People have many reasons for avoiding plans and goals. A recurring reason is the fear of failure. Some see setting a goal or making a plan as a commitment which you either achieve or you do not. You succeed or you fail. Success may be great. Failure, on the other hand, is a disaster, worthy
It surprises and troubles me that so many people, adults and children, experience recurring issues with anxiety. While a certain level of anxiety is perfectly natural, being so overwhelmed is certainly not. Anxiety for many is hugely debilitating. It stops people from living the life they want to live. Additionally, it reduces choices and options,
It’s very easy to get stuck in a rut. Without realising it, we can suddenly find ourselves stagnating in a routine which, if we’re honest, is rarely satisfying. Or, at least, is not as satisfying as it could be. We’re designed to be explorers, seeking out the new and the different. Contrarily, we then allow
It’s a strange feeling when you look at your life and wonder how you got here. You vaguely recall having some idea of what life would look like. However, you never really got beyond that stage. Plans and goals were for others. You prefer to go with the flow and see what life sends your
Addiction is such a strange thing. I doubt that anyone sets out to become addicted. And yet, so many become addicted to something. Indeed, at times it feels like we can become addicted to anything. Because addiction is that inability to stop, that inability to retake control. Addiction is that overwhelming desire to continue with
Many of us form ideas of what we want to do in the world of work when we are still at school. We make decisions around which subjects to study, and where to study them. Following on from this, we choose when to continue studying and when to start work. Suddenly, we’re on a career
Those of you who’ve read Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” know that he recommends starting with the end in mind. In other words, before you do anything else, work out where you want to be. It gives purpose. Crucially, it sets the direction. After all, how often do you leave your
When you wake up in the morning, what do you first think about? Is it all about what you have planned for the day? You’re thinking about what you intend to achieve. You’re contemplating the challenges you overcome. And, obviously, you’re considering how you celebrate all of the day’s successes, no matter how big or
One of my clients had not long come out of prison. He was angry. He resented having been in prison for a number of years. Incongruously, he stated that he was now ready to change. And I say incongruously, because everything about his tone, his words, and his demeanour suggested that he was far from
One of the joys of coaching is that I get to work with people who want to change. Some want to make fundamental changes to their lives. Others are looking for improvements in specific areas. For a few it’s all about small steps. And from time to time I coach people who are wiping the