What really matters to YOU

Oooops 6 weeks since the last blog – the usual shoddy, erratic service. Ah well here we are and I’m mainly writing to avoid chores & admin! 

The problem with it being so long since I last wrote is that topics that floated into view, with an urge to write about them, have since floated on. If I’d actually written a weekly blog for the last 6 weeks we probably would have covered:

* The impact of feeling you’ve achieved something 

* Peri-menopausal low moods & a great antidote 

* Dealing with disappointment and knowing when to quit

* The importance of joyful hobbies

* How resentment can build in long-term relationships 

Some of which are an insight into my recent life! But alas those topics have currently all floated off so we’ll just have to see if they pop back up. But what is on my mind is a particularly excellent workshop I went to last week with approx 20 other coaches. 

During the workshop we were exploring what was important to us, what we cared about, who we wanted to be in the World with an aim to coming up with a mantra. And it’s a great topic to explore. 

What do you stand for? Who inspires you and why? What really matters to you, enough to want to change things or make a difference? It will be reflected in your values and when we act in line with our own personal values we generally feel more fulfilled and know we’re on the right path. Remembering that the difference we choose to make can be very small & personal – after all we’re not all willing to be Greta Thunberg, my current total hero. Greta also proves that heroes can come in very small packages!

Anyway through a variety of different exercises and discussions I came up with mine. Or at least my current mantra as these can change over time. Mine is encapsulated in a word – HEALTH – but it is much broader than you might imagine. Here it is:

I stand for Health in Individuals, in Relationships and for the Planet. 

To expand on that a little more, Health in Individuals includes both Physical Health (ie food & exercise). But also crucially Mental Health too incorporating self-care, reducing stress, increasing resilience, mindfulness & finding the joy in life etc.

Health in Relationships is about helping couples interact in positive ways, learn how to listen to one another, changing poor habits and patterns, and improve their relationships skills. The same also applies to growing strong, connected communities. 

And a healthy planet is all about what we need to do to preserve our only home. 

It’s definitely the perfect mantra for me as it’s all the topics I love to talk and write about. I haven’t written about the Healthy Planet part so much on here yet but that will come. Anyway I LOVE having some clarity about my mantra and purpose. And I’m wondering what comes up for you if you think about what you stand for or care about? What matters? Mine is a short word, Health, but actually quite a broad topic. Yours can be anything from ‘Enjoying Life’ to ‘Speaking up’ or ‘Education’ etc. 

I love this quote, from a poem by Mary Oliver, that was shared at the workshop: 

‘What will you do with your one wild and precious life?’ 

Please do comment or message me – I’d love to hear. Besides I’ve shown you mine … Sue X