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How To Get Started (Even When You’re Scared)

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How To Get Started (Even When You’re Scared)

You could be reading this during the 2020/21 pandemic or maybe (hopefully) by the time you read this, we’ve all moved on and life has returned to normal, but whenever you’re reading it, you came here because something is stopping you from getting started on that ‘thing’ that’s important to you.

You might be feeling compelled to make a start whilst also resisting. You’re frustrated, even angry with yourself for not getting on with the work or for procrastinating. But most of all, you’re sad. You know there’s an important part of you that needs to be surfaced, but right now, it still hasn’t seen the light.

So what’s causing this lack of action and, more importantly, what can you do about it? [Read more…] about How To Get Started (Even When You’re Scared)

Friends

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Friends_1I’ve often alluded to the difficulties we may encounter when we start moving out of our comfort zone. We might lack confidence in what we’re about to do, our skills are likely to be under-developed or we could be facing opposition from others who are uncomfortable with the direction we’re planning to move in. All of these are very real feelings and present as obstacles that can, and will derail us if we allow them to.

But when it comes to the potential loss of support from friends, this can feel far worse than just not having the skills or a general lack of confidence.

Without the support of our friends, we may feel lonely and sometimes even that we are being reckless! After all, if others don’t support us and can’t see the merit in what we’re trying to achieve, we may wonder if it’s sensible to keep going.

Is this your experience? Do you sometimes question your intentions because of the negative or unsupportive stance of your friends?

Like others I have experienced this situation and felt these feelings too. Indeed, there have been times when my commitment to keep goingFriends_2 has not been strong enough to overcome the seeds of doubt which have been sown, and so, I’ve floundered and turned back, at least for a while.

But with this in mind, what might be out there, beyond our comfort zone that we can hold out for to help keep us going?

[Read more…] about Friends

New Year New You?

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New Year 2015Can you believe it?  We’re on the very cusp of a brand new year with all the immediate excitement and anticipation! Plus, if you’re like most people, myself included, you’re already looking forward to, and planning for all the changes, or rather, improvements you’re going to make in 2015! 2014 has taught you a lesson or two, and frankly, you don’t want to repeat them. As we stand on the cusp of a brand new year, we know that we are more than equal to the challenges and goals we have set ourselves…bring it on, we cry!

But that enthusiasm is in stark contrast as, once again the old year draws to an end and we feel the inevitable disappointment of things that could have gone better this year, or, worse, we reach the year end with the usual mixed feelings of having started out with great intentions, but somehow, because life threw so many curve balls our way over the preceding twelve months, there was no way we were ever going to achieve the goals or resolutions we had set for ourselves. In fact, we tell ourselves, we’ve done well just to keep our heads above water!

But is this true? Do you feel satisfied with this justification? [Read more…] about New Year New You?

Gloucester: Bucket List Challenge City 2

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Gloucester_1After a little research, Gloucester has been selected as the second of our Bucket List: Visit 12 UK Cities in 12 Months Challenge. Last month we spent a couple of days in Bristol as we are currently facing the challenge of shorter days and cold weather.  The cities we’re choosing are therefore closer to home than those we will visit during the Spring and Summer months.

Gloucester is a city of approximately 122,000 inhabitants, originally founded by the Romans. Its main attraction is the Cathedral which is a beautiful, grand building dating from 681. Gloucester also has an inland dock and numerous historical landmarks.

This trip was a ‘one-dayer’, and so we picked out a few things to do and see to get a feel for the city. We also wanted to build in a little fun. Here’s our itinerary for the day:

  • Leave at around 8am
  • Taster skiing lesson
  • Into Gloucester for lunch
  • A wander around the Docks
  • Visit to Gloucester Cathedral

A cold but sunny Saturday morning was a great start to our trip. The journey was clear and easy and we made good time. Once you cross the Severn and head into England, the landscape in the area is fairly flat with the Malvern hills framing the distance. Given the time of year, there were lots of trees with pretty displays of mistletoe, which seems to be quite prevalent in the area. [Read more…] about Gloucester: Bucket List Challenge City 2

Bravery v Conformity: Where do you fit?

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5486393061_f7bf0e18f7Bravery…it’s a peculiar concept.  The word conjures up images of brave knights and shining armour, of soldiers going into battle, but is it more than this?  This vague and narrow application of the word bravery has been perplexing me somewhat this week, because we see bravery in so many more guises, but often they are quiet and easily missed, or, most often, just dismissed by the person who is demonstrating this sentiment.

I’m thinking of the people who face incredible health challenges in their lifetime, but learn not only to live with the difficulties, but also who go on to challenge the definition of their illness and achieve astounding accomplishments in their lives.

Or those who are willing to stand up to adversity on behalf of others and protest in the face of opposition from people, companies or even governments.

These are indeed brave actions.  Sometimes the mantle is given to us with little or no choice as is the case with illness, and other times we can be moved to action by the unfairness of a situation. [Read more…] about Bravery v Conformity: Where do you fit?

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