Christmas can really be for giving, and forgiving

 

This week I learnt the power of perspective.

I was blessed to received a couple of nice gifts for Christmas from my co-workers yesterday.  Two books I'd had on my Christmas list for a while now.  As a bonus, my boss also sent me a nice wine cork with a handle that resembled a bunch of grapes.  Very cute!

I live and work in Vancouver, so public transit is cool to use.  It's an outdoors kind of town, so everyone is running, cycling, or if like me you don't take exercise that seriously, taking the bus.

Anyway, I leave work with my lunch bag containing all my new shiny gifts.  I get on the next bus and travel into town to get my train connection.  It was only when I arrived downtown that I realised I'd left my lunch bag of gifts at the bus stop!

My initial reaction was one of despair.  An overreaction admittedly, but a reaction all the same.  My perspective was a feeling I'd let down the people who'd loving bought (and shipped) those gifts to me.  My next thought was 'how stupid could I be!'.  Both of these thoughts are neither useful or self-serving.

I called a co-worker to go check the bus stop to see if my gifts were still there.  They weren't.

When I got home I told my wife what had happened.  Turns out she'd had a far more eventful and important day than I'd had.  It also turned out that she'd actually bought me the very same books for Christmas!  So I'd lost and then gained in the space of 2 hours!

When the dust settled, I finally settled on a perspective I'd like to keep.  Its is one where I hold no grudge toward the person who took my gifts.  They now have two cool books to keep for themselves this Christmas, or to wrap and re-gift to someone else.  They may be less fortunate than  me and need to sell those books for food, which would be fine by me.

You see, giving doesn't have to be conventional.  It can be through a series of unfortunate events the universe throws your way.  Maybe I was meant to leave those gifts there? There is a theory that our lives are already mapped out for us from the moment we are born.  Maybe this minor event was always going to happen?

The lesson we can all take away is this; what perspective on giving can you see this Christmas?  There are many to choose from and we all have that choice.  Choice gives us freedom, shifts our state of mind and makes us feel the way we want to feel.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Warmly,

Matt.

Beautiful Rain

"There is no such thing as bad weather. Only the wrong clothes." - Billy Connolly.

Every season has beauty within it.  All we have to do is open our eyes.

Autumn brings us technicolor browns, yellows and greens.  The smell of wet vegetation and a freshness in the air.

Winter is crisp, pure and raw. Fresh snow and neon lights.  The excitement of Christmas, burning fires and mulled wine.

Spring is the dawn of something new.  Optimistic and bright in so many ways.

Summer is like a warm blanket, with vitamin D aplenty.  The sizzle of a BBQ, the coolness of melting ice cubes.  

And then it happens all over again, without fail.  Each year we can find something new in every season.

What can you discover about the season today?

This statement is false

Our lives are simply how we view them, or are they? This is an interesting question that most of us struggle with at some point in our lives. Perspective and paradox are two concepts that, with some insight, can help us get clarity on certain issues and situations in our daily lives.

Perspective has many definitions (ironically!). The one most pertinent to how we see our world is possibly this; the state of one's ideas, the facts known to one, etc., in having a meaningful interrelationship.

Any given situation can have many perspectives. If you dislike your current job because of your boss, what perspectives can that give you? The easy answer is simply "It's time to move on to a new job with a new boss". However, another perspective might be that your current boss has values that are not in line with yours, which is the real reason you dislike your job. It may even be the case that you begin to notice most people you work with have different values to you. Perhaps its not a new job, but a new career you are looking for! Sometimes looking deeper into ourselves gives us new insights of situations and can engineer a new direction to a more peaceful, content life.

Paradox is more complex. Life is full of contradictions and this can be confusing. Sometimes we see something that can defy logic and begin questioning ourselves and our world around us. We encounter paradox almost daily through our conversations with others. Children can be particularly receptive to paradox because of their inquisitive minds. They believe something to be true only to be told by an adult that something is not. Peoples opinions hold sway with us throughout life. How often have you asked somebody for 'advice' only to be told something you didn't want to hear because it conflicts with a truth you held?

A good coach shouldn't advise you or provide solutions. You have all the answers and by being curious about what is true and what is not, you'll eventually find them. A good coach will skillfully ask you questions that challenge some of your ideas, or at the very least, get you to explore them. In fact, the exploration of our own lives never ends. If we can embrace that concept and believe that solutions are not always necessary, then the game of life is that little bit easier.

Why not call us today and see how we can help you explore the paradoxes and perspectives in your own life? This game of life can be fun sometimes!


Call Seeds Coaching today to take advantage of a FREE life coaching session, either in-person or over the phone.

Click HERE for our website and contact details.


Matt Turner is a trained Co-Active Coach living and working in Vancouver, BC.



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What to do in a crisis

Stories of human emotion, endeavor and competitive struggle contine to come thick and fast at the London 2012 Olympics. None more so than the story of Shin Lam. A South Korean medal prospect in the sport of fencing, Shin was denied a place in the semi-final due to an error in judgement from the officials. Through no fault of her own, Shin was aghast to find the clock add been reset right at the end of her contest with Britta Heidemann, allowing Heidemann the opportunity to score the vital point needed for victory and a place in the final.

What followed was a breakdown of Olympic proportions. It involved a flood of tears and outpouring of emotion during a sit-in protest by Shin, who, as instructed by her coach, remained in the field of play for over an hour.

From a coaching perspective, this triggers the question; what can we do in adversity? This incident was the culmination of 4 years of training, 4 years of blood, sweat and tears in trying to reach a goal on the biggest stage.

Unfortunately adversity and injustice are part of life. Although unfair, it happens. Difficult as it is, one way of overcoming adversity is to try and explore the different perspectives that always exist in any situation. Its useful to remember that situations shift and change constantly. What is happening in the here and now will be different in the ensuing minutes, hours, days and weeks.

In the case of Shin, she probably did the right thing. It allowed the release of natural emotion (always important), it created media interest, which highlighted her plight, and it showed the human element of competition, struggle and endevour. Over the coming days I'll be keen to see how this story unfolds and how Shin's perspective may change.

You can read the full story of Shin Lam here http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/30/south-korean-fencer-protest-olympic

Contact Seeds Coaching for a FREE perspective coaching session today!

Visit the Seeds Coaching web page.

Go to www.seedslifecoaching.com or click HERE.

A ceremony of openings

Tonights Olympic opening ceremony has attracted rave reviews. As a British citizen living in Canada it reminded me how proud I am of my country. Major events like this inspire people and the feel good factor has a positive effect, especially in times of economic and social hardship.

This got me thinking about the following question; what do we need to feel like this every day? One answer could be an appreciation of what we have as opposed to what we do not. Another could be to simply celebrate who we our and what makes us different and special. This doesn't just apply to my fellow countrymen and women, we can all learn a lesson from London tonight.

After the dust from the Olympic razzamatazz settles, take some time to look at how people felt today, and why. If we can apply that to our lives going forward, then that's a legacy we can be proud of.

For more information, including a FREE life coaching session, wherever you are in the world, visit www.seedslifecoaching.com today by clicking HERE.

How to be a Wantrepreneur!

1) First, remember there is no such thing as an overnight success. Anybody who's anybody have achieved great things through many steps, some backwards, some forwards. Most successful people make more forward steps than backward ones. The most successful people are the one's who learn from the knocks they take. Tenacity, determination, desire, passion and doggedness are key. Oh, and if you have some charm, that helps!

2) Its not all about actions. Before you do anything, think about this; Who are you? What do you want to be? What life would you like? What values do you hold dear? What's your legacy? These are deep, soul searching questions that will test your resolve. You only get one shot at life, better make it count! Before you decide what you are going to do, decide who you want to be. That way the actions, when you get around to them, don't seem so daunting. Hey, you might discover passion you never thought you had!

3) You have 100% control 100% of the time. People make excuses. Its human nature. Remember this; be the change you want to be. You'll be amazed that by taking control of your thinking, your actions and your responses to situations other people will start to dance to your tune. This is not to be confused with manipulation, this is pure inspiration! Call it a religion, but without a god.

4) Why do I want to be a Wantrepreneur? The answer is - you don't. However, a Wantrepreneur is someone who wants to be an Entrepreneur but has not yet started their journey or simply does not yet know how. Being a Wantrepreneur is the first step to building the life you want. And hey, this is not just about business. Its about YOU! We can all entrepreneurial in our lives, relationships, careers, families and friends. Its about being and doing in all aspects of your life.

4) Read, read, read and read some more. Reading is good for you. Its food for your brain and fire for your belly so take time to do it. Make it a habit to look for articles, books and journals that inspire you. Read about people who inspire you. What do they have in common? You might be surprised they were just like you one day.

5) Hire a coach. Not just any coach, but a coach who can help you with your specific niche. Coaches, or life coaches as they are commonly called, work with everyday people who have subscribed to human patterns of behavior that aren't serving their needs and values. I work with people who are budding Wantrepreneurs. They want change, they might not know what that change is yet, but they want it! We'll find it together and then we'll go get it. Its big, its bold and it can mean anything from wanting to change jobs, career, starting your own business or discovering who you want to be. Exciting stuff, eh!? You can contact me at www.seedslifecoaching.com

5 things coaching can do for you

At Seeds Coaching we are often asked the question "What can coaching do for me?". So we spent some time putting together 5 things coaching can provide for a client.


1) You begin to live authentically

Are you being true to yourself in every area of your life? Often we run on auto-pilot day to day without really thinking about who we are and what we need. Coaching can help you stop, look and listen - to yourself! Most people are amazed and surprised at what they discover. The road to authenticity can be a long one for some, but when you get there, the rewards are plentiful! Imagine waking each day knowing who you are really are and what you need. Imagine being able to deal with life's situations better. Imagaine every day being simply an appreciation of what you've always had but perhaps never realized. Imagaine the liberation pure honesty with yourself and others can bring you. Coaching helps this process.


2) Opens up endless possibilites

Coaching is a postive, non-judemental process. Through support of a good coach, you have someone in your corner who'll always be there for you, but dosen't offer you advice you don't want to hear. A coach is not a friend but a professional who's trained to listen to you in a way others rarely do. A good coaching relationship allows you to explore possibilities that before seemed outlandish. Its a fantastic experience to design your own relationship with your coach and be given the freedom to express yourself in any way you see fit. What other area of your life can you currently do that!? Coaching brings this freedom of expression into all areas of your life.


3) Provides a safe space for you to grow

Your coach provides a private, confidential and open space for you to be yourself, try new things, and, if you like, go wild! In session with your coach
you should feel able to laugh, cry, shout, scream, pray, be silent, be happy and be sad. In short, be who you want to be! This alone can be an incredible experience for a client and really provides a platform for take off!


4) Provide you with approaches and perspectives you've never considered before

In coaching we encourage clients to consider views that they've never thought of before. Sometimes these perspectives are fun, playful, outragous, painful, unfortable, rich and thought provoking. The main point is that all perspectives are considered and none are ruled out. By doing this, clients begin to tackle possibilities they may have once thought as totally out of their realm! As a result, their lives start to change for good. Powerful stuff, eh!?


5) It starts to give your life value

This is your life we are talking about, so why not invest in it!? You simply can't put a price on the changes coaching can bring to the committed client who embraces this process. And you'd be surprised how little coaching packages start from. Once you start the journey toward living by your core beliefs, values and life purpose in everything you do, the quality of life you experience will increase significantly. Coaching truly is powerful in that way. Try it for yourself!




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