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Get Real!

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Get Real and Be Your Authentic Self

Have you ever heard the phrase about ‘being true to yourself’ or ‘acting authentically’?  When I was younger, I was confused by the idea of acting authentically.  I didn’t really understand the meaning, let alone know whether I was someone who acted authentically.

As time has passed, I’ve come to understand the phrase and, more importantly, its importance to our personal sense of wellbeing.  However, living up to the condition of being my authentic self is still something which often eludes me.  And I think it’s fair to say that consistently acting authentically is something that a lot of people struggle to achieve.

Strictly speaking, living authentically would mean that we would behave exactly in line with the beliefs and values we hold.  But, in actuality, this probably isn’t possible if we want to live a life where we can be accepted within a group whose beliefs and values might be slightly different to our own.  As we know, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but sometimes, when that opinion is different to those around us, we keep quiet in order to maintain the peace and remain part of the group.  In this situation, I guess being part of the group means more to us than venting an unwelcome opinion. [Read more…] about Get Real!

Lessons I Learned in 2013, Part 2

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7800147562_661f5bd5f9_nThis is part 2 of a two-part review of my life lessons from 2013.  If you haven’t already, you can read part 1 here.  The focus of Part 1 was the personal development I experienced during the year, Part 2 focuses on the challenges I faced during the year and the lessons I learned from those challenges.

If you read my blog or check in to my Facebook page regularly you will already know that in the summer of 2013 I experience two major setbacks.  The first was a car accident that left me unable to drive or be driven with any confidence in my own safety (and the emotional effect this had on me) and the second, my husband having a heart attack.  I was away from my blog and Facebook for quite some time after these events, but eventually I found my way back.  Inevitably life events such as these change and shape us, as they did with me….

I’m stronger than I thought…

…maybe. [Read more…] about Lessons I Learned in 2013, Part 2

Lessons I Learned in 2013, Part 1

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6610800077_aff525ae5c_nMy goodbyes to 2013 were bitter-sweet.  It was a year of much change for me, both good and challenging, and I wanted to write about the things I’ve learned from a year that has allowed me huge personal growth whilst also testing my resolve with huge personal challenges.

This blog is in two parts as there was quite a lot to say and today focuses on personal growth.

If you want to learn, teach

I have no idea where this saying comes from, but this year it has really become true for me.  I’m not suggesting for a moment that I’m a teacher of course, but, through the process of writing on my blog, my understanding of my own personal philosophy has become clearer and clearer.

There’s no doubt that in trying to explain new (to me) or complex ideas that you really need to understand what you’re writing about or it makes no sense!

By writing my thoughts on a particular idea or philosophy I have also found that I have become more resolute in the pursuit of that particular characteristic in my own personal performance and therefore in wanting it to become part of my authentic personality.  I think for the most part, I probably knew that I was ‘this’ or ‘that’ kind of person at heart, but I wasn’t actually living authentically, which for me means living in alignment with my true beliefs.  Having said that, it’s not always easy to live to your true beliefs as sometimes these will not be the ‘norm’ of the majority and you can therefore feel isolated or a bit weird! [Read more…] about Lessons I Learned in 2013, Part 1

The Games We Play!

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4716539083_ddd6c35460_nSometimes we play a game, it goes a bit like this:

One of us (family member or friend) moans or says something negative, or maybe a little unkind (or sometimes very unkind) or maybe just unnecessarily critical.  The words we’ve uttered will have been unconscious, a habit even, but in any event, they will not have done anything to improve our day.  In fact, they have the effect of reducing our own happiness.

So the game then becomes to counter these negative words and/or emotions by coming up with positive things to say about the thing we have just passed comment on.  We must also at least match the number of positive things we say against the number of negative things we have said!

In some ways the game is silly, but it’s also a little bit of fun, especially if you really feel you have nothing good to say about a person or a situation.  When this happens you really have to dig deep to find something positive to say which can result in some random thoughts! [Read more…] about The Games We Play!

Interviews with Successful People: Richard Powell Conquers Kilimanjaro!

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KilimanjaroIn October 2013, Richard Powell, an IT Manager based at Cardiff University, set off on a challenge he’d been preparing for for a year – to climb to the peak of Kilimanjaro.  Although he tells me that his initial motivations were more selfish than altruistic, it’s a credit to his determination and motivation that along with reaching the peak, he’s also raised more than £5,000 in sponsorship and other fund raising activities for his chosen charity, Tenovus (a cancer care and treatment charity).

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to interview Richard about his experiences.

You’ve recently successfully climbed to the peak of Kilimanjaro, can you tell us about the experience?

We prepared for the climb for about a year before the actual event, but in all honesty nothing really prepares you!  I think the first realisation of the enormity of the challenge hit me when we flew into Africa and instead of flying over Kilimanjaro, we flew around it and were looking out of the windows and upwards towards the summit! [Read more…] about Interviews with Successful People: Richard Powell Conquers Kilimanjaro!

Lessons in Failure

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FAILIf at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

I have no idea where this adage comes from, but the great thing about this and many other sayings, is that they are usually true!

Unfortunately though, we are taught, either formally or mostly informally that failure is a bad thing, and yet in the view of successful people this just isn’t the case.  You only need look to Thomas Edison’s famous quote:

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

for a healthy reminder of the need to try various options regardless of the failure rate, and yet, we persist in holding back on our dreams, for the most part due to the fear of failure.

Wonderful though it is to have a reminder that when we’re knocked back by failure, it is most likely in our interests to get back up and try again, what this saying doesn’t address is the need to be prepared to take action in the first place.  For many people there is much difficulty in making a start on something new without any guarantee of a successful outcome.  But fundamentally, failure to start is the biggest failure:

‘You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try’.   Beverly Sills [Read more…] about Lessons in Failure