How you can change the world today

I believe a random act of kindness is infectious, and by sharing a recent experience of mine on this blog, I hope it influences you to share it with others.

I was sat on the train on my way home from work last night, when a young couple opposite me caught my eye.  They were having an argument, but at the same time trying not to draw attention to themselves.  From what I could make out, the guy was saying some pretty horrible things to his girlfriend.

After around 5 minutes of this, he gave up berating her and closed his eyes to take a nap.  She then spent the next few minutes looking into space, tears welling up in her eyes, thinking and reflecting.  She then put on some headphones and placed her head in her hands.  She kept this pose for the remainder of my journey.

During this time, my heart and head were racing.  What should I do!?  I felt I had to do something.  Somebody was alone, in distress, looking like they needed support.

It's a brave thing to speak out, but I hurriedly scanned through the possible options open to me.  Should I confront her boyfriend?  Should I console her? Should I mention it to the person sat next to me to garner some opinion?  Did they even see it?  Or simply, should I do nothing?  That's was the easiest option and the one everybody else seemed to choose.

As I approached my train stop, I made my move.  I lightly touched the woman's arm to catch her attention.  When she lifted her head and opened her reddened eyes, I looked into them and simply said, as lovingly as possible, "Are you OK?"

She smiled, and in a soft thankful voice, said "Yes, thank you".

You see, sometimes that's all somebody needs.  To be acknowledged. To be heard.  To know, that a random stranger feels their pain.  A random act of kindness, however small, makes a big difference.

Today she may reflect on what happened.  She may replay the scene and realize what I saw.  She may just step outside of herself and notice what's showing up in her relationship.  She may just make a change.

When you are out and about today and see an opportunity for a random act of kindness, however small, take it!  If we all do it, every day, then the world begins to change.

Please share this with others and let's change the world, one random act of kindness at a time.  Thank you.

By Matt Turner
www.seedslifecoaching.com

Life Coach for Creative, Professional Women at Seeds Coaching

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Why do I need a life coach?

There are two questions I am often asked.  The first is; what made you become a life coach?  The second is: what does a life coach do?

In truth, I'd never considered becoming a life coach.  I didn't know what one is, or does.  If I'm being brutally honest, I'd scoffed at the idea when it was first suggested as possible career by my partner (who's a psychotherapist).   I, like many people, saw life coaching as 'faddish' or 'flaky'.  It was something that I viewed with skepticism, and, dare I say it, some disdain.

So what changed for me?  Well, the encouragement of my partner for a start.  She kept telling me life coaching was something she felt I would excel at.  Its funny, but when we receive praise or recognition, we go to a place of disbelief and try to find reasons to disagree!  I did just that.  I told myself that she was crazy,  that there is no way I could do this job I had no regard for.  Little did I know, but I'd been a coach all my life.  I just needed to see it and appreciate it.

Embarking on intensive coach training was a really scary thing for me.  It involved opening myself up, talking about things I'd hidden for years.  It involved sharing and caring, things I enjoyed doing, but not making a song and dance about.  The thing is, coaching makes you appreciate who you are and what you are capable of.  It makes you sing from the rooftops about the good things in life, and be comfortable with things that cause us pain.  My training took me on a journey that was nothing short of incredible!

So, what does a life coach do? Now I have seen many clients and experienced the process over and over, I can safely say that a life coach is many wonderful things.  First and foremost, they are an advocate for everything you do.  They support every decision you make and never judge you.  They create a private and confidential space where you feel comfortable talking about ANYTHING.  They champion your achievements, celebrate your success and comfort you when things are hard.  They challenge you to think a different way.  They ask you questions you'd never heard before, and certainly never considered!  They make you accountable for your life in a way nobody else could. That's because they are your coach, not a friend.  The relationship is a professional one steeped in personal connection. That's what makes life coaching special!

Today I am a huge advocate of life coaching and the trans-formative benefits it brings to peoples lives. Everybody can benefit from having a life coach at some point in their lives.  I've seen it with my own eyes in the clients I coach every week.

I suppose the best judge of the power a life coach can bring into our lives are the clients themselves.  Below is a recent letter I received from a client.  Reproduced here with their permission, it sums up what I am in this profession for, namely fulfillment, deep meaning, rich satisfaction, empowerment and human connection.  It also answers the question; why do I need a life coach?

"How do you describe appreciation?  How do you genuinely praise interpersonal gratitude. Thank You! When it comes to someones kind words, a hug, actually listening, mindful presence and understanding; there are no words to describe the feeling of receiving that from another person.  

 I'm still working on giving and receiving positive affirmations for myself and others, but I wouldn't even be close to that if it weren't for Matt Turner. I have been sharing my story with him for about the same amount of time it takes to have a baby. A bit of a cliche perhaps but the process Matt has helped me through is similar to recreating myself from my childhood to the present. 

 It had been a challenging and yes at times difficult journey.  I honestly believe I wouldn't be more than"functioning" if it weren't for Matt and his coaching abilities.  Matt is knowledgeable and passionate about his craft. He has insight, talent and skill into how to tap into your innermost  thoughts, feelings and "triggers" by actively listening and responding in a manner that evokes trust, compassion and understanding.
    
Matt has a great sense of humor with his British accent and slang. He is such a personable individual you feel like you could tell him your life story and trust him with it. Oh yes, I guess I already have. No regrets. He's amazing! Just the fact that he is willing to be a supportive guide to help me navigate through all my built up "crap" he deserves a medal.  Yet, he can be brutally honest when I am being stubborn or resistant to change in an effort to kick-start some progress. Somehow, through it all, that still feels OK, because he does it in such a unique manner that you know he means well and has your best interest at heart, he genuinely cares and it shows; actually it oozes out of him. 

I was wary about getting into any type of counselling which is why it took me so many years. That fear subsided the day I met Matt and even though some sessions are intensely emotional, Matt effectively meets the challenge, providing a safe environment for enabling that release and sharing.  

If I had known someone like Matt back in my teen years I would have been so much different in the self confidence department.  But Hey, then I wouldn't be who I am today.  No regrets, just a renewed sense of self and a new lease on life and that is primarily due to my work with Matt Turner.  He is authentic, genuine, "the real deal" and I just want to rub his shiny bald head like a good luck charm; cause hes good at what he does, he's charming and I feel so lucky to have met him. 

Thanks for being you, Matt."

Matt Turner is a life coach specializing in helping women in mid-life with careers and relationships   He is based in Vancouver, BC and coaches clients all around the world.  Visit Seeds Coaching for details.

Book a complimentary life coaching session, either in person or over the phone.  Contact Seeds Coaching today!

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2013 New Year Special Offer!

Hello,

My name is Matt Turner and I run my own life coaching practice called Seeds Coaching.

My aims are to help professional people get unstuck in their lives, relationships, careers or jobs and begin living the life they want and deserve. 

I love my job because it gives me freedom to work closely and enthusiastically with others.  I get great satisfaction from seeing my clients create special and fulfilling lives for themselves and others around them.

Life coaching is sacred work because it transforms people.  I am blessed to be an engineer of such positive change.

What can clients expect of me?  A comfortable, non-judgmental space where we can talk, explore possibilities, create a vision, face up to and conquer fears, take on challenges and be accountable.  We only get one life, why not LIVE IT!?

What do I expect of my clients?  All I ask is that you are genuinely committed to change and are prepared to devote time to it.  I talk with clients either weekly, bi-weekly or every 10 days, depending on the coaching package we decide upon.

I coach from the heart and with a great sense of humor, energy and playfulness.  I’ll listen to you, understand you, support you and walk your journey with you.  See what some of my clients have said about me: Seeds Coaching Client Testimonials

Get in touch today and take advantage of the fabulous offer below!

BOOK A MONTHLY PACKAGE OF 4 X 60 MINUTE LIFE COACHING SESSIONS BEFORE JANUARY 31st 2013 AND RECEIVE THEM HALF PRICE!*

Not only that, I offer a FREE, NO OBLIGATION one hour life coaching consultation where we can talk, ask each other questions and experience a life coaching relationship before you buy.

THAT’S 5 HOURS OF PROFESSIONAL LIFE COACHING FOR JUST 

$250 CAD!*

This offer only runs until January 31^st 2013 and appointments are limited. 

Life coaching can take place equally effectively over the phone, Skype or in person. 

Wherever you are in the world, coaching is accessible for you!

KICK START YOUR NEW YEAR AND CREATE A NEW YOU!

Seeds Coaching offer a variety of life coaching, career coaching, relationship coaching, entrepreneur coaching and business coaching packages to suit your needs.

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Visit: www.seedslifecoaching.com

Email: seedscoaching@gmail.com

Call: 1-604-307-6050

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5 things to be when changing career

1. Be true to yourself.
Asking yourself why you want to leave your current career may be straightforward. Discovering why you feel that way is a little harder. Often it means going back to basics, looking honestly at what values you are compromising and what truly satisfies you. Whats it going to take to love your job? What leaves you feeling stuck? Facing your fears and feeling uncomfortable is going to happen, it's part of the process. Be brave and tackle them head on - the rewards far outweigh any short term anxiety. Remember, this voyage of discovery is not just about changing your career, it's about changing your life!

2. Be tenacious.
Changing your career can take time, money and sacrifice. Are you ready for the long haul? Again, being anxious is normal. You're only human after all! A good question to ask yourself at this stage is "What's the long-term cost of not sticking with it?". It's always good to remember why you started this change and appreciate the opportunities you have ahead of you. Getting unstuck from anything - from treacle to life - requires some level of tenacity.

3. Be frank with others.
People will try to hold you back that's for sure. We've all been told things like "Why are you doing that?" or "I could never do that, it's too scary!". All this does is sow seeds of doubt in your mind. Remember, it's not their life, it's yours and you are the one living it. It's good to have a mentor (real or imaginary) at this stage to keep you grounded. Someone who'll be on your side and reserve judgement. A career change coach, for instance.

4. Be kind to yourself
What you are doing takes guts and gumption. Make sure it doesn't become an obsession and take time to relax, reward and revitalize. Appreciating yourself and what you achieve along the way is important. Celebrate every single obstacle you overcome and this consistent level of positivity will soon become a habit!

5. Be bombastic!
Shout from the rooftops how great you are! It's sometimes not easy to be proud of who we are, but do it! Showing confidence in your abilities is half the battle. A great exercise is to look at what your life looked like 10 years ago and see where you are now. You might be surprised, when you break it down, what you've achieved to date.


Matt Turner
Vancouver Life Coach and Owner of Seeds Coaching

Seeds Coaching is based in Vancouver BC but services clients worldwide. Find out how at www.seedslifecoaching.com

We offer a free life coaching session and introductory coaching consultation.