOUT THEM, YOUR AUDIENCE. Believe that and you will do everything in your power to ensure you do what you need to do to meet their needs.”

I’m sure you’ve heard all these expressions before and perhaps even had these said to you! I know I have! I want to focus on the importance of positive self-talking and how using this technique can, will and does help.

When you’re little, night time is scary because there are monsters hiding right under the bed. When you get older, the monsters are different – self-doubt loneliness, regret – and though you may be older and wiser, you still find yourself scared of the dark.

With the best will in the world sometimes it just happens! Our confidence disappears - the tears start - that wonderful positive vibe that gave us that proverbial ‘spring in our step’ just lost its spring!

The general meaning of Self-empowerment is taking control of our own life, setting goals, and making positive choices. It can also mean our ability to overcome our sense of powerlessness and lack of influence and to recognise and use our resources.

I’ve often wondered about what came first - the chicken or the egg! But I’m not talking about chickens or eggs but confidence and empowerment!

"The one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is certain or unchangeable" - John F Kennedy

We know the only constant is change, however, if it’s constant, and we experience this often, then surely none of us should be in a rut and overthink what ‘change’ might bring about.

The type of bra you should wear will be dictated by the size and shape of your breasts. To give your breast tissue the support it needs always wear bras that provide maximum support.

Why do we hang onto things we are familiar with and accustomed to? I was reminded of a colleague who worked with me in local government during one of the many 4-yearly restructuring (in 1996), which would affect over 37,000 employees!

When I ask people what they think of change, most think of it as a negative word rather than a positive word - why is this?

Have you ever wondered why you have so many clothes in your wardrobe still with their tags still on? They might have been bought on impulse, or you were swayed because it was ‘a good price’, or you felt like something different and the latest fashion trend beckoned you; but find now you do not like them, or ‘can’t even remember why you bought them in the first place.

How many of us spend our time dwelling on the past, the things that went wrong, the bad times, the mistakes we made and the opportunities we didn’t take advantage of?

If only I had more money! If only I felt more positive! If only I was more successful! If only I could achieve my potential! If only I could achieve my goals! Are you guilty of being stuck in ‘if only’ conundrum? Whom do you blame? Others? Yourself?

Do you find that you create road blocks in your life? As humans, our behaviour forms patterns, good and bad, creating good and bad habits; it’s the bad habits we want to lose, creating new good habits.

Most of the people I have met over my lifetime have either been brought up in the city or in the country so it has always been a point of difference to say I was brought up on an Island.

I was reminded of the Kinks song - ‘Life is So Complicated’ whilst thinking about this month’s theme of Removing Obstacles. What do we think of when we think about obstacles other than those things or blocks that prevent or hinder us from our own personal or professional progress?